The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
10.20.2026 | Men's Basketball
The 2026-27 NBA season tips off on Tuesday.
AUSTIN, Texas — A total of 10 former University of Texas men's basketball players will appear on NBA rosters when the league opens the 2026-27 regular season on Tuesday, Oct. 20.
The Longhorns' 10 active roster players are: Jarrett Allen (Cleveland Cavaliers), Mohamed Bamba (Utah Jazz), Kevin Durant (Houston Rockets), Jaxson Hayes (Utah Jazz), Tre Johnson (Washington Wizards), Arthur Kaluma (Los Angeles Lakers), Jayson Kent (Portland Trail Blazers), Jericho Sims (Milwaukee Bucks), Dailyn Swain (Chicago Bulls) and Myles Turner (Milwaukee Bucks).
Second-year Texas head coach Sean Miller has nine active players in the NBA entering the 2026-27 season. Those individuals include Deandre Ayton (Washington Wizards), Aaron Gordon (Denver Nuggets), Josh Green (Utah Jazz), Lauri Markkanen (Utah Jazz), Bennedict Mathurin (New Orleans Pelicans), T.J. McConnell (Indiana Pacers), Zeke Nnaji (Denver Nuggets), Dailyn Swain (Chicago Bulls) and Brandon Williams (Golden State Warriors).
A 2022 NBA All-Star, Allen starts his sixth full season with the Cleveland Cavaliers and 10th year in the league. Bamba, the No. 6 pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, begins his first full season with the Utah Jazz and ninth year in the NBA. A 16-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 second season with the Houston Rockets and his 19th year in the NBA.
Hayes, the No. 8 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, begins his first season with the Utah Jazz and eighth year in the league. Johnson was selected as the No. 6 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft and starts his second season with the Washington Wizards. Kaluma will begin his rookie season in the NBA on a two-way contract with the Los Angeles Lakers. Kent, who saw action in five NBA regular-season games last year, starts his first full season with the Portland Trail Blazers on a two-way contract.
Sims enters his second full season with the Milwaukee Bucks and sixth year overall in the NBA. The No. 15 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, Swain begins his rookie season with the Chicago Bulls. Turner starts his second year with the Milwaukee Bucks and 12th season in the league.
In addition to the 10 former Longhorns on NBA rosters, Royal Ivey is an assistant coach for the Houston Rockets and Matt Hill is an assistant coach with the Charlotte Hornets. Avery Bradley serves as the Vice President of Player Development for the Utah Jazz.
Former Longhorns on NBA Opening Night Rosters
|
Player |
NBA Team |
|
Jarrett Allen |
Cleveland Cavaliers |
|
Mohamed Bamba |
Utah Jazz |
|
Kevin Durant |
Houston Rockets |
|
Jaxson Hayes |
Utah Jazz |
|
Washington Wizards |
|
|
Los Angeles Lakers |
|
|
Portland Trail Blazers |
|
|
Jericho Sims |
Milwaukee Bucks |
|
Chicago Bulls |
|
|
Myles Turner |
Milwaukee Bucks |
Most Players on NBA Opening Night rosters by College
|
Rk |
School |
Number of Former Players |
|
1. |
Kentucky |
26 |
|
|
Duke |
26 |
|
3. |
Arizona |
16 |
|
4. |
Michigan |
13 |
|
5. |
Gonzaga |
12 |
|
6. |
Arkansas |
11 |
|
|
North Carolina |
11 |
|
8. |
TEXAS |
10 |
|
|
Kansas |
10 |
|
UCLA |
10 |
|
|
11. |
Baylor |
9 |
|
|
Virginia |
9 |
|
13. |
Alabama |
8 |
|
|
UConn |
8 |
|
|
Florida |
8 |
|
|
USC |
8 |
|
|
Tennessee |
8 |
