The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Three former Men's Basketball players set for 2026 NBA Playoffs
04.13.2026 | Men's Basketball
Jarrett Allen, Kevin Durant and Jaxson Hayes on playoff rosters.
AUSTIN, Texas — A total of three former University of Texas men's basketball players will be involved in the upcoming 2026 NBA Playoffs. Jarrett Allen (Cleveland Cavaliers), Kevin Durant (Houston Rockets) and Jaxson Hayes (Los Angeles Lakers) are all on their team's active postseason rosters.
In addition, Texas head coach Sean Miller has seven of his former players who will participate in either the SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament or the NBA Playoffs. The list of Miller's former players competing include Deandre Ayton (Los Angeles Lakers), Aaron Gordon (Denver Nuggets), Josh Green (Charlotte Hornets), Christian Koloko (Atlanta Hawks), Bennedict Mathurin (Los Angeles Clippers), Zeke Nnaji (Denver Nuggets) and Dalen Terry (Philadelphia 76ers).
The 2026 SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament runs Tuesday, April 14 through Friday, April 17. The 2026 NBA Playoffs will begin on Saturday, April 18.
A 2022 NBA All-Star selection, Allen is completing his sixth season with the Cleveland Cavaliers and ninth year overall in the NBA. In 56 games played during the regular season, he averaged 15.4 points, 8.5 rebounds and 0.8 blocks in 27.1 minutes per contest while hitting 63.8-percent from the field and 70.9-percent from the free throw line. Cleveland posted a 52-30 record and earned the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference.
A 16-time NBA All-Star and four-time NBA scoring champion, Durant is completing his first season with the Houston Rockets and 18th year overall in the NBA. In 78 games played during the regular season, he averaged 26.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists in 36.4 minutes per contest while hitting 52.0-percent from the field, including a 41.3-percent mark from three-point range, and 87.4-percent from the free throw line. Durant is a two-time NBA Champion and two-time NBA Finals MVP during his time with the Golden State Warriors (2017 and 2018). Houston registered a 52-30 record and claimed the No. 5 seed in the Western Conference.
Hayes is in his third season with the Los Angeles Lakers and seventh year in the NBA. In 66 games played during the regular season, he averaged 7.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 0.8 blocks in 18.3 minutes per contest while hitting 75.6-percent from the field. The Lakers posted a 53-29 record and claimed the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference.
In addition to the three former Longhorns on NBA playoff rosters, former Texas player Royal Ivey is an assistant coach with the Houston Rockets (No. 5 seed, Western Conference) and former UT player Matt Hill is an assistant coach with the Charlotte Hornets (No. 9 seed, Eastern Conference).
