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Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) celebrates the team\u2019s 100-97 win over the Phoenix Suns at the Toyota Center in Houston on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026.<\/p>\n
Elizabeth Conley\/Houston Chronicle<\/p>\n
The NBA celebrates its theoretical halfway point of the season Sunday with its annual NBA All-Star Game in Inglewood, Calif.<\/p>\n
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Among this year’s All-Stars participating is former Texas Longhorns<\/a> star\u00a0Kevin Durant<\/a>, who’s averaging 25.9 points a game for the Houston Rockets. All told, there are 24 players on active NBA rosters who played college basketball for universities in Texas. The list is led by\u00a0Baylor, which has seven former players in the league. The Bears are followed by Texas (6) and Houston (5).<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Here is a list of the players from Texas universities who are in the\u00a0NBA:<\/p>\n Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) shoots between Orlando Magic center Wendell Carter Jr., front left, and guard Anthony Black (0) in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Cleveland, Monday, Jan. 26, 2026.<\/p>\n Sue Ogrocki\/Associated Press<\/p>\n Jarrett Allen, Cavaliers (Texas):\u00a0The former St. Stephen’s and Longhorns center is in his ninth year in the league. An NBA All-Star in 2022<\/a>, he averages 14.5 points per game this season and leads the team in shooting percentage (61.5).<\/p>\n Desmond Bane, Magic (TCU): A first-round pick in the 2020 draft, he ranks third in Magic scoring with an average of 19.5 ppg.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Alex Caruso, Thunder (Texas A&M): A member of the Texas A&M Athletic Hall of Fame<\/a>, he was a key figure for the Thunder in last year’s NBA championship run.<\/p>\n L.J. Cryer, Warriors (Baylor\/Houston): An NCAA champion with Baylor in 2021, this is his rookie season with Golden State.<\/p>\n RayJ Dennis, Hawks (Baylor): Entered the NBA in 2024 after going undrafted, he spends most of his time in the G League with the College Park Skyhawks.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Texas Longhorns guard Simeon Wilcher (7) holds a giant head of Texas Alum Kevin Durant as he celebrates after the Longhorns beat the Vanderbilt Commodores 80-64 at the Moody Center in Austin, Jan. 14, 2026.<\/p>\n Sara Diggins\/Austin American-Statesman<\/p>\n Kevin Durant, Rockets (Texas): In his 18th season, Durant will participate in his 14th All-Star Game. Ranks No. 6 in NBA history with 31,815 points and could pass Michael Jordan (32,292) later this year. The most decorated male basketball player in Olympic history, he has won four straight gold medals with Team USA and is the all-time Olympic leader in total points (518).<\/p>\n Texas Longhorns guard Tyrese Hunter (4) is guarded by Houston guard L.J. Cryer (4) during the basketball game at the Moody Center on Monday, Jan. 29, 2024 in Austin.<\/p>\n Aaron E. Martinez\/American-Statesman Texas’ Jarrett Allen(31) looks to shoot over Kansas’ Landen Lucas(33) and Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk(10) during a Big 12 basketball game at the Frank Erwin Center Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017. (Stephen Spillman \/ for AMERICAN-STATESMAN)<\/p>\n Austin American-Statesman Texas forward Jericho Sims defends as Kansas guard Marcus Garrett drives to the basket. In the last three games, Sims is 14-for-19 shooting with 21 rebounds.<\/p>\n Ricardo B. Brazziell\/American-Statesman<\/p>\n V.J. Edgecombe, 76ers (Baylor): Taken by Philadelphia with the third pick of the 2025 draft, he’s averaging 14.9 points and 4.2 assists as a rookie.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Quintin Grimes, 76ers (Baylor): A first-round draft pick of the Los Angeles Clippers in 2021, Grimes is averaging 12.7 points and 3.6 assists in Philadelphia.<\/p>\n MORE:\u00a0Texas Longhorns legend Chris Gilbert dies<\/a><\/p>\n MORE: Former Texas Longhorns track runner found silver lining in Winter Olympics<\/a><\/p>\n Jaxson Hayes, Lakers (Texas): The Big 12 freshman of the year<\/a> in 2019, Hayes is averaging 6.4 points and 3.8 rebounds.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Quenton Jackson, Pacers (Texas A&M): A starter in nine games this season, he averages 7.8 ppg.<\/p>\n Texas guard\u00a0Tre Johnson (20) shoots a three-point shot in the first half of the Longhorns’ game against the Chicago State Cougars at the Moody Center in Austin, Nov. 12, 2024.<\/p>\n Sara Diggins\/American-Statesman<\/p>\n Tre Johnson, Wizards (Texas): The sixth pick of the 2025 NBA draft, Johnson averages 12.9 points<\/a> while logging 25 minutes a game.<\/p>\n Emanuel Miller, Bulls (TCU): The rookie was recently dealt from Cleveland to Chicago in a three-way trade that included the Sacramento Kings.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Khris Middleton, Wizards (Texas A&M): A second-round draft pick by Detroit <\/a>in 2012, Middleton is averaging 10.3 ppg. for the Wizards.<\/p>\n Royce O’Neale, Suns (Houston): Undrafted in 2015, O’Neale leads the Suns in games played (48) while averaging 10.3 points and 4.9 rebounds.<\/p>\n Taurean Prince, Bucks (Baylor): A first-round pick of the Utah Jazz in 2016, Prince is playing for his sixth team. Currently on the injured list.\u00a0<\/p>\n Marcus Sasser, Pistons (Houston): A first-round pick by the Memphis Grizzlies in 2023, he\u00a0averages 5.6 ppg. for the Eastern Conference-leading Pistons<\/a>.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Jamal Shead wants to finish his college career as the first Houston Cougars point guard to lead the program to a national championship.<\/p>\n Troy Taormina\/USA Today<\/p>\n MORE: Jamal Shead was do-it-all player for Manor High School<\/a><\/p>\n Jamal Shead, Raptors (Houston): A Manor graduate, the 2024 Big 12 player of the year leads Toronto in games played (54) while averaging 6.9 points and 5.4 assists.<\/p>\n Jericho Sims, Bucks (Texas): A second-round pick by the New York Knicks in 2021, Sims has played in 37 games <\/a>for the Bucks this season.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Jeremy Sochan, Spurs (Baylor): Drafted by San Antonio in 2023, Sochan played sparingly in recent weeks and was waived by the team on Wednesday..<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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