List of Oklahoma Sooners in the NBA and WNBA drafts

The University of Oklahoma men's basketball team has had 46 players drafted in the National Basketball Association (NBA) while the women's basketball team has had 14 players selected in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). This includes ten players taken in the first round of the NBA Draft and six players in the first round of the WNBA Draft. In 2009, Blake Griffin became the only Oklahoma basketball player to have been selected as the overall number one pick when he was drafted by the Los Angeles Clippers. In the 2010s, nine Oklahoma players have been selected in their respective drafts. Five have been women: three in 2010, one in 2011, and one in 2013. The four men's players drafted in the decade have been Romero Osby in 2013, Buddy Hield and Isaiah Cousins in 2016, and Trae Young in 2018.

A man wearing a red jacket with white shorts with the letters "O" and "U" interlocking on the left knee and white sneakers with socks up to mid-calk. He is facing to the left of the picture.
Blake Griffin, drafted in 2009, is Oklahoma's only number one overall pick.

Each NBA and WNBA franchise seeks to add new players through their respective annual draft. The NBA uses a draft lottery to determine the first three picks of the NBA draft; the 14 teams that did not make the playoffs the previous year are eligible to participate. After the first three picks are decided, the rest of the teams pick in reverse order of their win–loss record.[1][2] To be eligible for the NBA draft, a player in the United States must be at least 19 years old during the calendar year of the draft and must be at least one year removed from the graduation of his high school class.[3] From 1967 until the ABA–NBA merger in 1976, the American Basketball Association (ABA) held its own draft.[4] The WNBA Draft is similar to the NBA with a couple of exceptions. Only four WNBA teams are eligible for the draft lottery, compared to the 14 eligible teams in the NBA. Also, all non-playoff teams that participate in the draft lottery select their picks in the order of the lottery outcome; the remainder of the league selects in reverse order of their win–loss record.[5] The WNBA requires that players be at least 22 years old during the calendar year of the applicable seasons, have either graduated from a four-year university or have completed their intercollegiate basketball eligibility, or have played at least two seasons for another professional basketball league.[6]

Four former Sooner men have been selected to participate in an NBA All-Star Game: Alvan Adams, Mookie Blaylock, Blake Griffin, and Trae Young. Two women, Stacey Dales and Danielle Robinson, have been selected to participate in a WNBA All-Star Game. Three former Sooner men have won championships with their respective teams.

Key

FForwardCCenterGGuard
#Active in the NBA as of the 2022–23 season, or the WNBA as of the 2022 season
*Selected to an NBA/WNBA All-Star Game
Won an ABA/NBA/WNBA championship

Player selection

NBA draft

Eduardo Nájera, drafted in 2000
YearRoundPickOverallPlayerPositionNBA team[A 1]Notes
19498Paul CourtyFProvidence Steamrollers
19506Wayne GlasgowFMinneapolis Lakers
195010Paul MerchantFSyracuse Nationals
1951133Marcus FreibergerCIndianapolis Olympians
1954117106Bob WallerFNew York Knicks
19586444Joe KingF/CNew York Knicks
19628262Warren FoutsFNew York Knicks
19683729Don SidleCSan Francisco WarriorsABA Champion (1972)[7]
19688271Willie RogersFSeattle SuperSonics
1970163Garfield HeardFSeattle SuperSonics
19713533Clifford RayFChicago BullsNBA Champion (1975)[8]
19728[A 2]90Bobby JackFCincinnati Royals
1972147110Andrew PettesGChicago Bulls
197484130Tom HollandFPhoenix Suns
197494148Ted EvansCPhoenix Suns
1975144Alvan Adams*CPhoenix SunsAll-Star (1976)[9]
NBA Rookie of the Year Award (1976)
197941985John McCulloughGKansas City Kings
198021538Terry StottsFHouston Rockets
198031763Al BealFMilwaukee Bucks
19805698Aaron CurryGNew Jersey Nets
198331461David LittleFDenver Nuggets
19835194Chucky BarnettGHouston Rockets
1983511104Charles JonesCAtlanta Hawks
19831018224Bo OvertonGPhoenix Suns
198492186Calvin PierceFChicago Bulls
1985122Wayman TisdaleCIndiana Pacers
198631966Anthony BowieGHouston Rockets
19873147Tim McCalisterGLos Angeles Clippers
198742089David JohnsonFDallas Mavericks
198742291Darryl KennedyFBoston Celtics
198811212Harvey GrantGWashington Wizards
198831767Ricky GraceGUtah Jazz
1989166Stacey KingCChicago BullsNBA Champion (1991, 1992, 1993)[10]
198911212Mookie Blaylock*GNew Jersey NetsAll-Star (1994)[11]
19922532Brent PriceGWashington Wizards
199421340Jeff WebsterFMiami Heat
19962332Ryan MinorFPhiladelphia 76ers
199722857Nate ErdmannGUtah Jazz
20002939Eduardo NájeraFHouston Rockets
2009111Blake Griffin#*FLos Angeles ClippersAll-Star (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2019)
All-NBA Second Team (2012, 2013, 2014)
NBA Rookie of the Year Award (2011)
200921846Taylor GriffinFPhoenix Suns
201322151Romero OsbyFOrlando Magic
2016166Buddy Hield#GNew Orleans Pelicans
201622959Isaiah CousinsGSacramento Kings
2018155Trae Young#*GDallas MavericksAll-Star (2020, 2022)
All-NBA Third Team (2023)

WNBA draft

Stacey Dales, drafted in 2002, is Oklahoma's highest drafted woman player.
YearRndPickOverallPlayer namePositionWNBA team[A 1]Notes
20003638Phylesha WhaleyFMinnesota Lynx
2002133Stacey Dales*G/FWashington MysticsAll-Star (2002)[12]
200211414LaNeishea CaufieldGUtah Starzz
200211616Rosalind RossGLos Angeles Sparks
20043127Maria VillaroelGPhoenix Mercury
200511313Dionnah JacksonFDetroit Shock
20073228Leah RushFPhoenix Mercury
2009177Courtney ParisCSacramento MonarchsWNBA Champion (2018)[13]
20092922Ashley ParisFLos Angeles Sparks
20102719[14]Amanda ThompsonFTulsa Shock
20103428Abi OlajuwonCChicago Sky
201031236Nyeshia StevensonG/FPhoenix Mercury
2011166Danielle Robinson*#GSan Antonio Silver StarsAll-Star (2013,[15] 2014,[16] 2015[17])
20133832Whitney HandGSan Antonio Silver Stars

Notes

References

General
  • "2009–10 Men's Basketball Media Guide". University of Oklahoma Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Archived from the original on 2009-11-03. Retrieved 2009-11-04.
  • "NBA Draft Picks From University of Oklahoma". Sports Reference LLC. Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2009-11-04.
  • "All-Time WNBA Draft List". WNBA Enterprises, LLC. Archived from the original on 2009-12-09. Retrieved 2009-11-06.
Specific