Ten former Michigan basketball players on NBA rosters to begin 2024-25 season

The NBA begins action Tuesday night, and former Michigan Wolverines basketball players are scattered throughout the league. The Maize and Blue have 10 representatives across seven teams. Here’s a look at all of them, when they take the floor to open the season and the outlook for each player.

Atlanta Hawks: G Kobe Bufkin

First game: Wednesday, Oct. 23 at 7:30 p.m. ET — vs. Brooklyn Nets

Bufkin has been ruled out for Atlanta’s season-opener with a right shoulder injury he suffered during last Saturday’s practice. His long-term status is unknown.

Unfortunately for Bufkin, this is a trend early in his professional career. He missed the majority of last season with thumb and toe injuries, playing in only 17 games as a rookie in 2023-24.

The former Michigan guard is expected to be one of the primary ball handlers on the second unit as a backup to Trae Young.

Charlotte Hornets: F Moussa Diabate

First game: Wednesday, Oct. 23 at 8 p.m. ET — at Houston Rockets

The Hornets are devoid of much front-court depth, so Diabate has a chance to impact on his new team. He played in 11 games in the NBA last season — spending most of his time in the G League — averaging 2.6 points and 2.2 boards in 5.8 minutes per clash.

Cleveland Cavaliers: G Caris LeVert

First game: Wednesday, Oct. 23 at 7:30 p.m. ET — at Toronto Raptors

LeVert is set to once again be a big-time piece in the back court for Cleveland, which will begin the season without shooter Max Strus, increasing the likelihood for more minutes for the former Michigan standout.

“I texted him the other day, I said, ‘Here we go, you’ve got to do it all. You might start, you might come off the bench,’” head coach Kenny Atkinson said Tuesday.

LeVert played in 68 games with 10 starts last season, helping lead the Cavs to the second round of the playoffs. He averaged 14 points, 5.1 assists and 4.1 rebounds per game, shooting 42.1 percent overall and 32.5 percent from three-point distance.

Detroit Pistons: G Tim Hardaway Jr.

First game: Wednesday, Oct. 23 at 7 p.m. ET — vs. Indiana Pacers

In Detroit — not far from where he played college basketball — expect Hardaway to come off the bench for the new-look Pistons. He was part of a deal that saw shooting guard Quentin Grimes head to the Dallas Mavericks, in exchange for Hardaway and future second-round picks.

The 12th-year pro was a key piece on a Mavericks team that made the NBA Finals last season, but he dealt with injury late in the season. Still, the former Michigan guard appeared in 14 postseason contests. In the regular season, Hardaway appeared in 79 outings with 12 starts, registering 14.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists per night and connecting on 40.2 percent of his overall shots and 35.3 percent of his looks from deep.

Miami Heat: F Duncan Robinson

First game: Wednesday, Oct. 23 at 7:30 p.m. ET — vs. Orlando Magic

Robinson is projected to come off the bench after having a resurgent 2023-24 campaign. After dealing with injuries and struggling with his shot in 2022-23, he played in 68 games with 36 starts and shot 39.5 percent from three-point range, averaging 12.9 points per contest.

Orlando Magic: G Jett Howard, G Caleb Houstan, F Franz Wagner, F/C Moitz Wagner

First game: Wednesday, Oct. 23 at 7:30 p.m. ET — at Miami Heat

Franz Wagner will start for the Magic, which made the postseason last year for the first time since 2019-20. Franz was named the No. 52 player in the NBA by ESPN.com. The former Michigan wing was listed at No. 56 in The Ringer’s NBA 100.

“Wagner has been a cornerstone of the Magic’s resurgence, resulting in him inking a five-year, $224 million rookie contract extension in July,” ESPN’s Kendra Andrews wrote. “He had seven 30-point games last season and ranked in the top 10 in layups and dunks, according to Second Spectrum tracking.

“Franz might be the least confrontational of the Wagner brothers, but only because Mo[e] is basically the Muhammad Ali of making opponents wanna take a swing at him,” The Ringer’s Rob Mahoney wrote. “Franz comes by pissing off opponents a bit more honestly: by driving headlong into their chests, scoring through them, and letting them hear all about it.

“As it turns out, it’s pretty hard to stop a 6-10 wing who can handle the ball and welcomes contact. Wagner may not make the perfect read on every drive, but that hasn’t stopped him from giving opponents about as much as they can handle.

“Wagner is a star on the rise, as evidenced by the max extension the Magic handed him this summer. Yet it’s the qualities behind that rise that make his trajectory so fascinating — and define the Magic as we know them.”

Moritz Wagner, meanwhile, was re-signed this pat offseason, after averaging a career-high 10.9 points per game and adding 4.3 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 17.8 minutes over 80 games.

Howard battled injury and spent a good portion of last season in the G League. Houstan appears more likely to earn minutes right away, with the former Michigan shooter averaging 4.3 points and 1.4 rebounds per game and shooting 37.3 percent from long range in 59 games with 13 starts last season.

Washington Wizards: Jordan Poole

First game: Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 at 7 p.m. ET — vs. Boston Celtics

The former Michigan guard is entering his second season with the Washington Wizards, after spending four with the Golden State Warriors. He’s the projected lead guard on a team that won just 15 games last season. Poole did put up relatively big numbers, though, averaging 17.4 points, 4.4 assists and 2.7 rebounds per outing, while shooting 41.3 percent overall and 32.6 percent on threes.