Sun Devils in the NBA

Oct 18, 2022

As the 2022-23 NBA season begins on Tuesday, October 18, Sun Devil fans will recognize several familiar faces when watching the games. Arizona State Men's Basketball's presence at the professional level continues to grow, with five Sun Devils playing at the NBA level as the 2022-23 season gets underway.

James Harden (76ers), Lu Dort (Thunder), Josh Christopher (Rockets), Zylan Cheatham (Pelicans), and Rob Edwards (Bucks) are all on a roster within the NBA system. The last time the program has had this many individuals in the NBA to start a season was 2013, when Carrick Felix and Jeff Ayres joined James Harden on an opening day roster. If all five were to make it to the NBA at one point this season, it would be the most Arizona State has been represented in the league since back in 1994. Learn more about the impact Sun Devil Men's Basketball is having at the highest level of professional basketball.

James Harden, Philadelphia 76ers
IN THE NBA

2018 NBA MVP and scoring champion
2019 & 2020 NBA scoring champion
2017 NBA assists leader
2012 Olympic Gold medalist
2012 NBA Sixth Man of the Year
10-time NBA All-Star
6-time NBA First-Team selection
NBA 75th Anniversary Team

AT ASU

5-0 vs. Arizona
2008-09 Consensus First Team All-American
2008-09 Pac-10 Player of the Year
#13 jersey hung in rafters Desert Financial Arena

Lu Dort, Oklahoma City Thunder
IN THE NBA

Enters his fourth season in the NBA as a member of the OKC Thunder
Went from undrafted in 2019 to signing a five-year, $87.5 million contract four years later
Averaged 17.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 0.9 steals per game in 2022
Became the youngest player ever to score 30+ points in a Game 7 during 2020 NBA Playoffs

AT ASU

2019 Pac-12 Freshman of the Year
Second-Team All-Pac-12 Conference selection
Pac-12 All-Defensive Team member
2-0 vs. Arizona (first season sweep since '09)

Josh Christopher, Houston Rockets
IN THE NBA

Enters his second season in the NBA with the Houston Rockets
Selected 24th overall in the 2021 NBA Draft, the highest Sun Devil selected since James Harden
Appeared in 74 games as a rookie for the Rockets, wasting no time proving why he was a first round pick
Averaged 7.9 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in 18 minutes per game
Scored 30 points in only 30 minutes off the bench in a matchup with the Timberwolves in April

AT ASU

One of the most highly-touted recruits to ever sign with Arizona State
Enjoyed one of the most productive freshman seasons in program history, averaging over 14 points and four rebounds per game
Earned Pac-12 Freshman of the Week honors on Nov. 30 after a 28-point effort against No. 3 Villanova
Started all 15 games in his only season in Tempe
Reached double-digit scoring on 13 occasions, including the first nine games of his career

Zylan Cheatham, New Orleans Pelicans (Birmingham Squadron)
IN THE NBA

Earned his way onto a NBA roster after being undrafted in 2019
Appeared in five games over two seasons with the New Orleans Pelicans and Utah Jazz
Last played for the Utah Jazz in the 2021-22 season
Averaged 3.0 points and 2.3 rebounds in 12.0 minutes in a four-game stint with the Pelicans during the 2019-20 season

AT ASU

In just one season made an incredible impact on the program both on the court as the Pac-12 leading rebounder and off it with incredible media and community engagement
Turned in one most diversified seasons in league history in 2018-19. Cheatham (12.1 ppg/10.3 rpg/3.2 apg) and Wisconsin's Ethan Happ (17.3/7.8/4.5) were the only players in the nation to average a double-double and three assists per game. Dating to the 1973-74 season, when assists became official, the only other Pac-12 players to do it were Rich Kelley of Stanford in 1974-75 (20/11.5/3.0) and UCLA's Bill Walton (19.3/14.7/5.5)
Earned Pac-12 First-Team honors along with Pac-12 All-Defensive Team
Notched the second triple-double in school history on Dec. 1, 2018, vs. Texas Southern
The 2019 Male Bill Kajikawa Award Winner

Rob Edwards, Milwaukee Bucks (Wisconsin Herd)
IN THE NBA

Looking to make it back to the NBA after earning his way onto a roster last year
Called up to the Oklahoma City Thunder after a spectacular G-League season
Made his NBA debut on Dec. 29, 2021 against the Phoenix Suns
Recorded his first three NBA points and grabbed three rebounds on Jan. 1, 2022 against the Mavericks

AT ASU

Started 48 games over two seasons after transferring.
Pac-12 Player of the Week in Dec. of 2019 after hitting a clutch three-point shot to help seal the victory over No. 1 Kansas
Made 122 three-point field goals in 58 games as a Sun Devil
80% career free-throw shooter, including two makes under pressure to seal a victory over Oregon State in 2019.
Averaged over 11 points and three rebounds a game in his ASU career