All of Thad Matta’s NBA draft picks while at Ohio State
In case you’ve been away from the sports news cycle for a bit, we’re here to let you know that former Ohio State basketball head coach Thad Matta is back in the game. One of his former schools, and alma mater, Butler, announced the hiring of Matta to be the Bulldogs’ new head coach last week.
Hopefully, Matta has gotten to the point with his health that he’s ready to get back in the game at the level he was while patrolling the sidelines in Columbus, and we for one, will be rooting for his success.
The whole thing did get us reminiscing though. Simply put, Matta’s time at Ohio State is hands down the best era in Buckeye basketball history. During his time wearing the scarlet and gray, Matta won five regular season Big Ten titles, four Big Ten Tournament championships, went to two Final Fours, including one where OSU finished runner up, and took Ohio State to the NCAA Tournament nine times.
Matta also sent a lot of players to the NBA, including multiple first-rounders. And that’s what we’re focusing on here with the news of him back in the coaching game. Here is every Ohio State player that was selected in the NBA draft while Thad Matta was the coach at OSU.
We’ll go in chronological order from earliest to most recent.
Daequan Cook - 2007 NBA draft
Nov 20, 2006; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes guard (31) Daequan Cook drives the lane against San Francisco Dons center (3) Jared Casey in the first half at Value City ArenaStadium. Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports © copyright Matthew Emmons
Selection in the NBA draft
First Round | 21st overall selection by the Philadelphia 76ers (traded to Miami)
Career Averages at Ohio State
Year(s) | Games | Points | Rebounds | Assists |
2006-2007 | 39 | 9.8 | 4.3 | 1.0 |
Career NBA Stats
Miami, Oklahoma City, Houston, and Chicago
Year(s) | Games | Points | Rebounds | Assists |
2007-2013 | 328 | 6.4 | 2.1 | 0.7 |
Mike Conley - 2007 NBA draft
Feb 22, 2020; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Utah Jazz guard Mike Conley (10) reacts after being fouled while shooting against the Houston Rockets during the third quarter at Vivint Smart Home Arena. The Rockets won 120-110. Credit: Chris Nicoll-USA TODAY Sports
Selection in the NBA draft
First Round | 4th overall selection by the Memphis Grizzlies
Career Averages at Ohio State
Year(s) | Games | Points | Rebounds | Assists |
2006-2007 | 39 | 11.3 | 3.4 | 6.1 |
Career NBA Stats
Memphis and Utah
Year(s) | Games | Points | Rebounds | Assists |
2007-Current | 956 | 14.8 | 3.0 | 5.6 |
Greg Oden - 2007 NBA draft
Feb 25, 2007; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Thad Matta celebrates with center Greg Oden (20) after a victory against the Wisconsin Badgers at Value City Arena. The Buckeyes beat the Badgers 49-48. Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports © copyright Matthew Emmons
Selection in the NBA draft
First Round | 1st overall selection by the Portland Trail Blazers
Career Averages at Ohio State
Year(s) | Games | Points | Rebounds | Blocks |
2006-2007 | 32 | 15.7 | 9.6 | 3.3 |
Career NBA Stats
Portland and Miami
Year(s) | Games | Points | Rebounds | Blocks |
2008-2009, 2013 | 105 | 8.0 | 6.2 | 1.2 |
Kosta Koufus - 2008 NBA draft
Apr 4, 2019; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings center Kosta Koufos (41) shoots the ball over Cleveland Cavaliers forward Marquese Chriss (3) during the first quarter at Golden 1 Center. Credit: Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports
Selection in the NBA draft
First Round | 23rd overall selection by the Utah Jazz
Career Averages at Ohio State
Year(s) | Games | Points | Rebounds | Blocks |
2007-2008 | 37 | 14.4 | 6.7 | 1.8 |
Career NBA Stats
Utah, Minnesota, Denver, Memphis, LA Kings
Year(s) | Games | Points | Rebounds | Blocks |
2008-2018 | 686 | 5.7 | 5.0 | 0.7 |
Byron (B.J.) Mullens - 2009 NBA draft
Mar 19, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Byron Mullens (30) reacts to a call during the fourth quarter against the Chicago Bulls at the Wells Fargo Center. The Bulls defeated the Sixers 102-94. Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Selection in the NBA draft
First Round | 24th overall selection by the Dallas Mavericks (traded to Oklahoma City)
Career Averages at Ohio State
Year(s) | Games | Points | Rebounds | Blocks |
2008-2009 | 33 | 8.8 | 4.7 | 1.1 |
Career NBA Stats
Oklahoma City, Charlotte, LA Clippers, and Philadelphia
Year(s) | Games | Points | Rebounds | Blocks |
2009-2013 | 189 | 7.4 | 4.2 | 0.5 |
Evan Turner - 2010 NBA draft
Feb 3, 2020; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Evan Turner (1) prepares to shoot before the game against the Boston Celtics at State Farm Arena. Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Selection in the NBA draft
First Round | 2nd overall selection by the Philadelphia 76ers
Career Averages at Ohio State
Year(s) | Games | Points | Rebounds | Assists |
2007-2010 | 101 | 15.0 | 6.8 | 4.1 |
Career NBA Stats
Portland and Miami
Year(s) | Games | Points | Rebounds | Assists |
2010-2019 | 705 | 9.7 | 4.6 | 3.5 |
Jon Diebler - 2011 NBA draft
Mar 20, 2009; Dayton, Oh, USA; Ohio State head coach Thad Matta with guard Jon Diebler (33) in the second half against the Siena Saints during the first round of the 2009 NCAA men’s basketball tournament at University of Dayton Arena.
Selection in the NBA draft
Second Round | 51st overall selection by the Portland Trail Blazers
Career Averages at Ohio State
Year(s) | Games | Points | Rebounds | 3-point FG% |
2007-2011 | 144 | 10.7 | 2. | 41.6% |
Career NBA Stats
Never appeared in an official NBA game
Jared Sullinger - 2012 NBA draft
ORG XMIT: RD 41640 Final four 3/31/2012 3/31/12 11:19:54 PM — New Orleans, LA, U.S.A — 2012 Final Four. — Men’s Semifinal action Ohio State Buckeyes vs Kansas Jayhawks: Ohio State Buckeyes forward Jared Sullinger (0) reacts after losing to Kansas Jayhawks. Photo by Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY Staff (Via OlyDrop)
Selection in the NBA draft
First Round | 21st overall selection by the Boston Celtics
Career Averages at Ohio State
Year(s) | Games | Points | Rebounds | FG% |
2010-2012 | 74 | 17.3 | 9.7 | 53.0 |
Career NBA Stats
Boston and Toronto
Year(s) | Games | Points | Rebounds | FG% |
2012-2016 | 269 | 10.8 | 7.5 | 43.6 |
Deshaun Thomas - 2013 NBA draft
LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 30: Deshaun Thomas #1 of the Ohio State Buckeyes looks on while taking on the Wichita State Shockers during the West Regional Final of the 2013 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Staples Center on March 30, 2013, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Selection in the NBA draft
Second Round | 58th overall selection by the San Antonio Spurs
Career Averages at Ohio State
Year(s) | Games | Points | Rebounds | FG% |
2010-2013 | 113 | 14.4 | 5.0 | 47.8 |
Career NBA Stats
Never appeared in an official NBA game
D'Angelo Russell - 2015 NBA draft
Feb 14, 2015; East Lansing, MI, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes guard D’Angelo Russell (0) stands on the court between plays during the 2nd half of a game at the Jack Breslin Student Events Center. MSU beat Ohio St. 59-56. Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Selection in the NBA draft
First Round | 21st overall selection by the Boston Celtics
Career Averages at Ohio State
Year(s) | Games | Points | Rebounds | Assists |
2014-2015 | 35 | 19.3 | 5.7 | 5.0 |
Career NBA Stats
LA Lakers, Brooklyn, Golden State, Minnesota
Year(s) | Games | Points | Rebounds | Assists |
2015-Current | 424 | 17.7 | 3.5 | 5.6 |
Keita Bates-Diop (Thad Matta recruit, Chris Holtmann upon graduation) - 2018 NBA draft
Feb 16, 2016; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes forward Keita Bates-Diop (33) looks for an open teammate under pressure from Michigan Wolverines guard Duncan Robinson (22) at Value City Arena. Ohio State won the game 76-66. Credit: Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports
Selection in the NBA draft
Second Round | 48th overall selection by the Minnesota Timberwolves
Career Averages at Ohio State
Year(s) | Games | Points | Rebounds | FG% |
2014-2018 | 109 | 11.7 | 5.7 | 47.2 |
Career NBA Stats
Minnesota, Denver, San Antonio
Year(s) | Games | Points | Rebounds | FG% |
2018-Current | 160 | 5.1 | 3.0 | 46.0 |
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