Well now, lemme tell ya, there’s a lotta folks from Kansas who done made it big in the NBA. You ever heard of the Jayhawks? Yup, that’s the basketball team from the University of Kansas, and let me tell ya, they ain’t no slouches when it comes to ballin’. A lotta them young fellas, they go from the college courts to the big leagues, and some of ’em really make a name for themselves in the NBA.
Now, if you’re lookin’ for a couple names to remember, you got Joel Embiid. He’s been in the NBA for quite a few years now and boy, he’s somethin’ else. A seven-time All-Star, and just last year, he went ahead and snagged that MVP award in 2023. Mighty impressive for a boy who once played for Kansas! Ain’t nobody thinkin’ that when he first started, he’d make it all the way to bein’ the best player in the whole dang league!
Then there’s Markieff Morris, another fella who got his start with the Jayhawks. He’s been around the league a long time now, playin’ for a number of teams. Right now, he’s with the Dallas Mavericks, and they were runners-up in 2024. That’s a big deal, ya know, being one of the best teams in the whole NBA. So, don’t be thinkin’ these Kansas boys don’t know how to handle themselves out there.
But wait, there’s more! Let me tell ya ’bout some other names that might ring a bell. You got Christian Braun, and this kid’s a real go-getter. Just like the others, he started off at Kansas and now he’s out there in the NBA, showing folks what he’s made of. Then, there’s Andrew Wiggins, too. That boy’s been all over the NBA, playin’ with the Golden State Warriors and helpin’ ’em win championships. Wiggins, he’s another one who came from Kansas and ain’t lookin’ back.
As of this 2024-25 season, there’s a solid group of former Jayhawks out there playin’ in the NBA. All told, there’s about eleven Kansas players currently on NBA rosters. Not bad at all! That’s a pretty big chunk of players comin’ from one school, don’t ya think? In fact, that ties Kansas for third place among all NCAA Division I schools with the most former players in the NBA right now. There’s somethin’ to be said for a program that can pump out that many pro players year after year!
Now, if you’re keepin’ score, there’s some other familiar faces like Udoka Azubuike, who’s been showin’ his stuff in the NBA too. You’ve also got other names like Ochai Agbaji and Jalen Wilson, who might not have as much fame as some of the bigger names yet, but trust me, these boys are goin’ places. They all got that Kansas hustle in ’em, and they’re only gonna get better with time.
It’s a real testament to the kind of basketball that’s playin’ out there in Kansas. They don’t just train players, they make ‘em tough, smart, and ready for the big leagues. Ain’t no easy road, but Kansas sure does know how to get ‘em ready. When these young folks leave the college courts, they’re equipped to make it in the NBA, no matter what challenges come their way.
So, next time someone brings up basketball, and especially the NBA, remember the Kansas boys out there representin’. There’s a long list of them, and I’m sure there’ll be many more to come. Whether it’s Joel Embiid bringin’ home MVPs or young fellas like Braun and Wiggins showing their worth, Kansas basketball sure ain’t a program you can overlook!
Tags:[Kansas Basketball, KU Basketball Players, Joel Embiid, NBA, Kansas Jayhawks, NBA Stars, Kansas Players in the NBA, Markieff Morris, Christian Braun, Andrew Wiggins, NBA Roster, Udoka Azubuike, NBA 2024, Kansas University Basketball, NBA News]