Tide and other SEC players on NBA rosters

T he SEC sent out this press release with information on Alabama and other SEC players on NBA rosters. The Tide has four players active in the NBA. But look a little lower. The Tide also has a strong representation in the assistant coaching ranks. Here’s the release:

Birmingham — The Southeastern Conference maintains its strong presence in the NBA for the 2008-2009 season as 38 former players are on 22 of the 30 NBA team’s rosters to open the season. Ten of the 12 SEC schools have former standouts holding roster spots at the beginning of the league’s 63rd season.

Florida and Kentucky top the list with nine former players each on the rosters of 14 different NBA squads. Golden State has four former SECers on its team while Atlanta has three SEC alums and Boston , Charlotte , Chicago , Cleveland , Dallas , Denver , Detroit , Miami , Minnesota , New Jersey and New York each have two former conference players on their rosters.

Bolstering the list of former SEC players, LSU has six former players in the league. The former Tigers have accumulated 30 years of NBA experience, led by Shaquille O’Neal who is in his 16th season and is currently playing for Miami . Alabama is next in line with four former SEC players in the NBA. The former Crimson Tide players have accumulated 24 years of NBA experience, led by Antonio McDyess ( Detroit –12th season). Arkansas has three players while Georgia and South Carolina have two and Auburn , Mississippi State and Tennessee each have one.

Pat Riley ( Kentucky ) and Ernie Grunfeld ( Tennessee ) highlight the front office list as team presidents for the Miami Heat and Washington Wizards, respectively. The NBA also lists 11 coaches who attended college at a current SEC institution, including Los Angeles Clippers head coach Mike Dunleavy ( South Carolina ).

ALABAMA (4) NBA Seasons Current Team

Richard Hendrix R Golden State Warriors

Antonio McDyess 12 Detroit Pistons

Gerald Wallace 7 Charlotte Bobcats

Mo Williams 5 Cleveland Cavaliers

ARKANSAS (3)

Ronnie Brewer 2 Utah Jazz

Joe Johnson 7 Atlanta Hawks

Sonny Weems R Denver Nuggets

AUBURN (1)

Marquis Daniels 5 Indiana Pacers

FLORIDA (9)

Matt Bonner 4 San Antonio Spurs

Corey Brewer 1 Minnesota Timberwolves

Udonis Haslem 5 Miami Heat

Al Horford 1 Atlanta Hawks

David Lee 3 New York Knicks

Mike Miller 8 Minnesota Timberwolves

Joakim Noah 1 Chicago Bulls

Anthony Roberson 2 New York Knicks

Marreese Speights R Philadelphia 76ers

GEORGIA (2)

Jarvis Hayes 5 New Jersey Nets

Damien Wilkins 4 Oklahoma City Thunder

KENTUCKY (9)

Kelenna Azubuike 2 Golden State Warriors

Keith Bogans 5 Orlando Magic

Chuck Hayes 3 Houston Rockets

Jamaal Magloire 8 Miami Heat

Nazr Mohammed 10 Charlotte Bobcats

Randolph Morris 2 Atlanta Hawks

Tayshaun Prince 6 Detroit Pistons

Rajon Rondo 2 Boston Celtics

Antoine Walker 12 Memphis Grizzlies

LSU (6) NBA Seasons Current Team

Brandon Bass 3 Dallas Mavericks

Glen Davis 1 Boston Celtics

Shaquille O’Neal 16 Phoenix Suns

Anthony Randolph R Golden State Warriors

Stromile Swift 8 New Jersey Nets

Tyrus Thomas 2 Chicago Bulls

MISSISSIPPI STATE (1)

Erick Dampier 12 Dallas Mavericks

SOUTH CAROLINA (2)

Renaldo Balkman 2 Denver Nuggets

Tarence Kinsey 2 Cleveland Cavaliers

TENNESSEE (1)

C.J. Watson 1 Golden State Warriors

TEAM PRESIDENTS Alma Mater Current Team

Pat Riley Kentucky Miami Heat

Ernie Grunfeld Tennessee Washington Wizards

HEAD COACHES Alma Mater Current Team

Mike Dunleavy* South Carolina Los Angeles Clippers

ASSISTANT COACHES Alma Mater Current Team

Keith Askins Alabama Miami Heat

Dwane Casey Kentucky Dallas Mavericks

T.R. Dunn Alabama Houston Rockets

Alex English* South Carolina Toronto Raptors

Sidney Moncrief Arkansas Golden State Warriors

Chuck Person Auburn Sacramento Kings

Roy Rogers Alabama New Jersey Nets

Elston Turner Mississippi Houston Rockets

Frank Vogel Kentucky Indiana Pacers

Darrell Walker* Arkansas Detroit Pistons

* Played/attended school before it was a member of the SEC

R Rookie