List of Memphis Tigers in the NBA explained

This is a list of Memphis Tigers men's basketball players who played in the National Basketball Association.

Current NBA Players

As of the 2023–24 NBA Season, seven former Tigers are currently signed to NBA rosters.

All-time List of Memphis Tigers in the NBA & NBA draft

Since the NBA draft began in 1947, 52 players from Memphis have been drafted, and an additional nine played after being signed as undrafted free agents. Of the 52 drafted players, 28 played in at least one NBA (or ABA) game. Memphis has produced 14 first-round picks, including 8 top-ten picks and one number-one pick (Derrick Rose). Three former Tigers have been named NBA All-Stars: Larry Kenon (twice), Penny Hardaway (4 times), and Derrick Rose (3 times). Four have gone on to win the NBA Championship: Win Wilfong with the St. Louis Hawks in 1958, William Bedford with the Detroit Pistons in 1990, Earl Barron with the Miami Heat in 2006, and James Wiseman with the Golden State Warriors in 2022.

In 2010, Memphis became the second college to produce two consecutive NBA Rookie of the Year winners: Derrick Rose in 2009 and Tyreke Evans in 2010 (the first being North Carolina with winners Walter Davis in 1978 and Phil Ford in 1979). In 2011, Rose became the first former Tiger to be named the NBA Most Valuable Player.

Many Memphis players since the 1960s that have gone undrafted or had unsuccessful NBA careers have also played in professional leagues in Europe, Asia and/or Latin America.

NBA Players Who Attended Memphis
PlayerYearRoundPickTeamYears Active (NBA & ABA)Achievements
Win Wilfong195714thSt. Louis Hawks1957–19611958 NBA Champion
Jim Hackaday 3 17th Philadelphia Warriors
Orby Arnold 7 53rd St. Louis Hawks
George Price 8 58th New York Knicks
Wayne Yates196115thLos Angeles Lakers1961–1962
Lowery Kirk 4 34th Cincinnati Royals
Hunter Beckman 7 58th Cincinnati Royals
George Kirk 5 42nd Cincinnati Royals
Bob Neumann 10 83rd Cincinnati Royals
Mike Butler196810121stSan Diego Rockets1968–1972
Rich Jones1969558thPhoenix Suns1970–1977
James Douglas 16 226th Buffalo Braves
Doug Holcomb 6 94th Boston Celtics
Ronnie Robinson1973460thPhoenix Suns1973–1975
Larry Kenon1973350thDetroit Pistons1973–19832x NBA All-Star
Larry Finch1973468thLos Angeles Lakers1973–1975
Bill Cook 3 49th Washington Bullets
Marion Hillard 4 65th Washington Bullets
James Bradley 2 35th Atlanta Hawks
Rodney Lee 8 150th Detroit Pistons
Dennis Isbell 5 100th San Diego Clippers
Hank McDowell19815102ndGolden State Warriors1981–1986
Otis Jackson 8 174th New Jersey Nets
Chris Faggi 8 179th San Antonio Spurs
Bobby Parks 3 58th Atlanta Hawks
Phillip Haynes 6 121st Los Angeles Clippers
Keith Lee1985111thChicago Bulls1985–1989
Baskerville Holmes 3 68th Milwaukee Bucks
Andre Turner1986369thLos Angeles Lakers1986–1992
William Bedford198616thPhoenix Suns1986–19931990 NBA Champion
Vincent Askew1987239thPhiladelphia 76ers1987–1988, 1990–1998
Sylvester Gray1988235thMiami Heat1988–1989
Dwight Boyd 3 66th Denver Nuggets
Elliot Perry1991237thLos Angeles Clippers1991–1992,1994–2002
Penny Hardaway199313rdGolden State Warriors1993–20074x NBA All-Star, 2x All-NBA First Team, All-NBA Third Team
Todd Mundt1995undraftedn/aBoston Celtics1995–1996
David Vaughn III1995125thOrlando Magic1995–1999
Lorenzen Wright199617thLos Angeles Clippers1996–2009
Cedric Henderson1997244thCleveland Cavaliers1997–2002
Chris Garner1997undraftedn/aToronto Raptors1997–1998,2001
Dajuan Wagner200216thCleveland Cavaliers2002–2006
Antonio Burks2004237thOrlando Magic2004–2006
Earl Barron2005undraftedn/aMiami Heat2005–2006,2010–20122006 NBA Champion
Shawne Williams2006117thIndiana Pacers2006–2015
Rodney Carney2006116thChicago Bulls2006–2011
Darius Washington Jr.2007undraftedn/aSan Antonio Spurs2007
Chris Douglas-Roberts2008240thNew Jersey Nets2008–2015
Joey Dorsey2008233rdPortland Trail Blazers2008–2011
Derrick Rose200811stChicago Bulls2008–Present2011 NBA MVP, 3x NBA All-Star, All-NBA First Team, 2009 NBA Rookie of the Year
Tyreke Evans200914thSacramento Kings2009–20192010 NBA Rookie of the Year
Robert Dozier 2 60th Miami Heat
Antonio Anderson2009undraftedn/aOklahoma City Thunder2010
Elliot Williams2010122ndPortland Trail Blazers2010–2016
Will Barton2012240thPortland Trail Blazers2012–Present
D.J. Stephens2013undraftedn/aMilwaukee Bucks2014, 2018
Adonis Thomas2013undraftedn/aOrlando Magic2014
Tarik Black2014undraftedn/aHouston Rockets2014–2018
Jeremiah Martin2019undraftedn/aBrooklyn Nets2020–2021
James Wiseman202012ndGolden State Warriors2020–Present2022 NBA Champion
Precious Achiuwa2020120thMiami Heat2020–Present
Jalen Duren2022113thCharlotte Hornets2022–Present
Josh Minott2022245thCharlotte Hornets2022–Present
Lester Quiñones2022undraftedn/aGolden State Warriors2022–Present
currently active players are in bold

Source:[1]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: NBA Draft Index | Basketball-Reference.com. January 25, 2014. basketball-reference.com.