Ohio State basketball players he sent to the NBA Draft
In case you’ve been a bit off the sports news cycle, we’re here to let you know that former Ohio State head coach Thad Matta is back in the game. One of his former schools, and alma mater, Butler, announced the hiring of Matta being the Bulldogs’ new head coach last week.
Hopefully, Matta has gotten to the point with his health that he’s ready to get back into the game at the level he was patrolling the sidelines in Columbus, and we, for our part, will be rooting for his success.
However, it all brought back memories. Simply put, Matta’s time at Ohio State is by far the best time in Buckeye basketball history. While wearing scarlet and gray, Matta won five regular-season Big Ten titles, four Big Ten Tournament championships, went to two Final Fours, including one where OSU finished second, and took Ohio State to the NCAA Tournament nine times.
Matta also sent many players to the NBA, including several first-round players. And that’s what we’re focusing on here with the news of his return to the coaching game. Here are all the Ohio State players who were selected in the NBA draft while Thad Matta was the OSU coach.
We will proceed in chronological order from oldest to newest.
November 20, 2006; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes guard (31) Daequan Cook drives the way against San Francisco Dons center (3) Jared Casey in the first half at Value City ArenaStadium. Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports © copyright Matthew Emmons
NBA draft selection
First round | 21st overall selection by the Philadelphia 76ers (traded to Miami)
Ohio State Career Averages
Years) | Games | Points | Bounces | Aids |
2006-2007 | 39 | 9.8 | 4.3 | 1.0 |
Career NBA Stats
Miami, Oklahoma City, Houston and Chicago
Years) | Games | Points | Bounces | Aids |
2007-2013 | 328 | 6.4 | 2.1 | 0.7 |

February 22, 2020; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Utah Jazz guard Mike Conley (10) reacts after being fouled on a shot against the Houston Rockets during the third quarter at Vivint Smart Home Arena. The Rockets won 120-110. Credit: Chris Nicoll – USA TODAY Sports
NBA draft selection
First round | 4th overall selection by the Memphis Grizzlies
Ohio State Career Averages
Years) | Games | Points | Bounces | Aids |
2006-2007 | 39 | 11.3 | 3.4 | 6.1 |
Career NBA Stats
Memphis and Utah
Years) | Games | Points | Bounces | Aids |
2007-Current | 956 | 14.8 | 3.0 | 5.6 |

February 25, 2007; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Thad Matta celebrates with center Greg Oden (20) after a win over the Wisconsin Badgers at Value City Arena. The Buckeyes beat the Badgers 49-48. Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports © copyright Matthew Emmons
NBA draft selection
First round | 1st Overall Selection by the Portland Trail Blazers
Ohio State Career Averages
Years) | Games | Points | Bounces | Blocks |
2006-2007 | 32 | 15.7 | 9.6 | 3.3 |
Career NBA Stats
Portland and Miami
Years) | Games | Points | Bounces | Blocks |
2008-2009, 2013 | 105 | 8.0 | 6.2 | 1.2 |

April 4, 2019; Sacramento, California, USA; Sacramento Kings center Kosta Koufos (41) shoots the ball over Cleveland Cavaliers forward Marquese Chriss (3) during the first quarter at the Golden 1 Center. Credit: Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports
NBA draft selection
First round | 23rd overall selection by the Utah Jazz
Ohio State Career Averages
Years) | Games | Points | Bounces | Blocks |
2007-2008 | 37 | 14.4 | 6.7 | 1.8 |
Career NBA Stats
Utah, Minnesota, Denver, Memphis, Los Angeles Kings
Years) | Games | Points | Bounces | Blocks |
2008-2018 | 686 | 5.7 | 5.0 | 0.7 |

March 19, 2014; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Byron Mullens (30) reacts to a call during the fourth quarter against the Chicago Bulls at the Wells Fargo Center. The Bulls beat the Sixers 102-94. Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports
NBA draft selection
First round | 24th overall selection by the Dallas Mavericks (traded to Oklahoma City)
Ohio State Career Averages
Years) | Games | Points | Bounces | Blocks |
2008-2009 | 33 | 8.8 | 4.7 | 1.1 |
Career NBA Stats
Oklahoma City, Charlotte, LA Clippers and Philadelphia
Years) | Games | Points | Bounces | Blocks |
2009-2013 | 189 | 7.4 | 4.2 | 0.5 |

February 3, 2020; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Evan Turner (1) prepares to shoot before the game against the Boston Celtics at State Farm Arena. Credit: Dale Zanine – USA TODAY Sports
NBA draft selection
First round | 2nd overall selection by the Philadelphia 76ers
Ohio State Career Averages
Years) | Games | Points | Bounces | Aids |
2007-2010 | 101 | 15.0 | 6.8 | 4.1 |
Career NBA Stats
Portland and Miami
Years) | Games | Points | Bounces | Aids |
2010-2019 | 705 | 9.7 | 4.6 | 3.5 |

March 20, 2009; Dayton, Oh, USA; Ohio State head coach Thad Matta with guard Jon Diebler (33) in the second half against the Siena Saints in the first round of the 2009 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at University of Dayton Arena .
NBA draft selection
Second round | 51st overall selection by the Portland Trail Blazers
Ohio State Career Averages
Years) | Games | Points | Bounces | FG% 3 points |
2007-2011 | 144 | 10.7 | 2. | 41.6% |
Career NBA Stats
Never appeared in an official NBA game

ORG XMIT: RD 41640 Final four 2012-03-31 2012-03-31 23:19:54 — New Orleans, LA, USA — 2012 Final Four. – Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Kansas Jayhawks men’s semifinal action: Ohio State Buckeyes forward Jared Sullinger (0) reacts after losing to the Kansas Jayhawks. Photo by Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY Staff (Via OlyDrop)
NBA draft selection
First round | 21st overall selection by the Boston Celtics
Ohio State Career Averages
Years) | Games | Points | Bounces | FG% |
2010-2012 | 74 | 17.3 | 9.7 | 53.0 |
Career NBA Stats
Boston and Toronto
Years) | Games | Points | Bounces | FG% |
2012-2016 | 269 | 10.8 | 7.5 | 43.6 |

LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 30: Deshaun Thomas #1 of the Ohio State Buckeyes looks on while facing off against the Wichita State Shockers in the West Regional Finals of the 2013 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Staples Center on March 30, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
NBA draft selection
Second round | 58th overall selection by the San Antonio Spurs
Ohio State Career Averages
Years) | Games | Points | Bounces | FG% |
2010-2013 | 113 | 14.4 | 5.0 | 47.8 |
Career NBA Stats
Never appeared in an official NBA game

February 14, 2015; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes guard D’Angelo Russell (0) stands on the field between plays during the 2nd half of a game at the Jack Breslin Student Events Center. MSU defeated Ohio St. 59-56. Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
NBA draft selection
First round | 21st overall selection by the Boston Celtics
Ohio State Career Averages
Years) | Games | Points | Bounces | Aids |
2014-2015 | 35 | 19.3 | 5.7 | 5.0 |
Career NBA Stats
LA Lakers, Brooklyn, Golden State, Minnesota
Years) | Games | Points | Bounces | Aids |
2015-Current | 424 | 17.7 | 3.5 | 5.6 |

February 16, 2016; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes forward Keita Bates-Diop (33) looks for an open teammate under pressure from Michigan Wolverines guard Duncan Robinson (22) at Value City Arena. Ohio State won the game 76-66. Credit: Greg Bartram – USA TODAY Sports
NBA draft selection
Second round | 48th overall selection by the Minnesota Timberwolves
Ohio State Career Averages
Years) | Games | Points | Bounces | FG% |
2014-2018 | 109 | 11.7 | 5.7 | 47.2 |
Career NBA Stats
Minnesota, Denver, San Antonio
Years) | Games | Points | Bounces | FG% |
2018-Current | 160 | 5.1 | 3.0 | 46.0 |
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