Flip on an NBA Finals game from the past decade, and you’re sure to see the Arizona men’s basketball program represented at the highest level of the sport.
For 11 straight years, a former Arizona player has coached or played in the NBA Finals. Whether that streak continues into 2026 will likely come down to whether the Western Conference Finals is won by the Oklahoma City Thunder or one of their competitors.
Five of the seven former Wildcats in this year’s NBA Playoffs are on Western Conference teams,
with three of the top four seeds in the conference featuring an Arizona alum.
And while Arizona’s presence in the postseason isn’t as large as it could have been had the Warriors, Clippers or Heat advanced to out of the Play-In Tournament, the UA still has a respectable contingent.
Here are the former Arizona players in this year’s NBA Playoffs.
Aaron Gordon, Denver Nuggets
The Nuggets have been a mainstay near the top of the Western Conference over the last few years, in large part thanks to Gordon’s contributions. Denver didn’t quite as sharp for parts of this season, and one reason why is Gordon’s limited playing time due to a hamstring injury.
Fortunately for Denver, Gordon appears to be as healthy as he’s been all season. He played a season-high 41 minutes two weeks ago against the Spurs, a team that Denver could run into the Western Conference Semifinals.
Gordon is averaging 16.2 points and 5.8 rebounds this season.
The Nuggets begin their series against the Timberwolves on Saturday.
Deandre Ayton, Los Angeles Lakers
Ayton’s first season playing for the Lakers has been rocky at times, but as the playoffs begin Ayton appears fully locked in.
“I want to do backflips. I’m in the purple and gold, and I just want to really just play hard as hell to contribute to wins,” Ayton said this week.
Ayton, the Lakers’ starting center, has seen his scoring dip every month of the season. He’s averaging 12.5 points and 8 rebounds.
With the Lakers missing Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves to start the playoffs versus a gritty Rockets team, Ayton will need to be at his best for Los Angeles to have a shot at advancing.
The Lakers and Rockets begin their series on Saturday.
Carter Bryant, San Antonio Spurs
Bryant might be Arizona’s best chance of having a former player in the NBA Finals. San Antonio is the two seed in the Western Conference after fighting with OKC for supremacy the last several months.
Bryant has made solid contributions as a rookie reserve, averaging 4.2 points and 2.5 rebounds in 11 minutes per game.
Bryant got to see some extra playing time down the stretch of the regular season and made the most of it, scoring in double figures in three straight games.
The Spurs enter the playoffs with the second-best record in the NBA, only behind the Thunder.
The Spurs face the Trail Blazers beginning Sunday.
Zeke Nnaji, Denver Nuggets
Nnaji is competing in his sixth straight postseason with the Nuggets, and much like the last five trips it’s in a limited role.
Nnaji is averaging 3.7 points and 2.6 rebounds in 12 minutes per game. His playing time dropped precipitously in February, and a hip impingement injury in late March slowed him down even more.
While Nnaji did get a start in the Nuggets’ final game of the regular season, don’t expect to see him getting much run these playoffs.
Christian Koloko, Atlanta Hawks
Koloko bounced around multiple teams this season before settling with the Hawks. He has appeared in 13 games with Atlanta since late January.
Koloko, who is averaging 2.7 points and 3 rebounds, is unlikely to see meaningful minutes this postseason.
The Hawks take on the Knicks beginning Saturday.
Caleb Love, Portland Trail Blazers
Love made a big impact early in the year for Portland before getting sent down to the G League in February. Love is back with the Trail Blazers as they make their first playoff appearance since 2020-21.
Love has appeared in four games for Portland since late March, and it’s unlikely he’ll see much playing time in the playoffs.
For the season, he’s averaging 10.4 points and 2.5 assists across 49 games.
Dalen Terry, Philadelphia 76ers
If there’s a player on this list who is just happy to be here, it’s Terry. The reserve guard was sent from Chicago to Philadelphia at the trade deadline. Terry has made 11 appearances with the 76ers but last played significant minutes on March 23.
Terry is averaging 3.7 points and 1.4 assists.
The 76ers face the Celtics beginning Sunday.
