Illini in the NBA
*scroll down for comprehensive list of Illini in the NBA Draft
Illinois: 2019, 2020, 2021
Drafted: 2021-Chicago Bulls, 2nd Round, 38th Overall
2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026: Chicago Bulls
Illinois: 2025
Drafted: 2025 Miami Heat, 1st Round, 20th Overall
2026: Miami Heat
Illinois: 2025
Drafted: 2025 Utah Jazz (traded to Washington Wizards), 1st Round, 21st Overall
2026: Washington Wizards
Illinois: 2023, 2024
Drafted: 2024-Minnesota Timberwolves, 1st Round, 27th Overall
2025, 2026: Minnesota Timberwolves
| All-Time Illini NBA Draft Picks |
| Name |
Team |
Round |
Year |
| Rich Adams |
San Antonio |
4th |
1978 |
| Doug Altenberger |
Chicago |
6th |
1987 |
| Nick Anderson |
Orlando |
1st - No. 11 |
1989 |
| Robert Archibald |
Memphis |
2nd |
2002 |
| James Augustine |
Orlando |
2nd |
2006 |
| Steve Bardo |
Atlanta |
2nd |
1990 |
| Kenny Battle |
Detroit (traded to Phoenix) |
1st - No. 27 |
1989 |
| Ted Beach |
Indianapolis |
7th |
1951 |
| Irv Bemoras |
Milwaukee |
3rd |
1953 |
| George BonSalle |
Syracuse |
1st - No. 7 |
1957 |
| Jim Bredar |
Fort Wayne |
3rd |
1953 |
| Neil Bresnahan |
Golden State |
6th |
1980 |
| Tal Brody |
Baltimore |
3rd |
1965 |
| Dee Brown |
Utah |
2nd |
2006 |
| Jack Burmaster |
St. Louis |
2nd |
1948 |
| Bill Burwell |
St. Louis |
3rd |
1963 |
| Brian Cook |
Los Angeles |
1st - No. 24 |
2003 |
| Nick Connor |
Buffalo |
10th |
1973 |
| Jim Dawson |
Chicago |
16th |
1967 |
| Jeff Dawson |
Golden State |
8th |
1973 |
| Ayo Dosunmu |
Chicago |
2nd |
2021 |
| Bruce Douglas |
Sacramento |
3rd |
1986 |
| Dave Downey |
San Francisco |
4th |
1963 |
| Ron Dunlap |
Chicago |
2nd |
1968 |
| Bill Erickson |
Tri-Cities |
7th |
1950 |
| Rod Fletcher |
Minneapolis |
6th |
1952 |
| Don Freeman |
Philadelphia |
3rd |
1966 |
| Kendall Gill |
Charlotte |
1st - No. 5 |
1990 |
| James Griffin |
New Jersey |
4th |
1982 |
| Derek Harper |
Dallas |
1st - No. 11 |
1983 |
| Jodie Harrison |
Baltimore |
15th |
1969 |
| Luther Head |
Houston |
1st - No. 24 |
2005 |
| Derek Holcomb |
Portland |
3rd |
1981 |
| Rick Howat |
Milwaukee |
9th |
1971 |
| Kasparas Jakucionis |
Miami |
1st - No. 20 |
2025 |
| Eddie Johnson |
Kansas City |
2nd |
1981 |
| Paul Judson |
Syracuse |
2nd |
1956 |
| John Kerr |
Syracuse |
1st - No. 6 |
1954 |
| Bryan Leonard |
Milwaukee |
8th |
1982 |
| Meyers Leonard |
Portland |
1st - No. 11 |
2012 |
| Marcus Liberty |
Denver |
2nd |
1990 |
| Audie Matthews |
Detroit |
6th |
1978 |
| Scott Meents |
Chicago |
4th |
1986 |
| George Montgomery |
Portland |
2nd |
1985 |
| Ken Norman |
LA Clippers |
1st - No. 19 |
1987 |
| Don Ohl |
Philadelphia |
5th |
1958 |
| Wally Osterkorn |
Chicago |
2nd |
1950 |
| Andy Phillip |
Chicago |
5th |
1947 |
| Mike Price |
New York |
1st - No. 17 |
1970 |
| Perry Range |
Kansas City |
7th |
1982 |
| Bogie Redmon |
Baltimore |
11th |
1965 |
| Will Riley |
Utah (traded to Washington) |
1st - No. 21 |
2025 |
| Harv Schmidt |
Minneapolis |
2nd |
1957 |
| Rick Schmidt |
New Orleans |
6th |
1975 |
| Dave Scholz |
Philadelphia |
4th |
1969 |
| Terrence Shannon Jr. |
Minnesota |
1st - No. 27 |
2024 |
| Bill Small |
Detroit |
5th |
1963 |
| Mark Smith |
Milwaukee |
3rd |
1981 |
| Don Sunderlage |
Philadelphia |
1st - No. 9 |
1951 |
| Roger Taylor |
Syracuse |
5th |
1959 |
| Deon Thomas |
Dallas |
2nd |
1994 |
| Skip Thoren |
Baltimore |
5th |
1965 |
| Craig Tucker |
New York |
3rd |
1982 |
| Otho Tucker |
Boston |
10th |
1976 |
| Gene Vance |
Chicago |
4th |
1947 |
| Nick Weatherspoon |
Washington |
1st - No. 13 |
1973 |
| Anthony Welch |
Dallas |
3rd |
1986 |
| John Wessels |
Chicago |
8th |
1961 |
| Deron Williams |
Utah |
1st - No. 3 |
2005 |
| Frank Williams |
Denver (traded to New York) |
1st - No. 25 |
2002 |
| Nate Williams |
Chicago |
5th |
1976 |
| Efrem Winters |
Atlanta |
4th |
1986 |
