#ProHogs; Coach Cal’s Players as NBA Season Starts

October 21, 2025

FAYETTEVILLE – The 2025-26 NBA season starts tonight and the league features nine Arkansas Razorbacks and a total of 26 players head Hog John Calipari has coached on opening day rosters.

Arkansas is one of 10 NCAA programs to have at least nine players on NBA opening day rosters. Arkansas is also second among SEC programs with number of players on NBA opening day rosters.

Razorback head coach John Calipari has an NBA-best 26 players on NBA opening day rosters. Compare that to full teams, and Kentucky has 27 players on NBA rosters (25 Wildcats coached by Calipari), while Duke has 24. The next closest after Duke is UCLA with 14.

RAZORBACKS ON OPENING DAY ROSTERS (9)
#0 Anthony Black, Orlando Magic
#21 Daniel Gafford, Dallas Mavericks
#11 Isaiah Joe, Oklahoma City Thunder
#4 Moses Moody, Golden State Warriors
#9 Bobby Portis, Milwaukee Bucks
#3 Nick Smith Jr., Los Angeles Lakers
#1 Adou Thiero, Los Angeles Lakers
#27 Jordan Walsh, Boston Celtics
#6 Jaylin Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder

CALIPARI PLAYERS ON OPENING DAY ROSTERS (26)
#13 Bam Adebayo, C/F, Miami Heat
#1 Devin Booker, G, Phoenix Suns
#3 Anthony Davis, F/C, Dallas Mavericks
#4 Rob Dillingham, G, Minnesota Timberwolves
#11 Justin Edwards, SF, Philadelphia 76ers
#4 De’Aaron Fox, G, San Antonio Spurs
#2 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, G, Oklahoma City Thunder
#14 Tyler Herro, G, Miami Heat
#22 Isaiah Jackson, F, Indiana Pacers
#3 Keldon Johnson, F/G, San Antonio Spurs
#0 Tyrese Maxey, PG, Philadelphia 76ers
#0 Malik Monk, G, Sacramento Kings
#27 Jamal Murray, G, Denver Nuggets
#5 Immanuel Quickley, G, Toronto Raptors
#30 Julius Randle, F/C, Minnesota Timberwolves
#12 Antonio Reeves, G, New Orleans Pelicans
#2 Nick Richards, C, Phoenix Suns
#17 Shaedon Sharpe, G, Portland Trail Blazers
#15 Reed Sheppard, G, Houston Rockets
#1 Adou Thiero, Los Angeles Lakers
#00 Jacob Toppin, F, Atlanta Hawks
#32 Karl-Anthony Towns, C/F, New York Knicks
#34 Oscar Tshiebwe, F/C, Utah Jazz
#2 Jarred Vanderbilt, F, Los Angeles Lakers
#22 Cason Wallace, G, Oklahoma City Thunder
#25 PJ Washington, F, Dallas Mavericks

MOST NBA PLAYERS ON OPENING DAY ROSTER (including 2-way)
1    Kentucky                     27
2    Duke                           24
3    UCLA                           14
4    Arizona                       14
5    Kansas                        11
Gonzaga                      11
Michigan                     11
8    USC                             10
9    Arkansas                     9
      Baylor                         9

CALIPARI vs SEC SCHOOLS ONLY
1    Kentucky                     27
      (COACH CALIPARI        26)
2    ARKANSAS                  9
3    Alabama                      8
Florida                        8
5    Auburn                        7
6    Texas                          6
Tennessee                   6
LSU                             6
9    Vanderbilt                   5
Missouri                      5
11 Georgia                        4
Oklahoma                   4
Texas A&M                  4
14 South Carolina             3
15 Mississippi State          1
16 Ole Miss                      0

For more information on Arkansas Men’s Basketball, follow @RazorbackMBB on X, Instagram and Facebook.