The 2025-26 NBA season tips off on Tuesday night and Kentucky continues its extensive presence with a league-leading 27 players featured on opening night rosters across the league.
It marks the 14th consecutive season in which Kentucky has set the benchmark for alumni in The Association.
The total of 27 players is based off the NBA's official opening-day roster list and includes all two-way and inactive players.
UK is represented on 20 NBA franchises, with seven teams featuring multiple Wildcats on their rosters. The Phoenix Suns lead the league with three UK products, while the Dallas Mavericks, Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves, Oklahoma City Thunder, Philadelphia 76ers and San Antonio Spurs each have two.
Two Cats from the 2024-25 Kentucky Wildcats earned spots in the NBA to begin the season including Koby Brea on the Phoenix Suns and Amari Williams on the Boston Celtics.
Kentucky's decorated NBA group is coming off a highly successful 2024-25 season. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander became the first Kentucky men's basketball product to capture the NBA Most Valuable Player award on his way to leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to an NBA Championship alongside Cason Wallace. Gilgeous-Alexander was joined by Karl-Anthony Towns as an All-NBA performer. Those two, along with Anthony Davis and Tyler Herro, were selected as NBA All-Stars.
Night one of NBA action will see Gilgeous-Alexander, Wallace and the Oklahoma City Thunder take on Reed Sheppard and the Houston Rockets at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC. That matchup will be followed by Jarred Vanderbilt and the Los Angeles Lakers battling the Golden State Warriors at 10 p.m.
Wildcats in the NBA (27)
Bam Adebayo – Miami Heat
Devin Booker – Phoenix Suns
Koby Brea – Phoenix Suns
Anthony Davis – Dallas Mavericks
Rob Dillingham – Minnesota Timberwolves
Justin Edwards – Philadelphia 76ers
De'Aaron Fox – San Antonio Spurs
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – Oklahoma City Thunder
Tyler Herro – Miami Heat
Isaiah Jackson – Indiana Pacers
Keldon Johnson – San Antonio Spurs
Tyrese Maxey – Philadelphia 76ers
Malik Monk – Sacramento Kings
Jamal Murray – Denver Nuggets
Immanuel Quickley – Toronto Raptors
Julius Randle – Minnesota Timberwolves
Antonio Reeves – Charlotte Hornets
Nick Richards – Phoenix Suns
Shaedon Sharpe – Portland Trail Blazers
Reed Sheppard – Houston Rockets
Jacob Toppin – Atlanta Hawks
Karl-Anthony Towns – New York Knicks
Oscar Tshiebwe – Utah Jazz
Jarred Vanderbilt – Los Angeles Lakers
Cason Wallace – Oklahoma City Thunder
PJ Washington – Dallas Mavericks
Amari Williams – Boston Celtics