# List of Kentucky Wildcats in the NBA draft

The Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team, representing the University of Kentucky, has had 138 players drafted into the National Basketball Association (NBA) since the league began holding drafts in 1947. Kentucky has had 60 players selected in the opening round of the draft.
Each NBA franchise seeks to add new players through an annual draft. The NBA uses a draft lottery to determine the first four picks of the NBA draft; the 14 teams that did not make the playoffs the previous year are eligible to participate. After the first four picks are decided, the rest of the teams pick in reverse order of their win–loss record. 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. From 1967 until the ABA–NBA merger in 1976, the American Basketball Association (ABA) held its own draft.

## Key

| F | Forward | C | Center | G | Guard |
| $^*$ | Selected to an all-star game (ABA All-Star Game, NBA All-Star game) | Selected to an all-star game (ABA All-Star Game, NBA All-Star game) | Selected to an all-star game (ABA All-Star Game, NBA All-Star game) | Selected to an all-star game (ABA All-Star Game, NBA All-Star game) | Selected to an all-star game (ABA All-Star Game, NBA All-Star game) |
| $^†$ | Won a championship (ABA Champion), NBA Champion) | Won a championship (ABA Champion), NBA Champion) | Won a championship (ABA Champion), NBA Champion) | Won a championship (ABA Champion), NBA Champion) | Won a championship (ABA Champion), NBA Champion) |
| $^‡$ | Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame | Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame | Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame | Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame | Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame |

## Players selected

| Year | Round | Pick | Overall | Player name | Position | NBA team | Notes |
| 1947 | 2 | 9 | 20 | Jack Tingle | F | Washington Capitols | — |
| 1948 | 2 | 6 | 18 | Joe Holland | F | Baltimore Bullets | — |
| 1948 | 2 | 12 | 24 | Jack Parkinson | G | Washington Capitols | — |
| 1948 | 3 | 8 | 32 | Ken Rollins | G | Fort Wayne Pistons | — |
| 1949 | 1 | 2 | 2 | Alex Groza* | F | Indianapolis Olympians | NBA All-Star (1951) |
| 1949 | 1 | 8 | 8 | Wallace Jones | G | Washington Capitols | — |
| 1949 | 2 | 10 | 22 | Ralph Beard* | G | Chicago Stags | NBA All-Star (1951) |
| 1949 | 5 | 8 | 52 | Cliff Barker | SG | Washington Capitols | — |
| 1950 | 7 | 1 | 73 | Dale Barnstable | F | Boston Celtics | — |
| 1950 | 4 | 9 | 45 | Jim Line | F | Washington Capitols | — |
| 1951 | No selections | No selections | No selections | No selections | No selections | No selections | No selections |
| 1952 | 3 | 1 | 21 | Bobby Watson | G | Milwaukee Hawks | — |
| 1952 | 3 | 5 | 25 | Skippy Whitaker | G | Indianapolis Olympians | — |
| 1953 | 1 | 5 | 5 | Frank Ramsey$^‡$ | G | Boston Celtics | NBA Champion (1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964) Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee (1981) |
| 1953 | 3 | 6 | 22 | Cliff Hagan$^‡$ | G | Boston Celtics | NBA Champion (1958) NBA All-Star (1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962) Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee (1977) |
| 1953 | 7 | 6 | 58 | Lou Tsioropoulos$^†$ | F | Boston Celtics | NBA Champion (1957, 1959) |
| 1953 | 10 | 7 | 86 | Richard Prater | G | New York Knicks | — |
| 1954 | No selections | No selections | No selections | No selections | No selections | No selections | No selections |
| 1955 | 5 | 2 | 32 | William Evans | F | Rochester Royals | — |
| 1956 | 3 | 3 | 18 | Jerry Bird | G | Minneapolis Lakers | — |
| 1956 | 2 | 1 | 8 | Bob Burrow | F | Rochester Royals | — |
| 1956 | 10 | 3 | 72 | Phil Grawemeyer | F | Minneapolis Lakers | — |
| 1957 | 10 | 4 | 73 | Gerry Calvert | G | Philadelphia 76ers | — |
| 1958 | 2 | 2 | 9 | Vernon Hatton | F | Cincinnati Royals | — |
| 1959 | 4 | 6 | 28 | Johnny Cox | G | New York Knicks | — |
| 1960 | 4 | 8 | 32 | Sid Cohen | G | Boston Celtics | — |
| 1960 | 7 | 5 | 53 | Bennie Kauffman | G | Syracuse Nationals | — |
| 1960 | 18 | 2 | 96 | Don Mills | G | Cincinnati Royals | — |
| 1961 | 5 | 4 | 45 | Bill Lickert | G, F | Los Angeles Lakers | — |
| 1961 | 7 | 5 | 64 | Roger Newman | G, F | Syracuse Nationals | — |
| 1961 | 13 | 1 | 102 | Ned Jennings | C | New York Knicks | — |
| 1962 | 8 | 1 | 61 | Larry Pursiful | F | Chicago Zephyrs | — |
| 1963 | No selections | No selections | No selections | No selections | No selections | No selections | No selections |
| 1964 | 2 | 5 | 12 | Cotton Nash | F | Los Angeles Lakers | — |
| 1965 | No selections | No selections | No selections | No selections | No selections | No selections | No selections |
| 1966 | 3 | 4 | 24 | Tommy Kron | G | St. Louis Hawks | — |
| 1967 | 1 | 7 | 7 | Pat Riley$^{†‡}$ | G, F | San Diego Rockets | NBA Champion (1972 as player; 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988, 2006 as head coach; 2012, 2013 as executive) Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee (2008) |
| 1967 | 4 | 7 | 28 | Louie Dampier$^{†‡}$ | G | Cincinnati Royals | ABA Champion (1975) ABA All-Star (1968, 1969, 1970, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975) All-ABA Second Team (1968, 1969, 1970, 1974) |
| 1968 | 5 | 10 | 60 | Thad Jaracz | F | Boston Celtics | — |
| 1968 | 9 | 13 | 119 | Cliff Berger | F | Milwaukee Bucks | — |
| 1969 | 10 | 15 | 139 | Phil Argento | G | Los Angeles Lakers | — |
| 1970 | 8 | 3 | 122 | Dan Issel$^{†‡}$ | F | Detroit Pistons | ABA Champion (1975) NBA All-Star (1977) ABA All-Star (1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976) Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee (1993) |
| 1970 | 8 | 11 | 130 | Mike Casey | F | Chicago Bulls | — |
| 1971 | 3 | 2 | 37 | Larry Steele$^†$ | F | Portland Trail Blazers | NBA Champion (1977) |
| 1972 | No selections | No selections | No selections | No selections | No selections | No selections | No selections |
| 1973 | No selections | No selections | No selections | No selections | No selections | No selections | No selections |
| 1974 | No selections | No selections | No selections | No selections | No selections | No selections | No selections |
| 1975 | 1 | 18 | 18 | Kevin Grevey$^†$ | G | Washington Bullets | NBA Champion (1978) |
| 1975 | 2 | 18 | 36 | Jimmy Dan Conner | G | Phoenix Suns | — |
| 1975 | 3 | 12 | 49 | Bob Guyette | G | Kansas City Kings | — |
| 1975 | 7 | 5 | 113 | Mike Flynn | G | Philadelphia 76ers | — |
| 1976 | No selections | No selections | No selections | No selections | No selections | No selections | No selections |
| 1977 | 2 | 2 | 24 | Larry Johnson | G | Buffalo Braves | – |
| 1978 | 1 | 4 | 4 | Rick Robey$^†$ | C | Indiana Pacers | NBA Champion (1981) |
| 1978 | 1 | 16 | 16 | Jack Givens | F | Atlanta Hawks | – |
| 1978 | 2 | 18 | 39 | James Lee | F | Seattle SuperSonics | – |
| 1978 | 3 | 1 | 45 | Mike Phillips | F | New Jersey Nets | – |
| 1979 | 1 | 22 | 22 | Kyle Macy | G | Phoenix Suns | – |
| 1979 | 6 | 3 | 111 | Truman Claytor | G | Detroit Pistons | – |
| 1980 | 5 | 12 | 101 | LaVon Williams | F | Cleveland Cavaliers | – |
| 1980 | 9 | 4 | 183 | Jay Shidler | G | Chicago Bulls | – |
| 1981 | 6 | 12 | 127 | Fred Cowan | F, C | Houston Rockets | – |
| 1982 | 7 | 7 | 145 | Chuck Verderber | G | Chicago Bulls | – |
| 1983 | 2 | 9 | 33 | Dirk Minniefield | G | Dallas Mavericks | – |
| 1983 | 3 | 21 | 67 | Derrick Hord | F | Cleveland Cavaliers | – |
| 1983 | 6 | 18 | 134 | Charles Hurt | F | Milwaukee Bucks | – |
| 1984 | 1 | 2 | 2 | Sam Bowie | F, C | Portland Trail Blazers | – |
| 1984 | 1 | 6 | 6 | Melvin Turpin | F, C | Washington Bullets | – |
| 1984 | 4 | 11 | 81 | Dickie Beal | G | Atlanta Hawks | – |
| 1984 | 6 | 11 | 127 | Jim Master | G | Atlanta Hawks | — |
| 1984 | 8 | 1 | 163 | Tom Heitz | G | Indiana Pacers | — |
| 1985 | No selections | No selections | No selections | No selections | No selections | No selections | No selections |
| 1986 | 1 | 5 | 5 | Kenny Walker | F | New York Knicks | — |
| 1986 | 5 | 13 | 105 | Roger Harden | G | Los Angeles Lakers | — |
| 1987 | 5 | 2 | 94 | James Blackmon | G | New Jersey Nets | — |
| 1988 | 1 | 8 | 8 | Rex Chapman | G | Charlotte Hornets | — |
| 1988 | 3 | 1 | 51 | Rob Lock | F | Los Angeles Clippers | — |
| 1988 | 3 | 10 | 60 | Ed Davender | G | Washington Bullets | — |
| 1988 | 3 | 14 | 64 | Winston Bennett | F | Cleveland Cavaliers | — |
| 1989 | No selections | No selections | No selections | No selections | No selections | No selections | No selections |
| 1990 | No selections | No selections | No selections | No selections | No selections | No selections | No selections |
| 1991 | No selections | No selections | No selections | No selections | No selections | No selections | No selections |
| 1992 | No selections | No selections | No selections | No selections | No selections | No selections | No selections |
| 1993 | 1 | 4 | 4 | Jamal Mashburn* | F | Dallas Mavericks | NBA All-Star (2003) |
| 1994 | 2 | 2 | 4 | Rodney Dent | F | Orlando Magic | — |
| 1995 | No selections | No selections | No selections | No selections | No selections | No selections | No selections |
| 1996 | 1 | 6 | 6 | Antoine Walker$^{†‡}$ | F | Boston Celtics | NBA Champion (2006) NBA All-Star (1998, 2002, 2003) |
| 1996 | 1 | 16 | 16 | Tony Delk | G | Charlotte Hornets | — |
| 1996 | 1 | 19 | 19 | Walter McCarty | F | New York Knicks | — |
| 1996 | 2 | 23 | 52 | Mark Pope | F | Indiana Pacers | — |
| 1997 | 1 | 6 | 6 | Ron Mercer | F | Boston Celtics | – |
| 1997 | 1 | 13 | 13 | Derek Anderson$^†$ | G | Cleveland Cavaliers | NBA Champion (2006) |
| 1998 | 1 | 29 | 29 | Nazr Mohammed$^†$ | C | Utah Jazz | NBA Champion (2005) |
| 1999 | 1 | 28 | 28 | Scott Padgett | F | Utah Jazz | — |
| 2000 | 1 | 19 | 19 | Jamaal Magloire* | F | Charlotte Hornets | NBA All-Star (2004) |
| 2001 | No selections | No selections | No selections | No selections | No selections | No selections | No selections |
| 2002 | 1 | 23 | 23 | Tayshaun Prince$^†$ | F | Detroit Pistons | NBA Champion (2004) |
| 2003 | 2 | 13 | 43 | Keith Bogans | G | Milwaukee Bucks | — |
| 2004 | No selections | No selections | No selections | No selections | No selections | No selections | No selections |
| 2005 | No selections | No selections | No selections | No selections | No selections | No selections | No selections |
| 2006 | 1 | 21 | 21 | Rajon Rondo$^†$ | G | Phoenix Suns | NBA Champion (2008, 2020) NBA All-Star (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013) |
| 2007 | No selections | No selections | No selections | No selections | No selections | No selections | No selections |
| 2008 | 2 | 28 | 58 | Joe Crawford | G | Los Angeles Lakers | — |
| 2009 | 2 | 11 | 41 | Jodie Meeks$^†$ | G | Milwaukee Bucks | NBA Champion (2019) |
| 2010 | 1 | 1 | 1 | John Wall* | G | Washington Wizards | NBA All-Star (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018) |
| 2010 | 1 | 5 | 5 | DeMarcus Cousins* | F, C | Sacramento Kings | NBA All-Star (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018) |
| 2010 | 1 | 13 | 13 | Patrick Patterson | F | Houston Rockets | — |
| 2010 | 1 | 18 | 18 | Eric Bledsoe | G | Oklahoma City Thunder | — |
| 2010 | 1 | 29 | 29 | Daniel Orton | C | Orlando Magic | — |
| 2011 | 1 | 3 | 3 | Enes Kanter | F | Utah Jazz | — |
| 2011 | 1 | 8 | 8 | Brandon Knight | G | Detroit Pistons | — |
| 2011 | 2 | 15 | 45 | Josh Harrellson | G | New Orleans Hornets | — |
| 2011 | 2 | 23 | 53 | DeAndre Liggins | G | Orlando Magic | — |
| 2012 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Anthony Davis$^†$ | F, C | New Orleans Hornets | NBA Champion (2020) NBA All-Star (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021) |
| 2012 | 1 | 2 | 2 | Michael Kidd-Gilchrist | F | Charlotte Bobcats | — |
| 2012 | 1 | 18 | 18 | Terrence Jones | F | Houston Rockets | — |
| 2012 | 1 | 29 | 29 | Marquis Teague | G | Chicago Bulls | — |
| 2012 | 2 | 12 | 42 | Doron Lamb | G | Milwaukee Bucks | — |
| 2012 | 2 | 16 | 46 | Darius Miller | F | New Orleans Hornets | – |
| 2013 | 1 | 6 | 6 | Nerlens Noel | C | New Orleans Pelicans | — |
| 2013 | 1 | 29 | 29 | Archie Goodwin | G | Oklahoma City Thunder | — |
| 2014 | 1 | 7 | 7 | Julius Randle* | F | Los Angeles Lakers | Most Improved Player (2021) NBA All-Star (2021, 2023, 2024) |
| 2014 | 1 | 17 | 17 | James Young | F | Boston Celtics | — |
| 2015 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Karl-Anthony Towns* | F, C | Minnesota Timberwolves | Rookie of the Year (2016) NBA All-Star (2018, 2019, 2022, 2024) |
| 2015 | 1 | 6 | 6 | Willie Cauley-Stein | C | Sacramento Kings | — |
| 2015 | 1 | 12 | 12 | Trey Lyles | F | Utah Jazz | — |
| 2015 | 1 | 13 | 13 | Devin Booker* | G | Phoenix Suns | NBA All-Star (2020, 2021, 2022, 2024) |
| 2015 | 2 | 14 | 44 | Andrew Harrison | G | Phoenix Suns | — |
| 2015 | 2 | 18 | 48 | Dakari Johnson | C | Oklahoma City Thunder | — |
| 2016 | 1 | 7 | 7 | Jamal Murray$^†$ | G | Denver Nuggets | NBA Champion (2023) |
| 2016 | 1 | 28 | 28 | Skal Labissière | C | Phoenix Suns | — |
| 2016 | 2 | 4 | 34 | Tyler Ulis | G | Phoenix Suns | — |
| 2017 | 1 | 5 | 5 | De'Aaron Fox* | G | Sacramento Kings | NBA All-Star (2023) |
| 2017 | 1 | 11 | 11 | Malik Monk | G | Charlotte Hornets | — |
| 2017 | 1 | 14 | 14 | Bam Adebayo* | C | Miami Heat | NBA All-Star (2020, 2023, 2024) |
| 2018 | 1 | 9 | 9 | Kevin Knox II | F | New York Knicks | — |
| 2018 | 1 | 11 | 11 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander* | G | Charlotte Hornets | NBA All-Star (2023, 2024) |
| 2018 | 2 | 11 | 41 | Jarred Vanderbilt | F | Orlando Magic | — |
| 2018 | 2 | 15 | 45 | Hamidou Diallo | G | Brooklyn Nets | — |
| 2019 | 1 | 12 | 12 | P. J. Washington | F | Charlotte Hornets | — |
| 2019 | 1 | 13 | 13 | Tyler Herro | G | Miami Heat | NBA Sixth Man of the Year (2022) |
| 2019 | 1 | 29 | 29 | Keldon Johnson | F | San Antonio Spurs | — |
| 2020 | 1 | 21 | 21 | Tyrese Maxey* | G | Philadelphia 76ers | NBA All-Star (2024) |
| 2020 | 1 | 25 | 25 | Immanuel Quickley | G | Oklahoma City Thunder | — |
| 2020 | 2 | 11 | 42 | Nick Richards | C | Charlotte Hornets | — |
| 2021 | 1 | 22 | 22 | Isaiah Jackson | PF | Indiana Pacers | — |
| 2021 | 2 | 20 | 51 | Brandon Boston Jr. | PG | Los Angeles Clippers | — |
| 2021 | | | | Terrence Clarke | PG | NBA | Ceremonial pick |
| 2022 | 1 | 7 | 7 | Shaedon Sharpe | G | Portland Trail Blazers | — |
| 2022 | 1 | 29 | 29 | TyTy Washington Jr. | PG | Memphis Grizzlies | — |
| 2023 | 1 | 10 | 10 | Cason Wallace | G | Dallas Mavericks | — |
| 2023 | 2 | 28 | 58 | Chris Livingston | F | Milwaukee Bucks | — |
| 2024 | 1 | 3 | 3 | Reed Sheppard | PG | Houston Rockets | — |
| 2024 | 1 | 8 | 8 | Rob Dillingham | PG | San Antonio Spurs | — |
| 2024 | 2 | 17 | 43 | Antonio Reeves | SG | Orlando Magic | — |