Fourteen former Arizona Wildcats have made NBA season-opening rosters for the 2025-26 season, including two-way players Caleb Love of the Portland Trail Blazers and Christian Koloko of the Lakers.
NBA teams can open the season with 15 players on their standard roster plus three two-way players contracted to shuttle between the NBA and G League as Love and Koloko are.
Arizona had nine players make opening rosters last season, not counting two-way players. But this season Brandon Williams is opening with the Dallas Mavericks and is expected to receive a significant role while Kyrie Irving recovers from a knee injury, and 2025 lottery pick Carter Bryant is on the San Antonio Spurs’ roster.
The Miami Heat have included two members of the 2023-24 Wildcats on their opening roster, Keshad Johnson and Pelle Larsson.
Dallas Mavericks guard Brandon Williams dribbles up court against the Miami Heat during the second half of a game, Feb. 13, 2025, in Dallas.
The full list of former Arizona players opening the 2025-26 season in the NBA includes Josh Green of Charlotte, Dalen Terry of Chicago, Aaron Gordon and Zeke Nnaji of Denver, Bennedict Mathurin and T.J. McConnell of Indiana, Deandre Ayton and Koloko of the Lakers, Johnson and Larsson of Miami, Lauri Markkanen of Utah, plus Williams (Dallas), Love (Portland) and Bryant (San Antonio).
