10 former Wolverines on opening NBA rosters

The NBA begins action on Tuesday night, and earlier Michigan Wolverines basketball The players are spread across the entire league. The Maize and Blue have 10 representatives on seven teams. Here's a look at everyone, when they'll take the floor to open the season, and the outlook for each player.

Atlanta Hawks: G Kobe Bufkin

First game: Wednesday, October 23 at 7:30 p.m. ET – vs. Brooklyn Nets

Bufkin is out for the season opener in Atlanta because of a right shoulder injury he sustained during practice last Saturday. His long-term status is unknown.

Unfortunately for Bufkin, this is a trend early in his pro career. He missed most of last season with thumb and toe injuries and played just 17 games as a rookie in 2023-24.

The former Michigan guard is expected to be one of the second unit's primary ballplayers as a backup Trae Young.

Charlotte Hornets: F Moussa Diabate

First game: Wednesday, October 23 at 8 p.m. ET – at Houston Rockets

The Hornets lack great frontcourt depth, so Diabate has a chance to make an impact on his new team. He played in 11 games in the NBA last season – spending most of his time in the G League – and averaged 2.6 points and 2.2 points in 5.8 minutes per game.

Cleveland Cavaliers: G Caris LeVert

First game: Wednesday, October 23 at 7:30 p.m. ET – at Toronto Raptors

LeVert should once again be an important piece in Cleveland's backfield, which will begin the season without a shooter Max Strusincreasing the likelihood that the former Michigan star will get even more minutes.

“I texted him the other day and said, 'Let's go, you have to do everything.' “You could start, you could come off the bench,” head coach said Kenny Atkinson said Tuesday.

LeVert played in 68 games with 10 starts last season and helped lead the Cavs to the second round of the playoffs. He averaged 14 points, 5.1 assists and 4.1 rebounds per game while shooting 42.1 percent overall and 32.5 percent from three-point range.

Detroit Pistons: G Tim Hardaway Jr.

First game: Wednesday, October 23 at 7 p.m. ET – vs. Indiana Pacers

In Detroit – not far from where he played college basketball – Hardaway is expected to come off the bench for the new-look Pistons. He was part of a deal that involved a shooting guard Quentin Grimes Go to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Hardaway and future second-round picks.

The 12th-year pro was a key figure on a Mavericks team that reached the NBA Finals last season, but struggled with an injury late in the season. Still, the former Michigan guard appeared in 14 postseason contests. In the regular season, Hardaway appeared in 79 appearances with 12 starts, posting 14.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists per night and connecting on 40.2 percent of his total shots and 35.3 percent of his looks from distance .

Miami Heat: F Duncan Robinson

First game: Wednesday, October 23 at 7:30 p.m. ET – vs. Orlando Magic

Robinson is expected to come off the bench after a resurgent 2023-24 season. After battling injuries and struggling with his shot during the 2022-23 season, he played in 68 games with 36 starts and shot 39.5 percent from three-point range, an average of 12. Corresponds to 9 points per fight.

Orlando Magic: G Jett Howard, G Caleb Houstan, F Franz Wagner, F/C Moitz Wagner

First game: Wednesday, October 23 at 7:30 p.m. ET – at Miami Heat

Franz Wagner will start for the Magic, who reached the postseason last year for the first time since 2019-20. He was named Franz No. 52 player in the NBA by ESPN.com. The former Michigan wing was listed under No. 56 in The Ringer's NBA 100.

“Wagner has been a cornerstone of the Magic's resurgence, which led to him signing a five-year, $224 million rookie contract extension in July,” ESPN's Kendra Andrews wrote. “He had seven 30-point games last season and finished in the top 10 in layups and dunks according to Second Spectrum Tracking.

“Franz is perhaps the least confrontational of the Wagner brothers, but only because Mo(e) is basically that Muhammad Ali “tricking opponents into attacking him,” according to The Ringer Rob Mahoney wrote. “Franz manages to annoy his opponents a little more honestly: by pushing them headfirst into the chest, penetrating them and making them hear all about it.

“It turns out it's pretty hard to stop a 6-10 winger who can handle the ball and welcome contact. Wagner doesn't get the perfect performance on every drive, but that hasn't stopped him from giving his opponents as much as they can handle.

“Wagner is a star on the rise, as evidenced by the maximum extension the Magic gave him this summer. But it is the qualities behind this rise that make his journey so fascinating – and define magic as we know it.”

Moritz Wagner, on the other hand, was re-signed this offseason after averaging 10.9 points per game, 4.3 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 17.8 minutes in 80 games.

Howard battled injuries and spent much of last season in the G League. Houstan appears to be gaining minutes right away, as the former Michigan shooting guard averaged 4.3 points and 1.4 rebounds per game and shot 37.3 percent from distance in 59 games with 13 starts last season.

Washington Wizards: Jordan Poole

First game: Thursday, October 24, 2024 at 7 p.m. ET – vs. Boston Celtics

The former Michigan guard is entering his second season with the Washington Wizards after spending four years with the Golden State Warriors. He is the projected lead guard on a team that won just 15 games last season. However, Poole posted relatively high numbers, averaging 17.4 points, 4.4 assists and 2.7 rebounds per outing while shooting 41.3 percent overall and 32.6 percent on three-pointers.