The Grand Canyon State is no stranger to the NBA’s biggest stage, with two Power Five programs that regularly pump out professional players.
Between Arizona and Arizona State, the state is well represented once again in this year’s NBA play-in tournament and playoffs, with seven players from six teams competing.
Between the five Wildcats and two Sun Devils that have reached this stage, fans have no shortage of local players to root for — and back in Arizona NBA betting.
Of the six teams that have UA or ASU players on the roster, Phoenix has the best championship odds on BetMGM Sportsbook Arizona at +425, followed by Golden State (+850), Philadelphia (+900), Denver (+1100), Chicago (+30000) and Oklahoma City (+50000).
BetArizona.com looked at the rosters of the teams that made the play-in tournament or playoffs to find which former state college stars you can back.
Arizona Players in NBA Playoffs
- Deandre Ayton (Suns): 18.0 points per game, 10.0 rebounds per game, 1.7 assists per game, 58.8% field goals in 2022-23
- Aaron Gordon (Nuggets): 16.3 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 3.0 APG, 56.4% FG
- Andre Iguodala (Warriors): 2.1 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 2.4 APG, 46.7% FG
- Zeke Nnaji (Nuggets): 5.2 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 0.3 APG, 56.1% FG
- Dalen Terry (Bulls): 2.2 PPG, 1.0 RPG, 0.6 APG, 44.4% FG
ASU Players in NBA Playoffs
- James Harden (76ers): 21.0 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 10.7 APG, 44.1% FG
- Lugentz Dort (Thunder): 13.7 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 2.1 APG, 38.8% FG
Who’s Still Playing From Arizona Wildcats?
The Wildcats have the most NBA players still competing, with five overall, led by fifth-year Suns center Deandre Ayton.
Ayton is coming off a season where he put up his second-highest year end scoring average (18.0 points per game) and averaged 10 rebounds or more for the fifth consecutive year.
He and the Suns will host the fifth-seeded Clippers in the first round, beginning on Sunday in Downtown Phoenix. Arizona sports betting apps have the Suns as a 7.5-point favorite in Game 1.
Elsewhere, fellow Wildcats Aaron Gordon (Nuggets), Andrew Iguodala (Warriors) and Zeke Nnaji (Nuggets) are on teams in the playoff field.
Both Gordon, who is averaging 16.3 PPG in his 10th NBA season, and Nnaji (averaging 5.2 PPG off the bench in Denver) are expected to play key roles in the Nuggets’ quest for their first championship in franchise history.
BetArizona.com provides Arizona sportsbook promos for those looking to get the Nuggets at +1100 to win the NBA title.
Elsewhere, veteran Andre Iguodala laces up his sneakers for his final playoff run with the Warriors, as the 19-year veteran announced he would retire at season’s end.
“Iggy” hasn’t gotten a lot of game action this year, playing 14.1 minutes per game, but could play a valued role as a bench-side mentor for the Warriors as they look to repeat as NBA champs.
Rounding out the list of former Wildcats in the play-in tournament is rookie Dalen Terry, who appeared in 38 games and averaged 2.2 points per game for the Bulls during his rookie campaign this year.
Terry and the Bulls knocked off the Raptors, 109-105, in their opening play-in contest and face off against the Heat on Friday with an eye toward advancing into the first round of the postseason.
ASU Alums Looking To Hoist Hardware
Sun Devils fans can cheer on a pair of former players in veteran guard James Harden and fourth-year guard Lugentz Dort.
Harden is once again proving to be a one-man scoring threat in Philly, averaging 21.0 points per game and shooting 44.1% in his 16th year in the league.
Dort, meanwhile, has proven himself to be a valued cog in the Thunder’s offensive system, averaging 13.7 PPG and serving as a key reason for Oklahoma City’s 16-win improvement.
Whether they be former members of the Wildcats or Sun Devils, there’s no shortage of Arizona ties in the NBA postseason.
That Arizona-centric focus will be on full display, starting with Friday night’s play-in tournament contests in the Eastern and Western conferences.
