Checking in on the 4 former Huskies on NBA rosters to begin the 2025-26 season

Basketball season is upon us, and for most NBA teams, the first game of the 2025-26 NBA season was played last night. As action tipped off across the association, four former Washington Huskies were listed on NBA rosters, with a couple of them making an immediate impact for their teams.

The presence of Washington's basketball alumni in the NBA has certainly diminished in past years -- as fan favorites like Isaiah Thomas and Markelle Fultz no longer hold spots in the league, and recent UW teams haven't produced many new pros, as well. But's it's still important to cherish the ones that are still active, so let's shed some light on them now.

Isaiah Stewart

Isaiah Stewart, a five-star prospect and fourth-ranked player in the class of 2019, was Washington's highest-rated recruit of all time. However, the 6-foot-9 bruiser doesn't feel very much like a Husky -- as he came to Seattle from the East Coast and only played one season for the program before going pro. That season was also largely forgotten, as the Huskies finished dead last in the Pac-12 with a 15-17 overall record, and March Madness was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Stewart was drafted to the Detroit Pistons 16th overall in 2020, where he's been ever since and established a reputation for being a physical enforcer -- not afraid of getting into scraps with opposing superstars. Recently however, he's carved out a more fleshed-out role for a Pistons team that hopes to be competitive -- as a do-it-all forward/center off the bench.

That impact was made in Detroit's first game of the season against the Chicago Bulls. Stewart played a fantastic game: 20 points, 10 rebounds, and four blocks in just 25 minutes. He was highly efficient as well, going 8-of-14 from the field and a perfect 2-of-2 from 3-point range. The Pistons lost a close one 115-111, but Stewart will continue to be a vital piece for the team.

Jaden McDaniels

Stewart wasn't the only five-star prospect who went pro after their freshman season on that 2019-20 Washington team. Jaden McDaniels also fulfills that criteria, except he was a homegrown product who attended Federal Way High School in Seattle. McDaniels was picked later than Stewart in the 2020 draft, going No. 28 overall, but has easily proven himself to be the best UW alum currently playing in the NBA.

McDaniels has played for the Minnesota Timberwolves his entire career, where he's been a key starter for teams that have recently been to back-to-back Western Conference Finals. At a lengthy 6-foot-10, McDaniels is one of the best perimeter defenders in the entire league, being named to the All-Defensive Second Team for the 2023-24 season.

He fits the prototype of a "3-and-D" mold that has become so valuable in the modern NBA, as his career 3-point percentage is a respectable 35%. His overall offensive game has also taken a significant jump, as he's gotten more comfortable with creating his own shots on drives and mid-range pull-ups.

That was seen in the Timberwolves' first game of the season agaunst the Portland Trail Blazers -- McDaniels scored 18 points and recorded three blocks and a steal. Like Stewart, his efficiency was also great, 6-of-12 from the field and 3-of-4 from deep. And oh yeah, McDaniels rocked some sick, custom Huskies-themed shoes for his media day photoshoot:

Dejounte Murray

While McDaniels might currently hold the crown as the most impactful former Husky actively playing, there’s another name who could soon reclaim that title once he’s back on the court -- Dejounte Murray.

Murray, who suffered a torn Achilles on Jan. 31, 2025, has been sidelined since but is expected to return at some point this season, possibly in early 2026. When healthy, Murray has a strong argument for being the best Washington product in the NBA. He was named an All-Star in 2022, earned an All-Defensive Second Team selection in 2018, and has averaged over 20 points per game in three different seasons.

Like Stewart and McDaniels, Murray was one-and-done at Washington, only playing his freshman season in 2015-16 before being drafted in the first round to the San Antonio Spurs. Murray made also made a stint with the Atlanta Hawks before ending up where he is now, with the New Orleans Pelicans. The Rainier Beach High School alum has been defined by his crafty playmaking and tenacious on-ball defense, and absolutely has the toughness to return from his devastating injury better than ever.

Matisse Thybulle

Matisse Thybulle is the only active former Husky in the NBA who played at the university for more than one season, as he donned the purple and gold as a starter from his freshman to senior years. Thybulle was a fan favorite in Seattle, as he was the heartbeat of the most recent Washington teams that found real success, including the 2019 squad, which marked the program’s last NCAA Tournament appearance.

Also known for his relentless defense, Thybulle is Washington's all-time leader in steals with 331, and tied for the most blocks in program history, with 186. Thybulle even led the entire NCAA in steals his senior season, while also earning the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year award twice in 2018 and 2019.

That defensive identity transferred to the NBA, where he's made his mark as a defensive specialist for the Philadelphia 76ers and now Trail Blazers. He went up against McDaniels last night, but was used sparingly, logging twos in every stat column: points, rebounds, assists and steals across 14 minutes. His offensive game never took a jump, but has still averaged a healthy 20 minutes per game throughout his career.