Sports
Wildcats Lead Country with 22 in 2024 NBA Playoffs – UK Athletics
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Continuing the program’s trend of success at the next level, Kentucky men’s basketball leads the nation with 22 former players set to participate when the 2024 NBA Playoffs tip-off on Tuesday.
Of the 22 NBA squads partaking in this year’s playoffs, 13 feature UK players. Seven teams have multiple Wildcats, led by three apiece on the Oklahoma City Thunder and Sacramento Kings.
Dallas Mavericks (1): PJ Washington
Denver Nuggets (1): Jamal Murray
Indiana Pacers (2): Isiah Jackson, Oscar Tshiebwe
Los Angeles Clippers (1): Brandon Boston Jr.
Los Angeles Lakers (2): Antony Davis, Jarred Vanderbilt
Miami Heat (2): Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro
Milwaukee Bucks (2): Chris Livingston, TyTy Washington
Minnesota Timberwolves (1): Karl Anthony Towns
New York Knicks (2): Julius Randle, Jacob Toppin
Oklahoma City Thunder (2): Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Olivier Sarr, Cason Wallace
Phoenix Suns (1): Devin Booker
Philadelphia 76ers (1): Tyrese Maxey
Sacramento Kings (3): De’Aaron Fox, Trey Lyles, Malik Monk
UK’s 22 players were the most in the Southeastern Conference. The SEC has 63 total players participating in the NBA Playoffs, the most of any conference in the country for the third straight season.
MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and teammates Olivier Sarr and Cason Wallace have the Oklahoma City Thunder back in the playoffs for the first time since 2020, entering as the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference. Jamal Murray and the defending NBA Champion Denver Nuggets are poised for a deep playoff run once again after securing the West’s No. 2 seed.
Kentucky’s hefty playoff contingent is no surprise considering its unmatched NBA presence. UK led the country for the 12th straight season with 26 former student-athletes on NBA opening day rosters. At the 2024 NBA All-Star game, the Wildcats made history with a record-breaking seven players earning All-Star nods, breaking the previous high mark of four.
This year’s playoffs get underway with the SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament beginning on Tuesday. Anthony Davis and Jarred Vanderbilt will kick things off for the Kentucky group as the Los Angeles Lakers face the New Orleans Pelicans Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. on TNT. Fox, Monk, Lyles and the Kings will also be in action on day one, as they face Golden State at 10 p.m.
For the latest on Kentucky men’s basketball team follow @KentuckyMBB on X/Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, and on the web at UKathletics.com.
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