Denver Nuggets (1) – Jamal Murray
Los Angeles Clippers (1) – Brandon Boston Jr.
Los Angeles Lakers (3) – Anthony Davis, Wenyen Gabriel, Jarred Vanderbilt
Miami Heat (2) – Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro
Minnesota Timberwolves (1) – Karl-Anthony Towns
New York Knicks (2) – Immanuel Quickley, Julius Randle
Oklahoma City Thunder (2) – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Olivier Sarr
Philadelphia 76ers (1) – Tyrese Maxey
Phoenix Suns (1) – Devin Booker
Sacramento Kings (3) – De’Aaron Fox, Trey Lyles, Malik Monk
The Kentucky men’s basketball program has once again demonstrated its prowess at producing top-tier NBA talent, with a staggering 17 players participating in the 2023 NBA Playoffs, which begin on Tuesday. This achievement comes as no surprise, as Kentucky led the NBA with the most players on opening-day rosters and the most participants in this year’s NBA All-Star Game.
Ten of the 22 teams in the playoff field feature former UK players, with the Los Angeles Lakers and Sacramento Kings each boasting three Wildcats on their rosters. In total, the Southeastern Conference (SEC) has 56 players participating in the 2023 NBA Playoffs, the most of any conference. This marks the second consecutive season that the SEC has led the total number of players in the playoffs.
The playoffs kick off on Tuesday, with Adebayo and Herro taking the court as the Miami Heat host the Atlanta Hawks at 7:30 p.m. ET. Towns’ Minnesota Timberwolves and the Lakers, featuring Davis, Gabriel, and Vanderbilt, will also play on opening day. The Denver Nuggets, led by Murray, hold the No. 1 overall seed in the Western Conference, while Fox, Lyles, and Monk have helped the Kings secure the No. 3 seed in the West, ending the league’s longest playoff drought.
Kentucky’s impressive 27 players on NBA opening-day rosters, including two-way and inactive players, surpassed any other college program in the country. Duke came in second with 24 players. The list was compiled from the NBA’s official opening-day roster list.
Under head coach John Calipari, Kentucky has enjoyed unparalleled success in producing NBA talent. During his tenure, 45 players have been drafted into the NBA, more than any other school. This includes 34 first-round picks, three No. 1 overall selections (Davis, Towns, and John Wall), and 22 lottery selections.
Calipari’s players have not only reached the NBA but have also found success at the highest level. Since 2010, 10 Calipari-coached players have earned 32 All-Star selections. Derrick Rose (from Memphis) was named league MVP in 2011. Seven of his players have been named All-NBA (Booker, DeMarcus Cousins, Randle, Rose, Wall, Davis, and Towns), three have been named NBA Rookie of the Year (Rose, Tyreke Evans, and Towns), Randle was named the NBA’s Most Improved Player in 2021, Herro won NBA Sixth Man of the Year in 2022, and 15 players from Calipari’s first 12 teams at Kentucky have made the NBA All-Rookie teams.
Among all active collegiate coaches, Calipari has more total players (10) and more total All-Star selections (32) than any other coach. Only Dean Smith (12) had more former players earn an All-Star nod. Kentucky had four selections in 2023, which was more than any other program.
