Arizona’s NBA pipeline keeps churning, and this season the Wildcats have 16 former players on league rosters - a count that only gets more striking when you factor in what’s not included.
Christian Koloko is now with Crvena in Serbia after the Boston Celtics secured his G League rights, while Dalen Terry was among Golden State’s final roster cuts and remains unsigned after averaging 3.5 points in 218 career games.
On top of that, Tommy Lloyd has pushed Arizona’s pro output into overdrive. Three Wildcats were drafted in June, and another, Tobe Awaka, signed as the regular season began Tuesday, Oct. 20.
Awaka is one of four former Arizona players from last season’s team on an NBA roster after signing a two-way deal with the Chicago Bulls. The forward made two preseason appearances and turned in 14 points, 18 rebounds and two steals while shooting 7-for-10 from the field and knocking down his only three-point try. He’ll try to carve out minutes in a Chicago frontcourt that includes injury-prone Zach Collins and Nic Claxton.
DeAndre Ayton is set for a backup job in Washington, where he sits behind two other former No. 1 overall picks in Anthony Davis and Alex Sarr. The Wizards also have AJ Dybantsa, giving them four former top picks on the roster. Ayton averaged 4.0 points and 6.8 rebounds in four preseason games, logging 18 minutes per night.
Jaden Bradley, one of Arizona’s three 2026 draft picks, went late in the second round but still secured a multi-year guaranteed deal after his summer league showing. He averaged 6.0 points and 1.8 assists in 17.6 minutes over five preseason games and will battle for backcourt minutes against fellow Big 12 guards Ja'Kobe Walter and Jamal Shead.
Carter Bryant is heading into his second NBA season after posting 4.2 points and 2.5 rebounds in 71 games as a rookie. The Western Conference champion San Antonio Spurs are looking for more from him, and his preseason suggested a step forward: 8.0 points and 4.5 rebounds in four games, plus a 41.2% mark from deep on 7-for-17 shooting.
Another former Wildcat coming off a strong preseason is Burties, who was excellent as a freshman last year and emerged as a lottery pick before landing in Milwaukee. He averaged 14.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.5 steals in 22.9 minutes per game, and should be in the mix for major minutes behind and alongside Ryan Rollins, Tyler Herro and Kasparas Jakucionis.
Aaron Gordon begins his 13th season after an injury-shortened but successful 2025-26 campaign. He led Denver in preseason scoring at 15.8 points per game and added 5.3 rebounds while shooting 50% from three, and he remains a key piece for the Nuggets as the third man behind Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray.
Green is entering his seventh NBA season, and his first with Utah. He’s competing in a crowded wing group that includes rookie Darryn Peterson, former Wildcat Lauri Markkanen, Ace Bailey, Brice Sensabaugh and Josh Okogie. In three preseason games, Green played 9.8 minutes a night and averaged 2.7 points and 1.0 steals.
Johnson is back in Miami for year three on another two-way deal, sticking with the franchise he joined in 2024. Last season he averaged 4.3 points in 32 games, and he had 16 points, 10 rebounds and two assists in 27 minutes across two preseason outings. He’ll be fighting for time on a revamped Miami roster that added Giannis Antetokounmpo this offseason.
Larsson broke through in his second NBA season, averaging 11.4 points and 3.4 assists in 70 games while making 54 starts and averaging 26.4 minutes. He now profiles as a valuable piece behind veteran starters Klay Thompson and Andrew Wiggins, with the chance to do even more in a sixth-man role as he enters year three.
Love had an impressive rookie season with Portland, where he put up 10.4 points and 2.5 assists as one of the league’s best undrafted rookies. He’s now on a two-way deal with LeBron James in Philadelphia and will have to battle for minutes in a loaded backcourt. In four preseason games, he averaged 5.5 points and 3.0 assists.
Markkanen is back for his fifth season with Utah after averaging a career-high 26.7 points in 42 regular season games last year. He remains the center of the Jazz offense, and his fit with rookie Darryn Peterson is one of the major storylines for Utah - and the NBA - this season.
Mathurin starts his fifth NBA season in New Orleans after splitting last year between Indiana and the LA Clippers. He averaged 17.6 points in 54 games and is positioned for a sixth-man role behind Dejounte Murray, Trey Murphy III and Herb Jones.
TJ McConnell did not play in preseason for Indiana, and his opening-day status is doubtful. The 12-year veteran averaged 9.4 points and 5.1 assists in 56 games last season, and he is expected to fill a similar role with the Pacers even with Tyrese Haliburton returning from his ACL injury.
Nnaji is back for year seven with Denver, though the rotation has not opened up much for him. He averaged 3.7 points and 2.6 rebounds in 52 games last season while playing 12 minutes a night, and after logging just 9.2 minutes across four preseason games and shooting 33.3% from the field, there isn’t much evidence his role will grow.
Peat was taken with the No. 30 pick and landed with the Phoenix Suns, where he’s trying to “fix” his outside shot. He looks like depth in year one behind Dillon Brooks, Miles Bridges, Ryan Dunn and Rasheer Fleming. Peat played in five preseason games and averaged 4.0 points and 2.4 rebounds in 9.7 minutes.
Williams is moving on to Golden State after three seasons in Dallas, including a career year last season when he averaged 13 points and 3.9 assists in 66 games. In five preseason games with the Warriors, he averaged 12.6 points and 2.2 assists in 16.7 minutes, and he should provide solid backcourt depth behind Steph Curry and Brandin Podziemki.
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Arizona Gets Its First Look At A Very Different Iowa State
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Even with the change in leadership, there is still enough talent on the roster to make this a tricky scouting assignment for the Wildcats. Quarterback Jaylen Raynor and running back Aiden Flora have given the offense some shape, while Isaac Terrell, Caden Crawford and Sullivan Schlimgen have helped anchor the defense. The bigger question for Arizona is how much of the old Iowa State identity remains and how quickly Rogers version of the Cyclones is starting to take hold. [Read more 🡒]
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Among the most notable developments this offseason were some significant new landing spots for former Wildcats, a reminder that Arizonas presence in the league is not just about volume, but about staying power. Jaden Bradley and Pelle Larsson are part of that next wave, and their recent moves only add to the sense that the Wildcats NBA footprint remains one of the programs strongest calling cards. [Read more 🡒]