The NBA All-Star Break is quickly approaching, so we take a look at the Ohio State Buckeyes making an impact across the league.

With the 2023-2024 NBA season approaching all-star weekend, it is a great time to dive into the players who are making Buckeye Nation proud at the next level. A total of eight former Buckeyes are on NBA teams, each in a different situation. Let’s start at the top with the guys getting the most minutes.

D’Angelo Russell has had a great season with the Los Angeles Lakers and has been playing his best ball as of late. The second pick in the 2015 NBA draft, Russell is back with his original team after spending time with three different teams between stints with the Lakers. Through 49 games, the playmaker has started 42 games and is averaging 17.5 points per game. Russell is also adding 6.2 assists, 2.7 rebounds, and nearly a steal a game on 46.5 percent shooting including 41.8 percent from behind the arc.

Mike Conley, another point guard, is a veteran Buckeye and was the fourth pick in the 2007 NBA draft. Conely spent his first 12 seasons in Memphis before a stint with the Utah Jazz, and is in his second year with the Minnesota Timberwolves who are top of the Western Conference. Conely is averaging 10.6 points, 6.5 assists, 2.8 rebounds, and a steal a game and has started all 48 games he has played in.

Jae’Sean Tate is in his fourth NBA season with the Houston Rockets after going undrafted. He is having a down year after dealing with injuries last season. A guy who used to start almost every game, Tate has started just nine of his 50 appearances thus far. He is averaging 4.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game in 17.5 minutes of action per game.

Malaki Branham was the 20th pick in the 2022 NBA draft to the San Antonio Spurs and had a rookie season that showed great flashes. He played in 66 games last year making 32 starts and putting up 10.2 points per game. This year he has played in 49 games and started 21 of them. He is averaging 7.8 points, 2.2 assists, and 1.9 rebounds in 20.2 minutes per game.

Keita Bates-Diop was taken 48th overall in the 2018 NBA Draft and has spent time with five teams, the longest stint being three seasons with the San Antonio Spurs. He has played 39 games with the Phoenix Suns made eight starts this season, and was traded at the NBA trade deadline to the Brooklyn Nets. With the Suns this season he averaged 4.5 points and 2.6 rebounds per contest.

Brice Sensabaugh is in his rookie campaign after being taken with the 28th pick in the 2023 NBA draft by the Utah Jazz. He has played in just five games averaging just 2.8 minutes per game. He is averaging a point per contest, and will continue to fight for more playing time for a struggling Jazz side.

Duane Washington Jr. has found some opportunity in the league and in the 2021 season played 48 games with the Indiana Pacers and made seven starts. The undrafted Buckeye averaged 9.9 points, 1.8 assists, and 1.7 rebounds per game that season. Last season he played 31 games for the Phoenix Suns and made three starts, averaging 7.9 points and two assists per outing.

E.J. Liddell is another member of the scarlet and gray who has tried to battle through injuries for minutes at the next level. Liddell was taken by the New Orleans Pelicans with the 41st pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. After receiving no minutes his rookie season, he has played in eight games this season and has scored four points. 

With eight guys in the NBA and hopefully, more down the road, there are plenty of ways to get your Buckeye basketball fill in. There are plenty of Buckeye greats who are making Ohio State proud at the next level.