There are five former Auburn Tigers that will open the upcoming NBA season on a professional roster, including four first-rounders.
Recent NBA Draft first-round selections Jabari Smith and Walker Kessler will be joined by chuma okeke, Isaac Okoro, and JT Thor as former Auburn players that will participate in the world’s most recognizable basketball league.
Auburn almost had a sixth player added to the mix, but Sharife Cooper was recently waived by the Cleveland Cavaliers after spending his first NBA season with his hometown team, the Atlanta Hawks. Had Cooper made the regular season roster, he would have been reunited with former high school teammate Isaac Okoro.
For those looking for an NBA team to follow this season, maybe this list will trim down your options. Here are the five NBA teams that feature a former Auburn Tiger on their opening-day roster.
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Season opener: Wednesday, Oct. 19 at Detroit
Okeke enters his third season as a member of the Orlando Magic. The former first-round selection played in 70 games last season, averaging 8.6 points and 5.0 rebounds per game in 25 minutes played per contest.
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Season opener: Wednesday, Oct. 19 at San Antonio
Thor enters his second season with the Charlotte Hornets. Thor played 33 games last season with the Hornets, where he averaged 2.0 points per game with 1.3 rebounds.
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Season opener: Wednesday, Oct. 19 at Atlanta
Smith is one of two players on last year’s roster that will make his NBA debut this week. Smith had a solid NBA rookie league campaign but has recently suffered an ankle injury that has kept him out of several preseason games for Houston. He expected to return for the Rockets’ season opener on Wednesday against the Memphis Grizzlies.
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Season opener: Wednesday, Oct. 19 vs. Oklahoma City
Kessler has been a journeyman in his short time in the NBA. He was drafted No. 22 overall by the Memphis Grizzlies and was traded immediately to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
He was then involved in the trade between the Timberwolves and Utah Jazz that involved Rudy Gobert, meaning that he had been a member of three NBA franchises in the span of 10 days.
He has since settled in Utah, and will start the season on the Jazz’s opening-day roster.
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