WVU, Big 12 Alumni on NBA Rosters at Start of 2024-25 Season

As the 2024-25 NBA season gets underway, it’s time to take a look at the Big 12 alumni on rosters on Opening Night.

A total of 67 players, including three former West Virginia players, from a total of 14 programs will start the season on NBA rosters across the league. The WVU products are Jevon Carter with the Chicago Bulls, Miles “Deuce” McBride of the New York Knicks and Jesse Edwards as a rookie with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The list includes former Most Valuable Players Joel Embiid (Kansas/Philadelphia) and James Harden (Arizona State/LA Clippers), plus three members from the United States Olympic Team that captured gold this summer—Embiid, Tyrese Halliburton (Iowa State/Indiana) and Derrick White (Colorado/Boston).

Image credit to New York Knicks

In addition, five NBA head coaches have Big 12 ties. Boston’s Joe Mazzulla (West Virginia), Golden State’s Steve Kerr (Arizona), Orlando’s Jamahl Mosley (Colorado) and Portland’s Chauncey Billups (Colorado) played at Big 12 institutions, while Dallas’ Jason Kidd is a member of the league’s Business Advisory Board.

Mazzulla brought the Celtics their first championship since 2008, and NBA record 18th overall.

Overall, Mazzulla is the sixth-youngest head coach to win the NBA Finals. Baltimore Bullets HC Harry “Buddy” Jeannette was only 30 when he won the title in 1948. Other younger coaches include John Kundla (32), George Senesky (34), Bill Russell (34), Alex Hannum (34) and Pat Riley (37).

Mazzulla took over the interim duties for Ime Udoka before the 2022-2023 season, leading the Celtics to 57 wins during his rookie season. Mazzulla also coached in the 2023 NBA All-Star Game.

Mazzulla, who played guard at West Virginia from 2006-11, has worked his way up the coaching ladder over the past decade. Mazzulla began pursuing a coaching career following his graduation from West Virginia. Following coaching stints at Glenville State and Fairmont State, the former Mountaineer was hired as an assistant of the Maine Red Claws, Boston’s G-League team. Mazzulla went back to Fairmont State in 2017 to serve as the head coach of the Fighting Falcons.

During his WVU days, Joe Mazzulla was most known for his 17-point performance in the 2010 Elite Eight against Kentucky. Mazzulla stepped in for an injured Truck Bryant, helping the Mountaineers reach their first Final Four since 1959. Mazzulla played 145 career games at West Virginia.

For a related story, Mazzulla made some strong comments during Celtics Media Day in September.