(Image via NBC Sports)
You needed another reminder that Kentucky ran the NBA? Surely not. As the NBA Playoffs have made it back to our televisions for another postseason, it's time to point out the amount of Cats the bog down the lineups across the league, specifically on the 16 teams who have made it to the playoffs this year.
Again, the University of Kentucky led all other college basketball programs for the amount of former players who are participating in the 2023 NBA Playoffs starting this Tuesday. With the play-in tournament happening, it extends the team list to 22 teams, and of those twenty-two, 10 teams employee former UK players. Five teams have multiple Wildcats, with the Los Angeles Lakers and Sacramento Kings leading the way with three each.
Denver Nuggets – Jamal Murray
Los Angeles Clippers – Brandon Boston Jr.
Los Angeles Lakers – Anthony Davis, Wenyen Gabriel, Jarred Vanderbilt
Miami Heat – Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro
Minnesota Timberwolves – Karl-Anthony Towns
New York Knicks – Immanuel Quickley, Julius Randle
Oklahoma City Thunder – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Olivier Sarr
Philadelphia 76ers – Tyrese Maxey
Phoenix Suns – Devin Booker
Sacramento Kings – De’Aaron Fox, Trey Lyles, Malik Monk
Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro will be the first to tip off as the Heat host the Hawks at 7:30 p.m. ET with the game airing on TNT. Karl-Anthony Towns’ Timberwolves and the Lakers featuring Anthony Davis, Kenyan Gabriel and Jarred Vanderbilt will also play on the opening day.
Jamal Murray’s Nuggets own the No. 1 overall seed in the Western Conference, while De'Aaron Fox, Trey Lyles and Malik Monk have helped the Kings snap the league’s longest playoff draught and own the No. 3 seed in the West.
I know it's hard to choose, but which UK-related team are you pulling for?