Arizona Professional Athletes

Arizona alumni are scattered across the NBA landscape to start the 2026-27 season, and the early returns range from All-Star praise to guaranteed money to a European farewell. Here's the state of the Wildcat diaspora through the first week of play.

Aaron Gordon: The One Bright Spot in Denver's Ugly Opener

The Nuggets got humbled in their season opener, falling 96-84 to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday. Nikola Jokic shot 5-of-19, Jamal Murray managed just eight points, and the whole operation looked sluggish. But Aaron Gordon was not the problem. The former Arizona forward scored 20 points, pulled down six rebounds, added two steals and a block in 29 minutes — and drew "All-Star"-level praise from insider Kevin O'Connor despite the lopsided final. Gordon's energy and two-way production stood apart in a performance that otherwise left Denver fans queasy. The Nuggets had entered the year healthy and optimistic; the opener was a reminder that optimism doesn't survive contact with the Thunder's defense.

Pelle Larsson: Earning Minutes, Earning Trust in Miami

Pelle Larsson is making a legitimate case in South Beach. The Heat guard logged 36 minutes and posted 15 points, four assists, seven rebounds, and a steal in Miami's Saturday matchup against the Hornets — a strong individual line even in a 115-110 loss. It wasn't a one-game blip: earlier in the week he played 23 and 29 minutes in consecutive outings, showing the coaching staff is willing to lean on him. The Swedish guard is carving out real rotation value, and the Heat clearly see something worth developing.

Brandon Williams: A Guaranteed Contract and a Promising Week

The most tangible news for a Wildcat this week came off the court. Brandon Williams locked in $1.4 million in guaranteed money by making Golden State's opening-night roster — a significant milestone for a player fighting for his NBA life. On the court, he delivered two noteworthy performances: 14 points, three assists, and three steals in 17 minutes against the Lakers on Thursday, then contributed four points, a steal, and a +8 plus/minus in nine minutes against Memphis on Saturday. Small sample, but the production-per-minute has been there when called upon.

Around the Rest of the Roster

Lauri Markkanen continued to be Utah's anchor, putting up 18 points, nine rebounds, and three assists against Memphis on Thursday, then following with 16 points and six boards in the Jazz's narrow 120-119 win over the Pelicans on Saturday — a result that came at the expense of fellow Wildcat Bennedict Mathurin, who managed just four points in 15 minutes for New Orleans.

Brayden Burries had his best showing of the week Wednesday, scoring 12 points in 15 minutes for the Bucks against the Wizards. Deandre Ayton has seen limited run in Washington — six rebounds and four points in 14 minutes Friday — as the Wizards manage a crowded frontcourt in what's shaping up to be an intriguing rebuild.

Carter Bryant hasn't broken through yet in the regular season despite a strong preseason case; he's logged just 4–6 minutes in his two regular-season appearances for San Antonio.

And finally, a quiet ending: Christian Koloko, released by the Pelicans earlier this month, has officially signed with Crvena Zvezda in Serbia — closing his NBA chapter and opening a European one.

Two former Wildcats are carrying the weight of elevated expectations into the 2026-27 NBA season — and how they respond could define their trajectories for years to come.

Bryant Bounces Back, Looks Like a Different Player

Carter Bryant's preseason nearly derailed before it started. The San Antonio Spurs forward twisted his ankle in a loss to the Phoenix Suns, landing him on the injury report alongside Tobias Harris and De'Aaron Fox. But Bryant didn't stay sidelined for long — and his return made a statement.

In a 123-103 preseason win over Phoenix, Bryant came off the bench and drained four three-pointers, finishing with 16 points. Victor Wembanyama led the way with a game-high 19 and Stephon Castle added 18, but Bryant's efficient, aggressive performance was one of the evening's cleaner storylines.

The bounce-back wasn't accidental. Bryant spent his summer channeling Kobe Bryant — no relation — methodically overhauling his approach to preparation. Per Sports Illustrated, the 20-year-old used the offseason to work harder and smarter after a rookie year defined more by growing pains than breakthroughs. He told ClutchPoints the process was grueling by design. The Spurs need him to be more than an energy spark; they need a wing who can create and convert. Early returns suggest the work translated.

Mathurin's Breakout Window Just Got More Complicated

Across the league, Bennedict Mathurin arrived in New Orleans with a clear mandate: reinvent his game to fit next to Zion Williamson and become the secondary scorer the Pelicans need. Then Dejounte Murray got hurt — and the margin for easing into the role evaporated.

According to ClutchPoints, the Pelicans' front office and coach Jamahl Mosley already expected Mathurin to make significant adjustments as the team's new offensive identity took shape. Murray's injury accelerates that timeline dramatically. Mathurin, a former lottery pick, is no longer inheriting a supporting role. He's being asked to help carry the load before the regular season has even tipped off.

It's pressure that cuts both ways. The opportunity is real — more minutes, more shots, more visibility. But Mathurin is being asked to transform his game and assume primary creation duties simultaneously, without the safety net of a healthy supporting cast around him.

Around the Rest of the Wildcat World

The week brought other notable developments across the alumni roster. Aaron Gordon had an eye-catching preseason for Denver, dropping 25 points in a 133-128 win over Chicago alongside Nikola Jokic's triple-double — and was apparently so impressed by a Jokic no-look pass that he couldn't contain his reaction. Lauri Markkanen continued his steady form in Utah, scoring 19 points and grabbing five boards in a 119-116 win over Phoenix.

On the roster bubble, Dalen Terry was waived by Golden State after failing to secure a spot on the Warriors' final roster via his Exhibit 10 training camp contract, though reports indicated there may be a path back via the G League affiliate. Christian Koloko was released by New Orleans after one preseason appearance and is reportedly being pursued by a Spanish club. Caleb Love remains on Philadelphia's two-way roster, joined by newly signed Tacko Fall. And Brandon Williams locked down a spot with Golden State on a one-year, $2.6 million deal after a career-best season in Dallas.

The sophomore stories in San Antonio and New Orleans will be the ones worth tracking. Bryant and Mathurin arrived in the league in the same draft class. Where they go from here — together, in different cities, under very different circumstances — is one of the more compelling Arizona subplots of the season ahead.

Steve Kerr has coached Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and a roster full of elite athletes over more than a decade on the Golden State bench. When he says Brandon Williams is the fastest player he's ever coached, that's not a preseason throwaway line — that's a headline.

The former Arizona Wildcat has turned Golden State's training camp into his personal audition tape, and by every early indication, he's passing with flying colors.

Williams Runs the Show in Warriors Debut

Williams made his presence felt immediately in Golden State's preseason opener, stepping into the lead guard role and holding it throughout a 123-118 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center. The loss barely mattered in the broader narrative — Williams' performance was the story. According to Yahoo Sports, he grabbed the opportunity and never let go, flashing the kind of pace-setting ability that the Warriors' second unit has lacked for years.

Multiple pieces from Yahoo Sports have already framed Williams as a potential "weapon" — specifically, a spark-plug guard who can push tempo and create off the bounce in ways Golden State hasn't consistently had off the bench. That's not a small ceiling for a player still establishing himself at the NBA level.

Kerr amplified the hype further by comparing Williams' speed to a Warriors legend — a rare distinction that signals the coaching staff sees something real, not just preseason noise. Per Heavy Sports, Kerr was unequivocal: no player he has ever coached moves like Williams does.

Sports Illustrated noted that Williams' strong play is adding a roster decision complication for Golden State at the forward spot — a sign that his emergence is already reshaping how the front office is thinking about the team's construction heading into the regular season.

Fellow Wildcat Dalen Terry is also on the Warriors' roster, giving Arizona a two-man presence in the Bay. Terry hasn't grabbed the same headlines as Williams this week, but the Tucson pipeline to Golden State is quietly becoming one of the more interesting alumni clusters in the league.

Around the League: Larsson Earning It in Miami

In South Beach, Pelle Larsson is getting his moment. Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra appeared on The Dan Le Batard Show this week and made what ClutchPoints described as an "eye-opening admission" about the third-year guard: Larsson simply left him no choice but to carve out a role. Spoelstra explained that Larsson earned his spot incrementally, from the moment he entered the league. That kind of coach-speak carries weight when it comes from one of the NBA's most demanding minds.

In Utah, Injury Clouds Darken the Jazz Outlook

Lauri Markkanen is dealing with a short-term ailment that kept him out of Utah's preseason game against the Denver Nuggets, per Sports Illustrated. The Jazz are already navigating a bruised center rotation after Jusuf Nurkic went down for weeks, per Heavy Sports. It's a rough early stretch for Utah's roster — and for Markkanen, staying healthy heading into the regular season is the only storyline that matters right now.

Meanwhile, Carter Bryant in San Antonio is drawing optimism from the Spurs organization. Sports Illustrated reports that San Antonio expects Bryant and rookie co-star Dylan Harper to build on their rookie experience, with a sophomore leap potentially pushing the team over the top in 2026-27.

The week's biggest Arizona story, though, belongs to Williams. If the preseason is any indication, Wildcat fans in the Bay Area are going to have plenty to cheer about this season.