Ranking Kentucky players in NBA: Where does OKC Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander land?
No college basketball program produces more NBA players than Kentucky.
The Oklahoma City Thunder knows this well. Three Wildcats are on Oklahoma City's roster — superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, rookie Cason Wallace and second-year center Olivier Sarr.
A total of 26 former Wildcats made an opening-day roster for the 2023-24 season. That ranked first among all colleges, narrowly besting Duke (24). No other program had more than 15 alums in the league.
Based on their play this season, here are the top 10 NBA players who attended Kentucky.
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10. Tyler Herro, Miami Heat
Year(s) at Kentucky: 2018-19 (Lost to Auburn in NCAA Elite Eight)
NBA Draft: 13th overall to Heat in 2019
Statistics (entering play Saturday): 21.8 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists
Despite missing 19 games due to various injuries, Tyler Herro has looked sharp when healthy this season.
The fifth-year guard is averaging career highs in points, rebounds and assists. Herro is also shooting a career high 40.4% from deep, and he's a key source of offense for a Miami (24-21) team that reached the NBA Finals last season.
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9. Julius Randle, New York Knicks
Year(s) at Kentucky: 2013-14 (Lost to UConn in NCAA championship)
NBA Draft: Seventh overall to Lakers in 2014
Statistics: 24.1 points, 9.2 rebounds and 5 assists
Julius Randle made the All-NBA third team last season, and he's playing at a high level once again.
The 10th-year forward has started in all 45 games for New York (28-17), which is one of the hottest teams in basketball. The Knicks are on a five-game win streak, and they're fourth the Eastern Conference standings.
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8. Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers
Year(s) at Kentucky: 2019-20 (NCAA Tournament canceled due to pandemic)
NBA Draft: 21st overall to 76ers ibn 2020
Statistics: 25.7 points, 3.6 rebounds and 6.6 assists
Tyrese Maxey is the favorite to win the NBA's Most Improved Player award this season, and it's not hard to see why.
The fourth-year guard has thrived in a larger role following James Harden's departure. He's averaging career highs in points, rebounds and assists, and he's a big reason why Philadelphia (29-14) is third in the East.
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7. Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat
Year(s) at Kentucky: 2016-17 (Lost to North Carolina in NCAA Elite Eight)
NBA Draft: 14th overall to Heat in 2017
Statistics: 21.3 points, 10.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists
Bam Adebayo has made the NBA's All-Defensive second team in each of the last four seasons, and he continues to be elite on that end of the floor.
But the seventh-year center is also averaging career highs in points and field goal attempts per game (15.6). With his increased aggressiveness on offense, he's undoubtedly one of the best players in the NBA at his position.
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6. De'Aaron Fox, Sacramento Kings
Year(s) at Kentucky: 2016-17 (Lost to North Carolina in NCAA Elite Eight)
NBA Draft: 5th overall to Kings in 2017
Statistics: 27.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 5.6 assists
De'Aaron Fox led Sacramento to its first playoff appearance since 2006 last season, and he earned an All-NBA third team selection in the process.
And yet the seventh-year guard somehow found a way to take his game to another level this season. Fox is averaging career highs in points and 3-point shooting percentage (39.1%), and he has Sacramento (25-18) in the playoff hunt once again.
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5. Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets
Year(s) at Kentucky: 2015-16 (Lost to Indiana in NCAA second round)
NBA Draft: Seventh overall to Nuggets in 2016
Statistics: 20.9 points, 3.9 rebounds and 6.5 assists
Jamal Murray hasn't earned an All-Star appearance in his seven-year career.
But he has something more important. Murray was the second-best player last season for the Denver Nuggets, who won their first championship in franchise history, and he continues to solidify himself this season as one of the best point guards in the NBA.
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4. Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves
Year(s) at Kentucky: 2014-15 (Lost to Wisconsin in NCAA Final Four)
NBA Draft: First overall to Timberwolves in 2015
Statistics: 22.7 points, 8.8 rebounds and 3 assists
Karl-Anthony Towns has shined for Minnesota, which is one of the biggest surprises in basketball this season.
The Timberwolves (32-13) are first in the West thanks in large part to Towns. The ninth-year forward/center is shooting a ridiculous 43.9% from deep, making him one of the most skilled big men in the NBA.
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3. Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns
Year(s) at Kentucky: 2014-15 (Lost to Wisconsin in NCAA Final Four)
NBA Draft: 13th overall to Suns in 2015
Statistics: 27.2 points, 4.9 rebounds and 7.5 assists
Few people in the world can put the ball through the hoop like Devin Booker.
The ninth-year guard has averaged at least 25 points per game in all but three seasons of his career, and this season is no different. Booker is shooting 49.4% from the floor and 38.1% from deep, leaving no doubt that he's one of the league's most unstoppable scorers.
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2. Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers
Year(s) at Kentucky: 2011-12 (Beat Kansas for NCAA championship)
NBA Draft: First overall to New Orleans in 2012
Statistics: 24.9 points, 12.2 rebounds and 3.8 assists
After failing to play in at least 60 games in four of the past five seasons, Anthony Davis is on pace to shatter that number.
The 12th-year forward has started in all but two games for the Los Angeles Lakers (23-23). He's one of the best defenders in the league, and there's not much opposing teams can do when he's looking to score down low.
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1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC Thunder
Year(s) at Kentucky: 2017-18 (Lost to Kansas State in NCAA Sweet 16)
NBA Draft: 11th overall to Hornets (traded to Clippers) in 2018
Statistics: 31.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 6.4 assists
Kentucky has produced some of the best players in the NBA, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander sits atop that list.
The sixth-year guard ranks fourth in the NBA in points per game, and he's a big reason why the OKC Thunder (32-13) entered play Saturday tied for first in the West. Gilgeous-Alexander also sits at third in the NBA's MVP ladder, which cements his spot at the top of the food chain for former Wildcats.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Is OKC Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander best Kentucky alum in NBA?
