The ball is up! The NBA’s 2025 season tipped off on Oct. 21 with the men’s and women’s college basketball seasons soon to follow. As Longhorn fans wait for the college basketball season to start, many show support for the former Texas men’s basketball players who are currently in the NBA, the G League, and overseas.
Tre Johnson, Washington Wizards
The 19-year-old guard Tre Johnson is the most recent Longhorn to enter the NBA. During his first and only year with Texas basketball, Johnson set a program record for points scored by a freshman with 39 points against Arkansas, previously held by Kevin Durant. Johnson ended his short college career as the 2025 South Eastern Conference Freshman of the Year.
As the college season ended, Johnson was faced with deciding the next steps in his career. Johnson, his family, and former Texas coach Rodney Terry were all in agreement Johnson accomplished everything he needed to in college and soon declared for the 2025 NBA Draft.
“We expected him to be Freshman of the Year in the league,” Terry said. “We expected him to be one of the best players in the league. And he lived up to the billing.”
Johnson was drafted as the sixth overall pick to the Washington Wizards. During his debut game against the Milwaukee Bucks on Oct. 22, he scored 16 points across 26 minutes.
“I’m the first one in, and the last one to leave” the rookie said in an interview with Essentially Sports. Johnson is currently working hard at improving his overall game.
Kevin Durant, Houston Rockets
Kevin Durant, also known as KD, is a league veteran playing in his 19th season. The Texas legend and Houston Rockets forward has made his mark in the NBA with two National Championships and four Olympic gold medals.
His accomplishments are not only accredited to his time in the NBA, but also in his single year of college. In 2007, Durant became the first freshman to win the Naismith College Player of the Year award. He averaged 25.8 points and 11.1 rebounds per game.
These accomplishments resulted in the retirement of his jersey number, 35, at UT.
“It’s an honor and a big accomplishment,” Durant said. “A lot of people doubted me and said I wasn’t going to be anything when I went to Texas. So it feels good to prove all those people wrong and shine some light on the university.”
Myles Turner and Jericho Sims, Milwaukee Bucks
Myles Turner, Milwaukee Bucks Center, recently made Texas proud after playing in the NBA Finals. Before signing with the Bucks in July 2025, Turner played with the Indiana Pacers. Competing against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Pacers fought but lost in game seven of the NBA Finals.
Myles only played at UT for only one year, averaging 10.1 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. In 2015, Turner became a projected lottery pick in the upcoming NBA Draft. He knew he had to declare.
“That’s what I’ve been working my entire life for,” Turner said. “Since I started playing basketball I wanted to go to the NBA, and the dream has started to become a reality.”
Turner’s teammate is center Jericho Sims. During his time at Texas, Sims brought the program’s first Big 12 Tournament championship over Oklahoma State with a career-high 21 points and season-high 14 rebounds.
Longhorn fans are looking to support the two in the pros and can tune into a Bucks game to catch the athletes in action.
Jaxson Hayes, Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers Jaxson Hayes is another dominant center from Texas. In 2019, Hayes was named the Big 12 Freshman of the Year and declared for the NBA Draft in April of his freshman year.
Hayes was the eighth overall pick. In discussing his selection, Hayes gives credit to Texas coaches for improving his offensive game and putting him in a position to fulfill his dream of playing in the NBA.
Most recently, Hayes and the Lakers won the 2023 NBA Cup, defeating the Indiana Pacers 123 to 109.
Jarret Allen, Cleveland Cavaliers
Jarret Allen, Cleveland Cavaliers center, played at Texas for one year before declaring for the 2017 NBA Draft, where he was selected as the 22nd pick.
At Texas, Allen averaged 13.4 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. While still in college, Allen expressed his desire to become a professional basketball player.
“My ultimate goal is to be one of the top centers in the NBA and always trying to see how I can become that,” Allen said. “That’s going to always be my goal.”
Allen is actively working to achieve this goal. In 2022, Allen was placed on the All-Star team and in the most recent season, had the highest field goal percentage in the NBA.
Sir’Jabari Rice, Timmy Allen and Max Abmas, the G league and Overseas
Not all professional basketball players are in the NBA. Texas basketball athletes can be seen everywhere, even in different countries.
Three former Texas basketball players are currently either overseas or in the G League: the NBA’s official minor league.
Sir’Jabari Rice, Timmy Allen and Max Abmas have played for teams such as the Austin Spurs, Salt Lake City Stars, Memphis Hustle and more. Now, they can be seen balling out anywhere from Italy to the Czech Republic.
While at UT, the athletes received various accolades. Rice was named the Big 12 Sixth Man of the Year, Allen was named to the Big 12 All-Newcomer team and Abmas was a candidate for the Bob Cousy Award – an honor for top point guards in college basketball.
Dailyn Swain, Potential Future Professional
While Texas is currently in the top 25 colleges to place athletes in the NBA, Longhorn fans have seen many talented players in the Moody Center.
In the upcoming 2025-2026 season, Texas fans have the opportunity to watch Guard/forward Dailyn Swain.
ESPN Draft analysts Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo released an early 2026 NBA mock draft on June 27. In the article, Givony and Woo place Swain at pick number 36.
So, Texas fans, get hyped for this upcoming basketball season! If you ever find yourself looking for something to watch or do in the next few months, consider going to a Texas basketball game or tuning into an NBA double-header. Either way, Longhorns can be found everywhere, and they need your support!
