The NBA season kicks off next week on Oct. 22, and several former West Virginia Mountaineers are set to compete for a championship.
Miles “Deuce” McBride, PG, New York Knicks
McBride played two seasons for West Virginia before being selected by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round of the 2021 NBA Draft. He was traded to the New York Knicks later that year. Deuce was a key contributor during the Knicks’ playoff run last season, where he averaged 10.0 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game. He is expected to have an increased role this season as the first guard off the bench behind star Jalen Brunson.
Jevon Carter, PG, Chicago Bulls
Carter spent four years at West Virginia, starting all but one game from his sophomore season onward. He was a second-round pick by the Memphis Grizzlies in 2019 and has played for several teams, including the Grizzlies, Suns, Nets, and Bucks. Now signed with the Bulls through 2026, Carter has been a reliable role player, averaging 5.3 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game in his NBA career.
Oscar Tshiebwe, PF/C, Utah Jazz
While Tshiebwe did not finish his college career at West Virginia, he played his first two seasons there before transferring to Kentucky. At Kentucky, Tshiebwe earned numerous accolades, including the John R. Wooden Award in 2022 for the nation’s best player and the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award for the nation’s top center. Despite going undrafted in 2023, Tshiebwe signed a two-way contract with the Indiana Pacers and made his NBA debut during last year’s in-season tournament after spending time in the G League. He is now with the Utah Jazz and hopes to see an expanded role.
Jesse Edwards, C, Minnesota Timberwolves
Edwards played a pivotal role in West Virginia’s first season without former head coach Bob Huggins in 17 years, transferring from Syracuse to complete his college career. In his fifth year, Edwards averaged 15.0 points, led the team with 8.0 rebounds per game, and added 1.7 assists per game. Although he went undrafted, he signed a two-way contract with the Timberwolves, allowing him to play both in the G League and for Minnesota. He participated in several preseason games last week.
