Jayhawks well represented on NBA opening day rosters

LAWRENCE, Kan. – There will be 11 Kansas Jayhawks on opening day rosters for the 2019-20 NBA regular season that begins Tuesday, Oct. 22. Since 2005, Kansas has had at least 10 players on NBA opening-day rosters each year.

The NBA season kicks off Tuesday as the Toronto Raptors host the New Orleans Pelicans and the Los Angeles Clippers host the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Detroit Pistons and the Phoenix Suns each have two Jayhawks on their respective rosters. The Pistons have Markieff Morris and Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk, while the Suns have Kelly Oubre Jr. and Cheick Diallo.

With Nick Collison retiring following the 2017-18 season, Markieff Morris and his twin brother Marcus became the longest-tenured Jayhawks active in the NBA with both entering their ninth season. Marcus is in his first year with the New York Knicks. Markieff was the No. 13 overall selection in the 2011 draft, while Marcus was the No. 14 pick.

Ben McLemore, the No. 7 overall choice in the 2013 draft, enters his first season with the Houston Rockets and his seventh in the NBA. Andrew Wiggins, the No. 1 overall draft selection in 2014, goes into his sixth season with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Joel Embiid, the No. 3 overall selection in the 2014 NBA Draft who is a two-time NBA All-Star in 2018 and 2019, has become a household name in the league with the Philadelphia 76ers.

Oubre, who enters his fifth year in the league, is in his first season with the Suns after playing his first four years with Washington. Oubre was the No. 15 pick in 2015. Diallo, who lettered at Kansas in 2015-16, begins his fourth NBA season and his first with the Suns.

Josh Jackson starts his third season in the NBA and his first with the Memphis Grizzlies. The No. 4 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, Jackson played his first two seasons with the Suns.

Frank Mason III was the 2017 consensus national player of the year while at Kansas and enters his third season in the NBA and first with the Milwaukee Bucks. He played his first two seasons in Sacramento.

Two Jayhawks from KU’s 2018 Final Four team are on opening-day rosters as Mykhailiuk is with the Pistons and Devonte’ Graham is with the Charlotte Hornets.

Jayhawks on 2019-20 NBA Opening Day Rosters