This is a list of Memphis Tigers men's basketball players who played in the National Basketball Association.
Current NBA players As of the 2025–26 NBA Season, six former Tigers are currently signed to NBA rosters.
Precious Achiuwa, Sacramento Kings Jalen Duren, Detroit Pistons Josh Minott, Boston Celtics Nae'Qwan Tomlin, Cleveland Cavaliers David Jones Garcia, San Antonio Spurs Moussa Cisse, Dallas Mavericks
All-time list of Memphis Tigers in the NBA & NBA draft
Since the NBA draft began in 1947, Memphis has produced 14 first-round picks, including 8 top-ten picks and one number-one pick (Derrick Rose). Three former Tigers have been named NBA All-Stars: Larry Kenon (twice), Penny Hardaway (4 times), and Derrick Rose (3 times). Four have gone on to win the NBA Championship: Win Wilfong with the St. Louis Hawks in 1958, William Bedford with the Detroit Pistons in 1990, Earl Barron with the Miami Heat in 2006, and James Wiseman with the Golden State Warriors in 2022.
In 2010, Memphis became the second college to produce two consecutive NBA Rookie of the Year winners: Derrick Rose in 2009 and Tyreke Evans in 2010 (the first being North Carolina with winners Walter Davis in 1978 and Phil Ford in 1979). In 2011, Rose became the first former Tiger to be named the NBA Most Valuable Player.
Many Memphis players since the 1960s that have gone undrafted or had unsuccessful NBA careers have also played in professional leagues in Europe, Asia and/or Latin America.
NBA players who attended MemphisPlayerYearRoundPickTeamSeasonsYears active (NBA & ABA)AchievementsWin Wilfong195714thSt. Louis Hawks41957–19611958 NBA Champion Jim Hackaday 1959 3 17th Philadelphia Warriors Orby Arnold 1959 7 53rd St. Louis Hawks George Price 1960 8 58th New York KnicksWayne Yates196115thLos Angeles Lakers11961–1962 Lowery Kirk 1961 4 34th Cincinnati Royals Hunter Beckman 1963 7 58th Cincinnati Royals George Kirk 1964 5 42nd Cincinnati Royals Bob Neumann 1964 10 83rd Cincinnati RoyalsMike Butler196810121stSan Diego Rockets41968–1972Rich Jones1969558thPhoenix Suns71970–1977 James Douglas 1971 16 226th Buffalo Braves Doug Holcomb 1972 6 94th Boston CelticsRonnie Robinson1973460thPhoenix Suns21973–1975Larry Kenon1973350thDetroit Pistons101973–19832x NBA All-StarLarry Finch1973468thLos Angeles Lakers21973–1975 Bill Cook 1976 3 49th Washington Bullets Marion Hillard 1976 4 65th Washington Bullets James Bradley 1979 2 35th Atlanta Hawks Rodney Lee 1979 8 150th Detroit Pistons Dennis Isbell 1981 5 100th San Diego ClippersHank McDowell19815102ndGolden State Warriors51981–1986 Otis Jackson 1982 8 174th New Jersey Nets Chris Faggi 1982 8 179th San Antonio Spurs Bobby Parks 1984 3 58th Atlanta Hawks Phillip Haynes 1984 6 121st Los Angeles ClippersKeith Lee1985111thChicago Bulls41985–1989 Baskerville Holmes 1986 3 68th Milwaukee BucksAndre Turner1986369thLos Angeles Lakers61986–1992William Bedford198616thPhoenix Suns71986–19931990 NBA ChampionVincent Askew1987239thPhiladelphia 76ers91987–1988, 1990–1998Sylvester Gray1988235thMiami Heat11988–1989 Dwight Boyd 1988 3 66th Denver NuggetsElliot Perry1991237thLos Angeles Clippers91991–1992, 1994–2002Penny Hardaway199313rdGolden State Warriors141993–20074x NBA All-Star, 2x All-NBA First Team, All-NBA Third TeamTodd Mundt1995undraftedn/aBoston Celtics11995–1996David Vaughn III1995125thOrlando Magic41995–1999Lorenzen Wright199617thLos Angeles Clippers131996–2009Cedric Henderson1997244thCleveland Cavaliers51997–2002Chris Garner1997undraftedn/aToronto Raptors21997–1998, 2001Dajuan Wagner200216thCleveland Cavaliers42002–2006Antonio Burks2004237thOrlando Magic22004–2006Earl Barron2005undraftedn/aMiami Heat32005–2006, 2010–20122006 NBA ChampionShawne Williams2006117thIndiana Pacers92006–2015Rodney Carney2006116thChicago Bulls52006–2011Darius Washington Jr.2007undraftedn/aSan Antonio Spurs12007Chris Douglas-Roberts2008240thNew Jersey Nets72008–2015Joey Dorsey2008233rdPortland Trail Blazers32008–2011Derrick Rose200811stChicago Bulls162008–20242011 NBA MVP, 3x NBA All-Star, All-NBA First Team, 2009 NBA Rookie of the Year Tyreke Evans200914thSacramento Kings102009–20192010 NBA Rookie of the Year Robert Dozier 2009 2 60th Miami HeatAntonio Anderson2009undraftedn/aOklahoma City Thunder12010Elliot Williams2010122ndPortland Trail Blazers62010–2016Will Barton2012240thPortland Trail Blazers112012–2023D.J. Stephens2013undraftedn/aMilwaukee Bucks22014, 2018Adonis Thomas2013undraftedn/aOrlando Magic12014Tarik Black2014undraftedn/aHouston Rockets42014–2018Jeremiah Martin2019undraftedn/aBrooklyn Nets12020–2021James Wiseman202012ndGolden State Warriors52020–20252022 NBA ChampionPrecious Achiuwa2020120thMiami Heat52020–presentJalen Duren2022113thCharlotte Hornets32022–presentJosh Minott2022245thCharlotte Hornets32022–presentLester Quiñones2022undraftedn/aGolden State Warriors22022–2024Damion Baugh2023undraftedn/aCharlotte Hornets12025Emoni Bates2023219thCleveland Cavaliers22023–2025Boogie Ellis2024undraftedn/aSacramento Kings12024Nae'Qwan Tomlin2024undraftedn/aCleveland Cavaliers22025–presentDavid Jones Garcia2024undraftedn/aSan Antonio Spiurs12025–presentMoussa Cisse2025undraftedn/aDallas Mavericks12025–present currently active players are in bold
Player chose to play professionally in the American Basketball Association (ABA), which existed from 1967 to 1976. Rich Jones was originally drafted by the Phoenix Suns in 1968 in the fourth round as the 49th pick, but opted not to play. In 1969, he was drafted again by the Suns but chose instead to play in the ABA for the Dallas Chaparrals. He would eventually play in the NBA in 1976 when the New Jersey Nets joined as part of the NBA-ABA merger. Larry Kenon moved to the NBA after the San Antonio Spurs joined the NBA in 1976, as part of the NBA-ABA merger. These players began their careers at the University of Memphis Tarik Black played at Memphis from 2010 to 2013 and transferred to Kansas for his senior season. Damion Baugh played at Memphis from 2019 to 2021 and transferred to TCU for his senior and 5th seasons. Emoni Bates played at Memphis from 2021 to 2022 and transferred to Eastern Michigan for his sophomore season. Boogie Ellis played at Memphis from 2019 to 2021 and transferred to USC for his redshirt sophomore, junior and senior seasons. Player was drafted but never played an NBA game.
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