Take a look back at every Arizona Wildcat selected in the NBA Draft since 1988.
Steve Kerr made a career for himself alongside Michael Jordan in Chicago. But the Phoenix Suns first drafted him 50th overall in the 1988 draft.
Frank Polich / APPicking first: Los Angeles Clippers
Their selection: Danny Manning, power forward, Kansas
Arizona Wildcats selected:
San Antonio Spurs' Tim Duncan, center, and teammates Sean Elliott, right, and Malik Rose celebrate in the locker room after winning the NBA championship in 1999.
Ron Frehm, Associated PressPicking first: Sacramento Kings
Their selection: Pervis Ellison, forward/center, Louisville
Arizona Wildcats selected:
The SuperSonics drafted Jud Buechler, left, in 1990. Buechler played with the Bulls from 1994-1998.
Michael CaulfieldPicking first: New Jersey Nets
Their selection: Derrick Coleman, forward/center, Syracuse
Arizona Wildcats selected:
Brian Williams, later known as Bison Dele, was a top-10 pick to the Magic in 1991.
Michael S. GreenPicking first: Charlotte Hornets
Their selection: Larry Johnson, forward, UNLV
Arizona Wildcats selected:
Los Angeles Lakers' Shaquille O'Neal, right, holds up fellow center Sean Rooks. Rooks began his career in Dallas when he was the 30th selection in 1992.
Chris Pizzello/AP PhotoPicking first: Orlando Magic
Their selection: Shaquille O'Neal, center, LSU
Arizona Wildcats selected:
He said it: "By then I was disappointed. I was just happy to find I was going somewhere. I thought (being a first-round pick) was a given. I was told I was projected to go between 19-24. Today was not what I had anticipated." — Rooks
New York Knicks forward Chris Mills (42) played his games at Madison Square Garden after going 22nd in the 1993 draft.
John Dunn/AP PhotoPicking first: Orlando Magic
Their selection: Chris Webber, center/forward, Michigan
Arizona Wildcats selected:
He said it: "I was back there wondering, 'Where am I going to go?' I guess I'll have to (work hard and) let those teams that passed on me know they made a mistake." — Mills
Charlotte Hornets' Khalid Reeves (3) went 12th overall in the 1994 draft.
Ruth Fremson/AP PhotoPicking first: Milwaukee Bucks
Their selection: Glenn Robinson, forward, Purdue
Arizona Wildcats selected:
He said it: "I see myself playing both (guard) positions. I think I'm equally gifted playing both positions. I'm just glad to be on the court doing the things I love to do — creating shots for others and creating them for myself." — Reeves
Damon Stoudamire was drafted No. 7 by Toronto in 1995, and won Rookie of the Year honors for the Raptors.
Frank Gunn, Associated PressPicking first: Golden State Warriors
Their selection: Joe Smith, forward/center, Maryland
Arizona Wildcats selected:
He said it: "I'm just happy to be with Toronto and Isiah Thomas. I want to make the most of it. The style they want to bring to the league — run and gun — fits me." — Stoudamire
Former Wildcat Reggie Geary, right, was the Spurs' second-round pick in 1996.
Joey Garcia/APPicking first: Philadelphia 76ers
Their selection: Allen Iverson, guard, Georgetown
Arizona Wildcats selected:
He said it: "The only comment I have is that I'm disappointed with the NBA," said Geary, who had productive workouts with Detroit and the Los Angeles Lakers. "I'm disappointed with the system. It's too bad that I had to go through all of this. But at the same time, I'm thankful for the Cavaliers giving me the opportunity." — Geary
San Antonio Spurs' Tim Duncan jumpstarted his Hall of Fame career in the 1997 draft.
Eric Gay / APPicking first: San Antonio Spurs
Their selection: Tim Duncan, forward/center, Wake Forest
Arizona Wildcats selected: None
Arizona's Mike Bibby was almost the top pick in 1998, when the Vancouver Grizzlies took him at No. 2.
Frank Gunn, Associated PressPicking first: Los Angeles Clippers
Their selection: Michael Olowokandi, center, University of the Pacific
Arizona Wildcats selected:
He said it: "It was a great feeling, one I can't say I've ever had. The crowd made me feel like they wanted me. I'm going to try to get them happy and get the job done." — Bibby
Arizona's Jason Terry went to Atlanta tenth overall in the 1999 draft.
Doug Mills / AP PhotoPicking first: Chicago Bulls
Their selection: Elton Brand, forward/center, Duke
Arizona Wildcats selected:
He said it: "You look at their roster and Anthony Johnson is the only other point guard they have. I'll come in, work hard, and hopefully, I'll get the job." — Terry
Kenyon Martin was the first off the board in 2000 to the Nets.
Ray Stubblebine / AP PhotoPicking first: New Jersey Nets
Their selection: Kenyon Martin, center/forward, Cincinnati
Arizona Wildcats selected: None
Richard Jefferson at a press conference in Phoenix after he was drafted 13th overall by New Jersey in the 2001 NBA Draft.
Samantha Feldman / East Valley TribunePicking first: Washington Wizards
Their selection: Kwame Brown, forward/center, Glynn Academy High School
Arizona Wildcats selected:
He said it: "I’ve seen a million things happen on draft day, enough to know not to be sitting, waiting, and expecting the first team you go to to be the team you are playing for," — Jefferson, the only one of the four UA draft-eligible players to go in the first round.
Houston Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich welcomes Yao Ming in 2002.
Richard Carson / AP PhotoPicking first: Houston Rockets
Their selection: Yao Ming, center, China
Arizona Wildcats selected: None
Los Angeles Lakers' draftees Brian Cook, right, and Luke Walton hold up their new jerseys after the draft in 2003.
Jerome T. Nakagawa / AP PhotoPicking first: Cleveland Cavaliers
Their selection: LeBron James, forward, St. Vincent-St. Mary High School
Arizona Wildcats selected:
He said it: "I grew up when my dad was playing for the Celtics, and we used to root for the Celtics, but since I've gotten older, I've loved to watch the Lakers play. It's just an amazing feeling right now. It's hard to describe, but it's what I've been dreaming about since I was a kid." — Walton
Andre Iguodala began his career in Philadelphia after the Sixers took him ninth overall from the UA in 2004.
Jeff Zelevansky / AP PhotoPicking first: Orlando Magic
Their selection: Dwight Howard, center, Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy High School
Arizona Wildcats selected:
He said it: "Josh Childress and I were talking on the way over here, and we didn't know where we'd get picked. I thought I'd go a little higher, but I'm just happy and thankful I got picked." — Iguodala
Channing Frye was the eighth overall selection in 2005 and began his career with the New York Knicks.
Ray Stubblebine, Associated PressPicking first: Milwaukee Bucks
Their selection: Andrew Bogut, forward/center, Utah
Arizona Wildcats selected:
He said it: "Where else better to start out than in New York. If you can play here, you can play anywhere. ... I know what it means to come to a tradition, being from Arizona. I have so much respect for Madison Square Garden. Every time I came here to play I would kiss the floor to honor my grandfather. He was a big Knicks fan." — Frye
Arizona's Hassan Adams sneaked in the 2006 draft at No. 54 overall.
Francisco Medina / Tucson CitizenPicking first: Toronto Raptors
Their selection: Andrea Bargnani, forward/center, Italy
Arizona Wildcats selected:
Marcus Williams was a second-round pick in 2007 to the San Antonio Spurs.
Xavier Gallegos / Tucson CitizenPicking first: Portland Trail Blazers
Their selection: Greg Oden, center, Ohio State
Arizona Wildcats selected:
He said it: Williams said he was "happy" with the pick, though he declined further comment.
Jerryd Bayless, right, who played for Arizona, is congratulated by commissioner David Stern after being selected 11th overall by the Indiana Pacers in 2008.
Seth Wenig / AP PhotoPicking first: Chicago Bulls
Their selection: Derrick Rose, guard, Memphis
Arizona Wildcats selected:
He said it: "I'm excited for the opportunity. Obviously, I wasn't waiting. I didn't know I was going to be left (undrafted) that long. But there's an opportunity there and I'm going to a good team that needs a couple of good parts to win. I'm really excited to be playing with Greg Oden, Brandon Roy and all those great players they already have there." — Bayless
The New York Knicks took Arizona's Jordan Hill at No. 8 in 2009.
Frank Franklin II / AP PhotoPicking first: Los Angeles Clippers
Their selection: Blake Griffin, forward, Oklahoma
Arizona Wildcats selected:
He said it: "It's definitely a good fit for me. It's an up-tempo game and I run the floor like no other. I just love to run the floor and try to get open for an easy dunk or whatever. So definitely, it's definitely a good fit." — Hill
John Wall, of Kentucky, spears to reporters after going first overall in 2010.
Craig Ruttle / AP PhotoPicking first: Washington Wizards
Their selection: John Wall, guard, Kentucky
Arizona Wildcats selected: None
NBA Commissioner David Stern, left, poses with the No. 2 overall pick in 2011, Arizona's Derrick Williams.
Bill Kostroun, Associated PressPicking first: Cleveland Cavaliers
Their selection: Kyrie Irving, guard, Duke
Arizona Wildcats selected:
He said it: "I want to be there. I want to make that team better, that whole franchise. I want to get them from a losing record to a winning record. That's my job, and that's why they chose me. So we'll see what they do with it. But I want to stay." — Williams
Kentucky's Anthony Davis was the No. 1 selection in 2012, when no UA players were selected.
Julio Cortez / AP PhotoPicking first: New Orleans Hornets
Their selection: Anthony Davis, forward/center, Kentucky
Arizona Wildcats selected: None
Solomon Hill made three 3-pointers in the first quarter of a conference semifinal game against the Warriors.
Gerald Herbert / AP PhotoPicking first: Cleveland Cavaliers
Their selection: Anthony Bennett, forward, UNLV
Arizona Wildcats selected:
He said it: "Definitely, that's a huge thing that goes on now — potential vs. being an older guy. But one thing is that I am an older guy who can contribute right away and try to develop. My goal is to be prepared for that opportunity and do it every year." — Hill
Aaron Gordon of Arizona became part of the Orlando Magic when they took him No. 4 in the 2014 draft.
Jason DeCrow / AP PhotoPicking first: Cleveland Cavaliers
Their selection: Andrew Wiggins, forward, Kansas
Arizona Wildcats selected:
He said it: "It represents how wide I want the fans' eyes to be when they're watching us play," Gordon, on changing his jersey number from 11 to 00 in his transition to the NBA
Stanley Johnson, right, went to the Detroit Pistons at No. 8 overall in 2015.
Kathy Willens / AP PhotoPicking first: Minnesota Timberwolves
Their selection: Karl-Anthony Towns, center, Kentucky
Arizona Wildcats selected:
He said it: "In my opinion, everyone has a job. A lot of stuff in the media is to get a headline, get a story and attention. I said it before: I thought I was the best player in the draft. Nothing against Justise (Winslow) — he's one of my friends — that's just what my mentality is like. I think the Pistons made the best decision. The media has a job to do so they're going to gas it up. I know (Detroit) went with who they thought was the best." — Johnson
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, left, greets Ben Simmons as the top pick to the 76ers in 2016.
Frank Franklin II / AP PhotoPicking first: Philadelphia 76ers
Their selection: Ben Simmons, forward, LSU
Arizona Wildcats selected: None
Photographers measure Lauri Markkanen's wingspan during media day for the NBA basketball team in Chicago.
Charles Rex Arbogast, Associated PressPicking first: Philadelphia 76ers
Their selection: Markelle Fultz, guard, Washington
Arizona Wildcats selected:
He said it: "I’m just happy to be here and just glad to be involved in it. I’m just honored if some team, organization, includes me in trades. … I’m really honored to be part of this organization, and can’t wait to go there and do what I can. It’s just a blessing to be (a Bull). And of course with Michael Jordan, greatest player ever to play, it’s huge to be a part of it.” — Markkanen
Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton looks toward the scoreboard during the second quarter against the Washington Wizards in Phoenix, March 27, 2019.
Michael Chow / The RepublicPicking first: Phoenix Suns
Their selection: Deandre Ayton, forward, Arizona
Arizona Wildcats selected:
He said it: “Deandre is a special player and we are thrilled to welcome him home to Phoenix. It is extremely rare for a player with his size, length and athleticism to be able to not only finish around the rim but also step away from the basket and make shots. ... In addition, he has strong ties to this area and we can’t wait to see him in a Suns uniform.” — Suns GM Ryan McDonough
Duke's Zion Williamson before a game against Clemson at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, N.C., on Jan. 5, 2019.
Streeter Lecka/Getty Images North America/TNSPicking first: New Orleans Pelicans
Their selection: Zion Williamson, forward, Duke
Arizona Wildcats selected: None
Josh Green
FIBAPicking first: Minnesota Timberwolves
Their selection: Anthony Edwards, forward, Georgia
Arizona Wildcats selected:
He said it: "It's a star-struck moment. I think it's one of those moments, you don't know what emotion to really express. Being with my family, it's awesome. It's something I dreamed of during my whole entire life. For it to really happen is amazing. Obviously, it would have been cool to be in person, but this will never happen again." — Green
Detroit Pistons' Cade Cunningham, the first overall selection in the NBA basketball draft is introduced in Detroit, Friday, July 30, 2021.
Paul Sancya, Associated PRessPicking first: Detroit Pistons
Their selection: Cade Cunningham, guard, Oklahoma State
Arizona Wildcats selected: None
Dalen Terry gets a congratulatory hug from his mom, Fenise Yancy, as they celebrates him being drafted by the Chicago Bulls.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily StarPicking first: Orlando Magic
Their selection: Paolo Banchero, guard, Duke
Arizona Wildcats selected:
• Bennedict Mathurin (1st round, 6th overall, Indiana Pacers)
• Dalen Terry (1st round, 18th overall, Chicago Bulls)
• Christian Koloko (2nd round, 33rd overall, Toronto Raptors)
UCLA was picked to win Thursday in the conference’s preseason media poll, but the order of finish might really be COVID-19 first, then the Bruins, ASU, Oregon, Stanford and Arizona.
Tommy Lloyd also offered 2024 point guard Dedan Thomas.
A 5-foot-11 point guard from the class of 2024 for Liberty High School in Henderson, Nevada, Thomas drew the attention of UA coaches during Section 7 play at Glendale’s State Farm stadium last weekend. Monday, the Wildcats offered him a scholarship.
Cody Williams was a teammate of UA freshman Dylan Anderson at Gilbert Perry High School in 2020-21.
During a break in his evaluation of top high school players at the Section 7 tournament at State Farm Stadium, Tommy Lloyd talked about his wild offseason and what's ahead.
Bennedict Mathurin is the 17th Wildcat ever taken in the top 10 of the NBA Draft.
The Wildcats have had 75 NBA Draft picks, but never more than two in the first round.
An emotional Bennedict Mathurin went sixth to Indiana, while Dalen Terry went 18 to Chicago and Christian Koloko went 33rd to Toronto.
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