Jayhawks Well Represented on NBA Opening Day Rosters
LAWRENCE, Kan. – A total of 14 Kansas men’s basketball players appeared on NBA opening-day rosters for the 2013-14 season as the NBA opened regular-season play Oct. 29.
Paul Pierce of Brooklyn has the most tenure of the Jayhawks in the NBA, entering his 16th season and his first with the Nets. After 15 seasons with the Boston Celtics, Pierce joined second-year guard Tyshawn Taylor on the Nets roster.
Third-year twins Marcus and Markieff Morris are the only other KU teammates on an NBA roster with the Phoenix Suns. Markieff played his entire first season in Phoenix, while Marcus joined his brother late in the 2013 season from Houston.
Four Jayhawks from Kansas’ 2008 NCAA National Championship team remain active in the NBA with Cole Aldrich (New York), Darrell Arthur (Denver), Mario Chalmers (Miami) and Brandon Rush (Utah). Chalmers has been a starter for the Heat, defending back-to-back NBA Champions.
Thomas Robinson (Portland), Taylor and Jeff Withey (New Orleans) were part of KU’s NCAA runner-up team in 2012, while Kansas 2002 and 2003 Final Four standouts Nick Collison (Oklahoma City) and Kirk Hinrich (Chicago) return to the NBA for their 11th seasons in the NBA.
KU rookies for 2013-14 teams include Ben McLemore with Sacramento and Withey. Xavier Henry begins his fourth season in the NBA and his first with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Kansas’ 14 players in the NBA are the most among the Big 12 schools with Texas’ eight being second.
Jayhawks on 2013-14 Opening Day NBA Rosters
Cole Aldrich (New York)
Darrell Arthur (Denver)
Mario Chalmers (Miami)
Nick Collison (Oklahoma City)
Xavier Henry (Los Angeles Lakers)
Kirk Hinrich (Chicago)
Ben McLemore (Sacramento)
Marcus Morris (Phoenix)
Markieff Morris (Phoenix)
Paul Pierce (Brooklyn)
Thomas Robinson (Portland)
Brandon Rush (Utah)
Tyshawn Taylor (Brooklyn)
Jeff Withey (New Orleans)
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