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Oklahoma basketball 4th in Big 12 in most NBA Draft picks

By Chip Rouse

Mar 15, 2018; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Oklahoma Sooners guard Trae Young (11) dribbles the ball against Rhode Island Rams guard Fatts Russell (2) during the first half in the first round of the 2018 NCAA Tournament at PPG Paints Arena. Rhode Island won 83-78 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 15, 2018; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Oklahoma Sooners guard Trae Young (11) dribbles the ball against Rhode Island Rams guard Fatts Russell (2) during the first half in the first round of the 2018 NCAA Tournament at PPG Paints Arena. Rhode Island won 83-78 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /
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There were no Oklahoma basketball players selected in this weeks annual NBA Draft.

Only four Big 12 players from four different teams were selected in the 2020 draft, which was postponed from its original June date because of the nationwide coronavirus outbreak.

That is not an unusual number for Big 12 players selected in the NBA Draft. Over the past 10 years, the Big 12 has averaged 4.9 selections per year.

The 2010 draft was the biggest year for NBA draft selections out of the Big 12 in the 2000s. Thirteen Big 12 players were selected that year including two from Oklahoma: Willie Warren and Tiny Gallon.

Buddy Hield #24 of the Oklahoma Sooners reacts in the first half against the Villanova Wildcats during the NCAA Men’s Final Four Semifinal at NRG Stadium on April 2, 2016 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
Buddy Hield #24 of the Oklahoma Sooners reacts in the first half against the Villanova Wildcats during the NCAA Men’s Final Four Semifinal at NRG Stadium on April 2, 2016 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

Since the Big 12 was formed in 1996, a total of 124 players from the conference have been NBA Draft selections.

Twelve of those were Oklahoma Sooners, the fourth most among Big 12 teams. Kansas leads all Big 12 teams with 34 players chosen. Texas is next with 20, followed by Iowa State with 14 selections, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State with nine, Baylor eight, Texas Tech seven, Kansas State three and West Virginia and TCU one each (West Virginia and TCU have only been Big 12 members since 2012).

The most notable Sooners selected in the NBA Draft in the Big 12 era occurred in the past 11 years. Blake Griffin was the No. 1 overall selection in the 2009 draft. Buddy Hield, in 2016, and Trae Young, in 2018, were both top-10 first-round selections.

The four Big 12 players taken in this year’s NBA Draft were Iowa State guard Tyrese Haliburton, selected 12th overall by the Sacramento Kings; Kansas center Udoka Azubuike, picked 27th overall by the Utah Jazz; TCU guard Desmond Bane, the 30th overall pick by the Boston Celtics, who traded the pick to the Memphis Grizzlies, and Jahmi’us Ramsey, selected 47th overall by the Kings.

Haliburton, Azubuike and Bane were all first-round picks. Ramsey was the 17th player selected in the second round.

Unlike other professional sports, the NBA Draft consists of just two rounds.

Here is a list of Oklahoma Sooners selected in the NBA Draft in the Big 12 era (1996-present):

2019 — Trae Young (Dallas Mavericks, 5th overall pick, traded to Atlanta Hawks)

2016 — Buddy Hield (New Orleans Pelicans, 6th overall pick)

2016 — Isaiah Cousins (Sacramento Kings, second round, 59th overall)

2013 — Romero Osby (Orlando Magic, second round, 51st overall)

2010 — Tiny Gallon (Milwaukee Bucks, second round, 47th overall)

2010 — Willie Warren (Los Angeles Clippers, second round, 54th overall)

2009 — Blake Griffin (Los Angeles Clippers, No. 1 overall)

2009 — Taylor Griffin (Phoenix Suns, second round, 48th overall)

2000 — Eduard Najera (Houston Rockets, second round, 38th overall, traded to Dallas Mavericks)

1998 — Corey Brewer (Miami Heat, second round, 51st overall)

1997 — Nate Erdman (Utah Jazz, second round, 56th overall)

1996 — Ryan Minor (Philadelphia 76ers, second round, 32nd overall)

Other notable Oklahoma first-round NBA Draft picks, 2nd overall)

1989 — Stacey King (Chicago Bulls, 6th overall)

1989 — Mookie Blaylock (New Jersey Nets, 12th overall)

1988 — Harvey Grant (Washington  Bullets, 12th overall)

1985 — Wayman Tisdale (Indiana Pacers, 2nd overall)

1975 — Alvan Adams (Phoenix Suns, 4th overall)

1970 — Garfield Heard (Seattle SuperSonics, 3rd overall)

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