List of Arizona Wildcats in the NBA draft

Deandre Ayton became the first Arizona Wildcat to be selected first overall.

The Arizona Wildcats men's basketball team, representing the University of Arizona, has had 75 players drafted into the National Basketball Association (NBA) since the league began holding drafts in 1947.

Each NBA franchise seeks to add new players through an annual draft. The NBA uses a draft lottery to determine the first three picks of the NBA draft; the 14 teams that did not make the playoffs the previous year are eligible to participate. After the first three picks are decided, the rest of the teams pick in reverse order of their win–loss record.[1][2] To be eligible for the NBA draft, a player in the United States must be at least 19 years old during the calendar year of the draft and must be at least one year removed from the graduation of his high school class.[3] From 1967 until the ABA–NBA merger in 1976, the American Basketball Association (ABA) held its own draft.[4]

Key

[edit]
F Forward C Center G Guard
* Selected to an NBA/ABA All-Star Game
Won an NBA/ABA championship
Selected to an All-Star Game and won an NBA/ABA championship

Players selected

[edit]
Arizona Wildcats selected in the NBA Draft
Draft Player name Position NBA team

[A 1]

Notes
Year Round Pick Overall
1948 Morris Udall F Denver Nuggets
Lincoln Richmond G Fort Wayne Pistons
1950 7 79 79 Leon Blevins F Indianapolis Olympians
1951 5 44 44 Leo Johnson G Fort Wayne Pistons
1952 - - - Roger Johnson G Milwaukee Hawks
1960 17 95 95 Ernie McCray G Cincinnati Royals
1965 4 4 31 Warren Rustand F San Francisco Warriors
1968 12 160 160 Bill Davis F Phoenix Suns
1970 - - - Mike Foster F Indiana Pacers
1971 10 160 160 Eddie Myers F Baltimore Bullets
11 170 170 Bill Warner G Buffalo Braves
9 147 147 Tom Lee G Philadelphia 76ers
1972 7 101 101 Bruce Anderson G Detroit Pistons
1974 2 33 33 Eric Money G Denver Nuggets
3 37 37 Coniel Norman G Philadelphia 76ers
1976 2 30 30 Al Fleming G Phoenix Suns
5 77 77 James Rappis G Milwaukee Bucks
1977 2 42 42 Bob Elliott F Philadelphia 76ers
2 43 43 Herman Harris G Philadelphia 76ers
8 164 164 Jerome Gladney G San Antonio Spurs
1978 10 198 198 Phil Taylor F Denver Nuggets
1979 1 9 9 Larry Demic G New York Knicks
1980 7 152 152 Joe Nehls F Houston Rockets
1981 4 79 79 Ron Davis F, C Washington Bullets
6 148 148 Robbie Dosty G Golden State Warriors
1983 8 177 177 Frank Smith G Portland Trail Blazers
1984 1 10 10 Leon Wood F, C Philadelphia 76ers
1985 4 89 89 Pete Williams F Denver Nuggets
7 158 158 Eddie Smith G Denver Nuggets
1988 2 34 34 Tom Tolbert F Charlotte Hornets[A 2]
2 50 50 Steve Kerr G Phoenix Suns NBA Champion (1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2003 as player; 2015, 2017, 2018, 2022 as a head coach)
1989 1 24 24 Anthony Cook G Phoenix Suns
1 3 3 Sean Elliott F San Antonio Spurs NBA All-Rookie Second Team (1990), NBA All-Star (1993, 1996)

NBA Champion (1999)

1990 2 38 38 Jud Buechler F Seattle SuperSonics NBA Champion (1996–1998)
1991 1 10 10 Brian Williams C Orlando Magic NBA Champion (1997)
1992 2 30 30 Sean Rooks C Dallas Mavericks
1993 1 22 22 Chris Mills F Cleveland Cavaliers
2 35 35 Ed Stokes* F Miami Heat
1994 1 12 12 Khalid Reeves G Miami Heat
1995 1 7 7 Damon Stoudamire G Toronto Raptors All-Rookie First Team (1996), Rookie of the Year (1996)
1996 2 35 35 Joseph Blair F Seattle SuperSonics
2 43 43 Ben Davis F Phoenix Suns
2 56 56 Reggie Geary F Cleveland Cavaliers
1998 1 2 2 Mike Bibby G Vancouver Grizzlies All-Rookie First Team (1999)
1 14 14 Michael Dickerson F Houston Rockets
2 42 42 Miles Simon G Orlando Magic NBA Champion (2020 as an assistant coach)
1999 1 10 10 Jason Terry G Atlanta Hawks NBA Champion (2011)
2 39 39 A.J. Bramlett F Cleveland Cavaliers
2001 1 13 13 Richard Jefferson F Houston Rockets All-Rookie Second Team (2002), NBA Champion (2016)
2 31 31 Gilbert Arenas* G Golden State Warriors NBA All-Star (2005, 2006, 2007)

Most Improved Player (2003)

2 39 39 Michael Wright G New York Knicks
2 46 46 Loren Woods G Minnesota Timberwolves
2003 2 32 32 Luke Walton F Los Angeles Lakers NBA Champions (2009, 2010 as player; 2015 as assistant coach)
2004 1 9 9 Andre Iguodala F Philadelphia 76ers All-Rookie First Team (2005), NBA All-Star (2012)
NBA Champion (2015, 2017, 2018, 2022)
Finals MVP (2015)
2005 1 8 8 Channing Frye G New York Knicks All-Rookie First Team (2006), NBA Champion (2016)
2 31 31 Salim Stoudamire G Atlanta Hawks
2006 2 54 54 Hassan Adams G New Jersey Nets
2007 2 33 33 Marcus Williams G San Antonio Spurs
2008 1 11 11 Jerryd Bayless G Indiana Pacers
2009 1 8 8 Jordan Hill F New York Knicks
2 44 44 Chase Budinger F Detroit Pistons
2011 1 2 2 Derrick Williams F Minnesota Timberwolves 2012 All-Rookie Second Team, NBA All-Rookie Second Team (2012)
2013 1 23 23 Solomon Hill F Indiana Pacers
2 40 40 Grant Jerrett G Portland Trail Blazers
2014 1 4 4 Aaron Gordon F Orlando Magic
2 17 17 Nick Johnson G Houston Rockets
2015 1 8 8 Stanley Johnson F Detroit Pistons
1 23 23 Rondae Hollis-Jefferson F Portland Trail Blazers
2017 1 7 7 Lauri Markkanen F Minnesota Timberwolves All-Rookie First Team (2018)
2 53 53 Kadeem Allen G Boston Celtics NBA G League All-Defensive Team (2018)
2018 1 1 1 Deandre Ayton F Phoenix Suns First Wildcat selected 1st Overall, All-Rookie First Team (2019)
2020 1 18 18 Josh Green F Dallas Mavericks
2020 1 22 22 Zeke Nnaji F Denver Nuggets NBA Champion (2023)
2020 2 48 48 Nico Mannion G Golden State Warriors His father Pace Mannion was drafted 43rd by Golden State in the 1983
2022 1 6 6 Bennedict Mathurin G Indiana Pacers All-Rookie First Team (2023)
2022 1 18 18 Dalen Terry G Chicago Bulls
2022 2 33 33 Christian Koloko C Toronto Raptors
2024 2 44 44 Pelle Larsson G/F Houston Rockets

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ This is the team that drafted the player, not his most recent team.
  2. ^ When the franchise previously known as the Charlotte Bobcats renamed itself the Charlotte Hornets starting with the 2014–15 season, it received sole ownership of the history and records of the original Charlotte Hornets, which played from 1988 to 2002.

References

[edit]
General
  • "2014-15 Men's Basketball Media Guide". University of Arizona. Retrieved April 7, 2013.[permanent dead link]
  • "NBA Draft Picks From University of Arizona". Sports Reference LLC. Basketball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on April 26, 2013. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
  • "Rookie of the Year Award". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on January 8, 2007. Retrieved April 27, 2007.
  • "Most Valuable Player". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved July 4, 2008.
  • "NBA postseason awards: Sixth Man Award". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on February 2, 2012. Retrieved June 2, 2008.
  • "Most Improved Player". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on January 1, 2011. Retrieved June 2, 2008.
  • "Defensive Player of the Year". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on January 26, 2012. Retrieved June 2, 2008.
  • "Coach of the Year". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on September 15, 2010. Retrieved June 2, 2008.
  • "Finals Most Valuable Player". NBA/Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved July 14, 2008.
  • "All-NBA Teams". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on September 17, 2008. Retrieved August 7, 2008.
  • "All-Star Game: Year-by-Year Results". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on April 13, 2012. Retrieved July 23, 2008.
  • "All-Rookie Teams". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on July 25, 2008. Retrieved August 13, 2008.
  • "Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famers Index". Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. CBS Interactive. Retrieved August 14, 2010.
Specific
  1. ^ "Evolution of the Draft and Lottery". NBA.com. Archived from the original on December 3, 2009. Retrieved November 18, 2009.
  2. ^ Dengate, Jeff (May 16, 2007). "Let the Ping-Pong Balls Fall". NBA.com. Archived from the original on December 3, 2009. Retrieved November 18, 2009.
  3. ^ "Article X, Section 1(b)(i)". 2005 NBA Collective Bargaining Agreement. National Basketball Players Association. Archived from the original on January 25, 2010. Retrieved November 18, 2009.
  4. ^ Pluto, Terry (1990). Loose Balls: The Short, Wild Life of the American Basketball Association. New York: Simon & Schuster. p. 432. ISBN 1-4165-4061-X. Retrieved December 5, 2009.