Former Texas Longhorns on NBA rosters at the start of the 2024-25 season
By Sam Fariss
Oct. 22 was the opening night of the 2024-25 NBA season and nearly a dozen former Longhorns are scattered across the league. From Kevin Durant to Kai Jones, learn where the former Texas stars are now playing ball:
Texas Longhorns on NBA rosters
- Jarrett Allen – Cleveland Cavaliers
- Mohamed (Mo) Bamba – Los Angeles Clippers
- Kevin Durant – Phoenix Suns
- Jaxson Hayes – Los Angeles Lakers
- Kai Jones – Los Angeles Clippers
- Cory Joseph – Orlando Magic
- Jericho Sims – New York Knicks
- Tristan Thompson – Cleveland Cavaliers
- P.J. Tucker – Los Angeles Clippers
- Myles Turner – Indiana Pacers
Jarrett Allen was the 22nd overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft when the Brooklyn Nets picked up the former Longhorn. He joined the Cavs in 2020 and has played in Cleveland ever since.
Mo Bamba, yes the guy that one song is about, was drafted by the Orlando Magic in 2018 and stayed with the Magic until 2023 when he joined the Los Angeles Lakers. Now, the former Texas star center is on the Philadelphia 76ers roster but isn't active for the start of the season.
Everyone knows who Kevin Durant is, even if they're not a Texas Longhorns fan. After getting drafted by the now-nonexistent Seattle Supersonics in 2007, he spent the next eight years of his career in OKC. Durant has since played for the Golden State Warriors, and Brooklyn Nets, and is now on the Phoenix Suns.
Jaxson Hayes was drafted by Atlanta in 2019 but was quickly picked up by the New Orleans Pelicans. After four years in NOLA, Hayes signed a deal with the Lakers who he is still with today.
Kai Jones is suiting up for the LA Clippers to start his third year in the league after spending the first two with the Charlotte Hornets.
Corey Joseph has been in the league for nearly 15 years and is about to play for the seventh franchise in his career. From San Antonio to Toronto to Indiana to Sacramento to Detroit to Golden State and now Orlando, his career has taken him all over the continent.
Jericho Sims clocked a few minutes for the New York Knicks on opening night as they faced the Boston Celtics. New York selected Sims in the second round of the 2021 NBA Draft.
Tristan Thompson is celebrating his 15th season in the NBA with the team that drafted him in 2011, the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The oldest Longhorn in the league is none other than P.J. Tucker. The power forward was drafted in 2006 by the Toronto Raptors and currently plays for the LA Clippers.
Myles Turner saw some productive minutes last season for the Indiana Pacers as they made a relatively deep run in the postseason. Turner is returning to the court for his tenth-straight season with the Pacers.