Nine Arizona Wildcats players have landed on NBA season-opening rosters for 2023-24, while rookie Azuolas Tubelis is listed as inactive after signing a two-way deal with the Philadelphia 76ers.
The nine former Wildcats are the same group who played in the league last year, minus the now-retired Andre Iguodala. Without Iguodala, who played for Lute Olson at Arizona, all former UA players now in the league were either recruited or coached by former UA coach Sean Miller. Second-year NBA players Bennedict Mathurin (Indiana), Dalen Terry (Chicago) and Christian Koloko (Toronto) were also coached by UA's Tommy Lloyd for the final season of their college careers in 2021-22.
The only one of the nine players who changed teams is Deandre Ayton, the former No. 1 draft pick in 2018 who was shipped from Phoenix to Portland in a three-way deal. Upon returning to Phoenix for an exhibition game last week, Ayton told the Oregonian he was thankful for what the Suns did.
βThem having the power to really send me anywhere they want, they sent me where I can be valued and be appreciated," Ayton said.
Two former Wildcats, Mathurin and T.J. McConnell will now spend their second season together with the Indiana Pacers while Aaron Gordon and Zeke Nnaji will play together again for the Denver Nuggets.
A full list of NBA rosters is attached as a PDF. The nine former Wildcats are (with seasons played at UA in parentheses):
Deandre Ayton (2017-18), Portland
Aaron Gordon (2013-14), Denver
Josh Green (2019-20), Dallas
Christian Koloko (2019-22), Toronto
Lauri Markkanen (2016-17), Utah
Bennedict Mathurin (2020-22), Indiana
T.J. McConnell (2012-15), Indiana
Zeke Nnaji (2019-20), Denver
Dalen Terry (2020-22), Chicago
