Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboys In The NBA
Tony Allen
Drafted with the 27th overall pick in the first round of the 2004 NBA draft by Boston, he won the 2008 World Championship with the Celtics. He signed with Memphis in 2010 and became the face of their "Grit & Grind" mindset and was dubbed the "Grindfather" by the Memphis faithful. Allen is a three-time first team NBA All-Defensive selection, and a three-time second team honoree. He played in 820 NBA games in his career that spanned 14 seasons.
James Anderson
Drafted with the 20th overall selection in the first round of the 2010 NBA Draft by the Spurs, he played four seasons with three different teams. He played 95 games for the Spurs, 31 for the Houston Rockets in 2013, and spent last season as a starter (62 starts) for the Philadelphia 76ers (80 games). In August of 2014, signed a one-year deal with Zalgiris Kaunas in Lithuania and has been a standout in Europe ever since.
Markel Brown
Drafted with the 44th overall selection in the second round of the 2014 NBA Draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves, but was immediately traded to the Brooklyn Nets, where he would play in 109Â games over the next two seasons. He also played for the Houston Rockets, and has been a standout in the G-League and overseas.Â
Cade Cunningham
The program's first and only First Team AP All-American and just the second Consensus First Team All-American in program history, Cade Cunningham was taken with the No. 1 pick by the Detroit Pistons in the 2021 NBA Draft.
Jawun Evans
After an All-American season as a sophomore in 2017, Evans was Drafted with the No. 39th pick by the Philadelphia 76ers before being immediately traded to the Los Angeles Clippers. After a season with the Clippers, Evans also spent time with the Phoenix Suns and the OKC Thunder .
John Lucas III
After going undrafted following an All-American campaign and a trip to the 2004 Final Four, Lucas went on to play eight seasons in the NBA. He finished his 242-game career with the Timberwolves in 2016-17 and went on to become a coach with the organization following his playing career.
Marcus Smart
Drafted with the sixth overall selection in the first round of the 2014 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics. Smart has earned a reputation as one of the NBA's toughest defenders, and was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team in 2019 and 2020.
Joey Graham
Drafted with the 16th overall selection in the first round of the 2005 NBA Draft by the Toronto Raptors, he played nearly 400 games for three different teams from 2005-11. He was in Toronto from 2005-09 (283 games), was with the Denver Nuggets during 2009-10 (67) and spent the 2010-11 season with the Cleveland Cavaliers (39).
Stephen Graham
Despite going undrafted after graduating from Oklahoma State, he made a name for himself as a nomad of the NBA, playing nearly 250 games for seven different teams. From 2005-11, he played for the Rockets (6 games), Bulls (3), Cavaliers (13), Trailblazers (14), Pacers (74), Bobcats (72) and the Nets (59).
Desmond Mason
Drafted with the 17th overall selection in the first round of the 2000 NBA Draft by the SuperSonics, he played more than 650 games for four different organizations over 10 seasons. He played 210 games in three seasons in Seattle, played 260 games in two separate stints with the Bucks, he played 145 for the Hornets in OKC, 39 for the Thunder, and ended his career in 2010 with the Kings.
Bryant Reeves
Drafted with the sixth overall selection in the first round of the 1995 NBA Draft by the Vancouver Grizzlies, he was the first-ever pick for the fledgling organization. He spent his whole career with the franchise, even after the move to Memphis. He finished with nearly 400 games in his career before it was cut short due to back issues.
John Starks
Despite going undrafted following his senior season at OSU, he played in nearly 1,000 games over a 13-year NBA career. He began with the Warriors playing 36 games during the ‘88-89 season. He signed on with the Knicks and played 695 games from 1990-98. Went back to Golden State in ‘98, played for the Bulls in 2000, and finished his career in Utah in 2002.
Maurice Baker
Played five games in the NBA, one with the Clippers and four with the Trailblazers that same season. Had a long, successful career in the D-League, mostly with the Dakota Wizards. He currently owns two D-League records: career games and career steals.
Joe Bradley
Played 46 games for the Chicago Stags during the 1949-50 season, the franchise’s final year of existence.
Leroy Combs
After being drafted with the 26th overall pick in the second round of the 1983 NBA Draft by Indiana, he played 48 games for the Pacers during the 1983-84 season.
JamesOn Curry
Drafted with the 51st overall pick in the second round of the 2007 NBA Draft by Chicago, he never played a game for the Bulls. He ended up playing one game for the Los Angeles Clippers during the 2009-10 season.
Pete Darcey
Played 12 games for the Milwaukee Hawks organization (now the Atlanta Hawks) during the 1952-53 season.
Richard Dumas
Drafted with the 46th overall pick in the second round of the 1991 NBA Draft by Phoenix, he played 89 games for the Suns from 1992-95. He then played 39 games for the Philadelphia 76ers during the 1995-96 season.
Lonnie Eggleston
Played two games with the St. Louis Bombers during the 1948-49 season. The Bombers were one of five teams originally part of the Basketball Association of America that merged with the NBA in 1949 and dropped out of the league in 1950.
Cecil Hankins
Played 47 games for the St. Louis Bombers during the 1946-47 season as part of the Basketball Association of America. Played 25 games the following season with the Boston Celtics.
Bob Harris
A second-team AP All-American at OSU, Harris was taken with the third pick in the 1949 Draft by the Fort Wayne Pistons. He went on to a six-year career that saw him suit up in 325 NBA games.Terrel Harris
Played 33 games over two seasons with Miami in 2011-13, winning a World Championship with the Heat in 2012. Then played 13 games in 2012-13 with the New Orleans Hornets.
Byron Houston
Was drafted with the 27th overall pick in the first round of the 1992 NBA Draft by Chicago, but traded to Golden State. He played 153 games with the Warriors in 1992-94, 40 games with the Sonics in 1994-95, and 25 games with the Kings in 1995-96.
Thomas Jordan
Played four games for the Philadelphia 76ers during the 1992-93 season.
Ivan McFarlin
Played 11 games for the Philadelphia 76ers during the 2006-07 season.
Doyle Parrack
Played 65 games for the Chicago Stags during the 1946-47 season. as part of the Basketball Association of America.
Melvin Sanders
Played 16 games for the San Antonio Spurs during the 2005-06 season.
Brooks Thompson
Was drafted with the 27th overall pick of the 1994 draft by Orlando, and played 176 games in his career, including 79 games with the Magic (‘94-96), two with the Jazz (‘95-96), 65 with the Nuggets (‘96-97), 13 with the Suns and 17 with the Knicks (‘97-98).
Corey Williams
After being drafted with the 33rd overall pick (second round) by Chicago, he played a total of 39 games. He played 35 with the Bulls (1992-93) and four with the Minnesota Timberwolves (1993-94).
