The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Six former Longhorns on NBA opening night rosters
10.20.2025 | Men's Basketball
The 2025-26 NBA season tips off on Tuesday night.
AUSTIN, Texas — A total of six former University of Texas men's basketball players will appear on NBA rosters when the league opens the 2025-26 regular season on Tuesday, Oct. 21.
The Longhorns' six active roster players are: Jarrett Allen (Cleveland Cavaliers), Kevin Durant (Houston Rockets), Jaxson Hayes (Los Angeles Lakers), Tre Johnson (Washington Wizards), Jericho Sims (Milwaukee Bucks) and Myles Turner (Milwaukee Bucks).
First-year Texas head coach Sean Miller has 10 active players in the NBA entering the 2025-26 season. Those individuals include Deandre Ayton (Los Angeles Lakers), Aaron Gordon (Denver Nuggets), Josh Green (Charlotte Hornets), Colby Jones (Detroit Pistons), Christian Koloko (Los Angeles Lakers), Lauri Markkanen (Utah Jazz), Bennedict Mathurin (Indiana Pacers), T.J. McConnell (Indiana Pacers), Zeke Nnaji (Denver Nuggets) and Dalen Terry (Chicago Bulls).
A 2022 NBA All-Star, Allen starts his fifth full season with the Cleveland Cavaliers and ninth year in the league. A 15-time NBA All-Star, 11-time All-NBA selection, four-time NBA scoring champion, two-time Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (2017 and 2018) and the league's 2014 Most Valuable Player, Durant starts his first season with the Houston Rockets and his 18th year in the NBA. Hayes, the No. 8 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, begins his third season with the Los Angeles Lakers and seventh year in the league.
Johnson was selected as the No. 6 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft and starts his rookie season with the Washington Wizards. Sims, the No. 58 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, enters his first full season with the Milwaukee Bucks and fifth year overall in the NBA. Turner starts his first year with the Milwaukee Bucks and 11th season in the league.
In addition to the six former Longhorns on NBA rosters, former player Royal Ivey is an assistant coach for the Houston Rockets and Matt Hill is an assistant coach with the Charlotte Hornets.
Former Longhorns on NBA Opening Night Rosters
|
Player |
NBA Team |
|
Jarrett Allen |
Cleveland Cavaliers |
|
Kevin Durant |
Houston Rockets |
|
Jaxson Hayes |
Los Angeles Lakers |
|
Washington Wizards |
|
|
Jericho Sims |
Milwaukee Bucks |
|
Myles Turner |
Milwaukee Bucks |
