UCLA Well-Represented in 2025 NBA Postseason
April 14, 2025 | Men's Basketball
The UCLA men's basketball program has 12 former players who have helped their respective NBA organizations advance to the NBA postseason, which starts with play-in contests on Tuesday, April 15.
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While 10 teams from each of the Western and Eastern Conferences have qualified for postseason action, two teams from each conference will be eliminated in a series of play-in contests on Tuesday and Wednesday. The bracketed portion of the NBA Playoffs gets underway on Saturday, April 19 (complete NBA postseason schedule is available here).
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Five NBA playoff-bound teams have six former UCLA players on their rosters. In addition, four teams headed into play-in contests have six Bruins on the roster.
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The six former UCLA standouts on teams gearing up for play-in games include Kyle Anderson, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and Kevin Love from the Miami Heat, Lonzo Ball with the Chicago Bulls, Zach LaVine with the Sacramento Kings, and Kevon Looney with the Golden State Warriors.
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The six Bruins already set for postseason competition, bypassing any play-in games, include Jaylen Clark (Minnesota Timberwolves), Aaron Holiday (Houston Rockets), Jrue Holiday (Boston Celtics), Norman Powell (Los Angeles Clippers), Peyton Watson (Denver Nuggets) and Russell Westbrook (Denver Nuggets).
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In all, the UCLA men's basketball program had 15 former UCLA players on NBA rosters during the 2024-25 season (click here for the full list). Former UCLA players who saw action in the NBA this season but have not advanced to postseason competition include Adem Bona (Philadelphia 76ers), Moses Brown (Indiana Pacers and Dallas Mavericks) and Johnny Juzang (Utah Jazz).
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Four former UCLA standout players averaged at least 10 points per game in 2024-25. Zach LaVine led that group averaging 23.3 points in 74 games, playing for both the Chicago Bulls and the Sacramento Kings. Other players who averaged at least 10 points per game included Jrue Holiday with the Boston Celtics (11.1 ppg), Norman Powell with the Los Angeles Clippers (21.8 ppg) and Russell Westbrook with the Denver Nuggets (13.3 ppg).
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Bruins in the Play-In Contests
Tuesday, April 15
Kevon Looney, Golden State Warriors (No. 7-seed, West)
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Wednesday, April 16
Lonzo Ball (has been injured), Chicago Bulls (No. 9-seed, East)
Kyle Anderson, Miami Heat (No. 10-seed, East)
Jaime Jaquez Jr., Miami Heat (No. 10-seed, East)
Kevin Love, Miami Heat (No. 10-seed, East)
Zach LaVine, Sacramento Kings (No. 9-seed West)
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Bruins in the NBA โ Quick Summary
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Kyle Anderson (Miami Heat)
11th season in the NBA
PPG: 5.9
RPG: 3.4
APG: 2.4
Games: 61 (played in 36 games with Golden State)
Minutes per game: 16.4
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Anderson has played in 25 games with the Miami Heat, alongside former UCLA standouts Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Kevin Love. Currently in his 11th NBA Season, Anderson and the Heat will face No. 9-seed Chicago in a play-in game this Wednesday. The winner of that game will move into a play-in contest on Friday, April 18. Anderson was drafted in the first round of the 2014 NBA Draft after his sophomore season at UCLA (2013-14). He has shot 46.9 percent from the field, 35.7 percent from 3-point range, and 73.8 percent at the free throw line through 61 games this season.
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Lonzo Ball (Chicago Bulls)
8th season in the NBA
PPG: 7.6
RPG: 3.4
APG: 3.3
Games: 35
Minutes per game: 22.2
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Ball overcame a knee injury to return to action this season with the Chicago Bulls, averaging 7.6 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 35 games. Ball has not played since late February, nursing a wrist injury. Chicago will take on No. 10-seed Miami in a play-in game on Wednesday. The winner of the game will advance to a play-in contest on Friday, April 18. Ball was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers. He has shot 36.6 percent from the field and 34.4 percent from 3-point distance this season with the Bulls.
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Adem Bona (Philadelphia 76ers)
1st season in the NBA
PPG: 5.8
RPG: 4.2
APG: 0.5
Games: 58
Minutes per game: 15.6
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A second-round NBA Draft selection last summer by the Philadelphia 76ers, Bona averaged 5.8 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 58 games. He shot 70.3 percent from the field and 67.0 percent at the free throw line during his rookie campaign. He registered a season-high 28 points in a game for Philadelphia on Thursday, April 3.
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Moses Brown (Dallas Mavericks)
6th season in the NBA
PPG: 5.8
RPG: 3.4
APG: 0.2
Games: 13
Minutes per game: 9.2
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Brown played in 13 NBA games during the 2024-25 season. He competed in nine games earlier in the year for the Indiana Pacers before making four appearances later in the season with the Dallas Mavericks. Dallas has advanced to a play-in postseason game, but Brown has not been on Dallas' roster. He averaged 5.8 points and 3.4 rebounds in 13 contests. Brown spent the majority of the 2024-25 season completing with the Westchester Knicks in the NBA's G League.
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Jaylen Clark (Minnesota Timberwolves)
1st season in the NBA
PPG: 4.1
RPG: 1.3
APG: 0.7
Games: 40
Minutes per game: 13.1
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Clark and the Minnesota Timberwolves secured the Western Conference's No. 6 seed and will take on the No. 3-seed Los Angeles Lakers next weekend (best of seven series, starting in Los Angeles). Clark was unable to play for Minnesota during the 2023-24 campaign (injury), but had a strong rookie year in 2024-25. He averaged 4.1 points, 1.3 rebounds and 0.9 steals in 40 games for Minnesota. In addition, Clark shot 46.7 percent overall and 43.1 percent from 3-point distance.
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Aaron Holiday (Houston Rockets)
7th season in the NBA
PPG: 5.5
RPG: 1.3
APG: 1.3
Games: 62
Minutes per game: 12.8
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Aaron Holiday averaged 5.5 points and 1.3 rebounds in 62 games for Houston in 2024-25. The Rockets have secured the No. 2-seed in the Western Conference, set to face off against the No. 7-seed team (from a play-in game) this weekend. Houston registered an overall record of 52-30 in 2024-25, logging the third-highest win total of any NBA team. Holiday shot 43.7 percent overall and 39.8 percent from 3-point distance in his seventh year in the league. He also made 82.9 percent of his free throw attempts (34-for-41).
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Jrue Holiday (Boston Celtics)
16th season in the NBA
PPG: 11.1
RPG: 4.3
APG: 3.9
Games: 62
Minutes per game: 30.6
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After helping lead Boston to the 2025 NBA Championship last June, Holiday has played a major role in guiding the Celtics to the Eastern Conference's No. 2 seed this season. Holiday averaged 11.1 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 62 games. The Celtics will take on the Eastern Conference's No. 7-seed (team to be determined in a play-in game) this weekend after having compiled an overall record of 61-21. Now a 16-year NBA veteran, Holiday shot 44.3 percent overall and 35.3 percent from 3-point range for the Celtics this season.
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Jaime Jaquez Jr. (Miami Heat)
2nd season in the NBA
PPG: 8.6
RPG: 4.4
APG: 2.5
Games: 66
Minutes per game: 20.7
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Jaquez Jr., along with former UCLA players Kyle Anderson and Kevin Love, will look to help propel the Miami Heat this week in play-in games. In order to advance to the NBA playoffs, Miami will need to win play-in contests this Wednesday (against No. 9-seed Chicago) and either the Orlando Magic or Atlanta Hawks on Friday. In his second NBA season, Jaquez Jr. averaged 8.6 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.5 assists through 66 regular-season games. He closed the season with a career-best 41 points (and 10 rebounds) for Miami on Sunday afternoon.
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Johnny Juzang (Utah Jazz)
3rd season in the NBA
PPG: 8.9
RPG: 2.9
APG: 1.1
Games: 64
Minutes per game: 19.8
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Juzang concluded his third NBA season by averaging 8.9 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 64 games for the Utah Jazz. A two-year standout at UCLA in 2020-21 and 2021-22, Juzang shot 42.9 percent from the field and 37.6 percent from 3-point distance, sinking 118 of 314 long-range attempts.
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Zach LaVine (Sacramento Kings)
11th season in the NBA
PPG: 23.3
RPG: 4.3
APG: 4.2
Games: 74
Minutes per game: 35.2
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LaVine and the Sacramento Kings are scheduled to take on the No. 10-seed Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night in Sacramento. The Kings will need to win that game and a second play-in contest on Friday (versus either Golden State or Memphis) to advance into a first-round playoff series. In his 11th NBA season, LaVine played in 74 games (74 starts) for the Chicago Bulls and Sacramento Kings. He shot 51.1 percent overall and 44.6 percent from 3-point distance, finishing second in the league in 3-point shooting percentage behind Seth Curry of the Charlotte Hornets. LaVine sank 103 of 231 attempts from 3-point range (44.6%).
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Kevon Looney (Golden State Warriors)
10th season in the NBA
PPG: 4.5
RPG: 6.1
APG: 1.6
Games: 76
Minutes per game: 15.0
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Looney and the Golden State Warriors will need to win one of potentially two play-in games this week. The Warriors have clinched the No. 7-seed in the Western Conference and will host No. 8-seed Memphis this Tuesday evening. The winner of the game will move on to face No. 2-seed Houston in a best-of-seven first round series, starting on Sunday, April 20. Now a 10-year NBA veteran, Looney averaged 4.5 points and 6.1 rebounds in 76 games for Golden State this season. Looney has competed for the Warriors for his entire NBA career, having been a first-round NBA Draft selection by the organization in the summer of 2015.
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Kevin Love (Miami Heat)
17th season in the NBA
PPG: 5.3
RPG: 4.1
APG: 1.0
Games: 23
Minutes per game: 10.9
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Love, along with former UCLA players Kyle Anderson and Jaime Jaquez Jr., will look to lift the Miami Heat in the play-in round this week. Seeded No. 10 in the Eastern Conference, the Heat will have to defeat No. 9-seed Chicago and either the No. 7 or No. 8 seed in the conference later this week (either Orlando or Atlanta). Now in his 17th year in the NBA, Love averaged 5.3 points and 4.1 rebounds in 23 games for the Miami Heat this season.
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Norman Powell (Los Angeles Clippers)
10th season in the NBA
PPG: 21.8
RPG: 3.2
APG: 2.1
Games: 60
Minutes per game: 32.6
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Powell, now in his 10th year in the NBA, helped guide the Los Angeles Clippers to the No. 5 seed in the Western Conference. The Clippers are set to take on No. 4-seed Denver in a best-of-seven first-round matchup starting on Saturday, April 19. Powell averaged a career-best 21.8 points in a career-high 32.6 minutes per game during the 2024-25 season. He shot 48.4 percent from the field and connected on 41.8 percent of his 3-point field goal attempts. In addition, Powell averaged 3.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.2 steals per game. The Clippers compiled an overall record of 50-32 during the NBA's regular season.
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Peyton Watson (Denver Nuggets)
3rd season in the NBA
PPG: 8.1
RPG: 3.4
APG: 1.4
Games: 68
Minutes per game: 24.4
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Playing alongside former UCLA standout Russell Westbrook, Peyton Watson averaged 8.1 points and 3.4 rebounds in leading Denver to a 50-32 record this season. Denver has advanced to a first-round postseason series against the No. 5-seed Los Angeles Clippers. The series is set to begin on Saturday, April 19, in Denver. Now in his third year in the NBA, Watson shot 47.7 percent from the field and 35.3 percent from 3-point distance. He averaged 1.4 blocks and 0.7 steals per game with Denver.
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Russell Westbrook (Denver Nuggets)ย
17th season in the NBA
PPG: 13.3
RPG: 4.9
APG: 6.1
Games: 75
Minutes per game: 27.9
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Teammates with third-year NBA talent Peyton Watson, Russell Westbrook averaged 13.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 6.1 rebounds in 75 games with the Denver Nuggets this season. Now in his 17th year in the NBA, Westbrook Westbrook shot 44.9 percent from the field and 32.3 percent from 3-point distance. He also averaged 1.4 steals per game. Denver is set to face the No. 5-seed Los Angeles Clippers in a first-round playoff series starting on Saturday, April 19.
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