As the 29th overall pick in the 2026 NBA draft, rookie forward Alex Karaban joins the Sacramento Kings after a decorated four-year collegiate career at UConn.
Karaban was a first-team All-Big East selection last season, helping the Huskies to their third national championship game in four years. He averaged 13.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists while shooting 37.4% from 3-point range in 40 games.
The 23-year-old closed out his career with a 17-point, 11-rebound performance in the title game against Michigan on April 6, earning a place on the NCAA All-Tournament Team. It marked only his fourth career double-double in 151 appearances.
Karaban logged five appearances with the Kings in summer league, averaging 8.4 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists
while shooting 33.3% from 3-point range. He finished in double figures twice, including a 21-point effort on July 15.
The 6-foot-7 Karaban established himself as a first-round pick at UConn because of his offensive skill set, maturity and leadership qualities. The team was ecstatic to add him to the roster and is eager to see him take the court this season.
Throughout September, Rookie Wire is compiling some of the most interesting facts about each first-round pick in an effort to further introduce the incoming draft class ahead of the 2026-27 season
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High School
Karaban was the 2020-21 Gatorade New Hampshire Boys Basketball Player of the Year as a junior at the New Hampton School. He led the program to an 11-3 record, averaging 25.8 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.9 blocks per game.
AAU
Karaban played for Expressions Elite on the AAU circuit under coach Todd Quarles. He averaged 18.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.6 blocks to earn selection to the All-Peach Jam second team. The program has several other notable alumni, including Matas Buzelis, AJ Dybantsa and Tremont Waters.
Huskies of Honor
A two-time champion, Karaban left the Huskies as the all-time leader in wins (126), starts (150), minutes (4,906) and 3-pointers (292), while he is sixth in scoring (1,880). He became the first active player in program history to be inducted into the Huskies of Honor.
Larry Bird
Karaban wore No. 21 in high school and No. 11 over his extraordinary career with the Huskies. Since the Kings retired No. 21 to honor Hall of Famer Vlade Divac and Domantas Sabonis wears No. 11, Karaban chose No. 33 as a nod to NBA legend Larry Bird.
"Coach (Dan) Hurley called me Larry Bird a couple of times in practice (at UConn), so it felt fitting going with 33," Karaban said, via the NBA on X. "Larry Bird is a Celtics legend, and I grew up a Celtics fan in Massachusetts, so it just felt fitting."
Jayson Tatum
Karaban participated in the inaugural Jayson Tatum Elite Camp in July 2023 after his freshman season at UConn. He was among 11 college players invited to train with the six-time All-Star and Boston Celtics forward for four days in his hometown of St. Louis.
He and the Kings will face Tatum for the first time on Nov. 21.
This article originally appeared on Rookie Wire: 5 fun facts: Get to know Kings' Alex Karaban before rookie season
