Ohio State Alumni NBA Roundup | Sept. 6–12, 2026
Conley Chooses Celtics for His 20th Season
Mike Conley isn't riding off into the sunset — he's chasing a banner.
The 38-year-old Ohio State product inked a one-year deal with the Boston Celtics this offseason, making one of the more compelling late-career moves in recent NBA memory. Entering his 20th season, Conley left the Minnesota Timberwolves after three seasons, and his departure reportedly stung Minnesota beyond the basketball court. An insider noted the Timberwolves will feel the loss acutely — Conley's veteran presence and locker room credibility aren't easily replaced, even as the team retooled by acquiring LaMelo Ball and signing Jonathan Kuminga.
So why Boston? The Celtics' prestige was a real factor, according to reporting on the signing. Head coach Joe Mazzulla reportedly played a significant role in winning Conley over, and the organization's "royalty" status in NBA history carried genuine weight for a player of Conley's standing. Brad Stevens targeted the veteran to address guard depth behind Payton Pritchard and Derrick White — and Conley, who brings reliable ball-handling and veteran savvy off the bench, fit the profile.
It's worth noting Boston wasn't the only suitor. That Conley chose the Celtics over other options speaks to his priorities heading into what could be his final chapter: he's not chasing minutes, he's chasing meaning. A 20th season with a franchise like Boston, under a coach he believes in, is exactly that.
Sensabaugh's Make-or-Break Moment in Utah
While Conley is cementing a legacy, Brice Sensabaugh is still building one — and the clock is ticking.
The Ohio State forward enters the 2026–27 season in a contract year with the Utah Jazz, making this campaign as high-stakes as it gets for the young wing. According to Sports Illustrated, there is one specific trait Sensabaugh must develop to earn his next deal — and the pressure to demonstrate growth is squarely on his shoulders this season.
Sensabaugh has shown flashes of offensive promise since being drafted, but contract years separate players who trend upward from those who plateau. For a Jazz squad in the midst of a longer-term rebuild, Sensabaugh has the opportunity to carve out a defined role and prove he belongs in the league's future plans — either Utah's or someone else's. Every game this season doubles as an audition.
The Bigger Picture for Buckeye Nation
Ohio State's NBA footprint remains impressively wide. From Conley's veteran gravitas in Boston to D'Angelo Russell suiting up for Dallas, Malaki Branham developing in Orlando, and Jae'Sean Tate holding down a role in Houston, the Buckeyes have representatives across the league at every stage of a career arc.
But this week's headline story is Conley — a first-ballot Hall of Fame conversation player making a calculated, dignified move into what may be his final season. Buckeye alumni fans won't find a better reason to tune into Celtics basketball this fall.
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