The Kentucky men’s basketball program will have a record-setting presence in the 2026 NBA Playoffs, with 22 former Wildcats participating, according to an April 14 announcement. The playoffs are set to begin on Tuesday.
This high number of Kentucky alumni reflects the program’s ongoing influence at the professional level. Of the 20 teams in this year’s playoff field, 16 feature at least one former UK player, and six teams have multiple Wildcats on their rosters.
Players representing Kentucky include Amari Williams (Boston Celtics), Antonio Reeves (Charlotte Hornets), Olivier Sarr (Cleveland Cavaliers), Jamal Murray (Denver Nuggets), Reed Sheppard (Houston Rockets), Isaiah Jackson and TyTy Washington Jr. (Los Angeles Clippers), Jarred Vanderbilt (Los Angeles Lakers), Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro (Miami Heat), Julius Randle (Minnesota Timberwolves), Karl-Anthony Towns (New York Knicks), Justin Edwards and Tyrese Maxey (Philadelphia 76ers), Koby Brea and Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns), Shaedon Sharpe (Portland Trail Blazers), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Cason Wallace (Oklahoma City Thunder), De’Aaron Fox and Keldon Johnson (San Antonio Spurs) as well as Immanuel Quickley (Toronto Raptors).
The Southeastern Conference will also be well represented, with a total of 71 players participating in this year’s playoffs—the most of any conference. Notably, Adebayo, Herro, and Reeves are scheduled to play first when the Hornets host the Heat at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time on Prime Video during opening day action.
Several matchups will feature former Wildcats facing off against each other. For example, Vanderbilt’s Lakers will meet Sheppard’s Rockets; Murray’s Nuggets face Randle’s Timberwolves; Sarr’s Cavaliers take on Quickley’s Raptors; while Sharpe’s Blazers go up against Brea and Booker’s Suns.
Kentucky had five players—Booker, Gilgeous-Alexander, Maxey, Murray, and Towns—selected for the recent NBA All-Star Game. Earlier this season, Kentucky led all schools with 27 players on NBA Opening Day rosters across 21 franchises.
