University of Georgia Athletics
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Bulldogs Prepping For Pro Leagues
August 27, 2026 | Men's Basketball
KCP, Claxton move to new NBA teams for 2026-27 season
Athens, Ga — A lengthy list of former Georgia Bulldogs are in the final stages of preparing to continue their professional basketball careers this season in the United States, Europe, Asia and South America.
Most prominently, four Bulldogs – two with new franchises and two with the same team as last season – are gearing up for NBA training camps in September.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope signed with the Philadelphia 76ers this summer, rejoining his former Los Angeles Lakers teammate LeBron James. Caldwell-Pope, the 2013 SEC Player of the Year, will be looking to earn a third NBA Championship ring. He helped the Lakers capture the 2020 title with James and won a second championship with the Denver Nuggets in 2023. The 76ers will be Caldwell-Pope's seventh NBA team during his 14 seasons in the NBA. He was the No. 8 overall selection in the 2013 Draft by Detroit and played four seasons with the Pistons through 2017 before moving on to L.A. from 2017-21, the Washington Wizards in 2021-22, the Nuggets from 2022-24, the Orlando Magic in 2024-25 and the Memphis Grizzlies in 2025-26.
Nicolas Claxton was traded to the Chicago Bulls this summer after playing for the Brooklyn Nets since he was drafted No. 31 overall in 2019. In 380 games, including 297 starts, over the past seven seasons, Claxton has scored 4,024 points, grabbed 2,875 rebounds and blocked 611 shots. He also has been one of the league's most efficient shooters, connecting on 62.2 percent of his shots from the field. Claxton will be reunited with first-year Bulls head coach Tiago Splitter, who served as an assistant coach for the Nets from 2019 through 2023.
Anthony Edwards, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, is set for his seventh season with the Minnesota Timberwolves. A four-time NBA All-Star, two-time All-NBA performer, 2024 Olympic Gold Medalist and originator of the popular "Believe That Awards," Edwards has led Minnesota to to the Playoffs in each of the past five seasons, including advancing to the Western Conference Finals in 2024 and 2025. Edwards will be joined on the Timberwolves' roster this season by LaMello Ball, the No. 3 pick in the 2020 Draft.
Asa Newell, the No. 23 pick of the 2025 Draft, is prepping for his second campaign with the Atlanta Hawks. He saw action in 44 games as a rookie, averaging 5.2 points and 2.2 rebounds while connecting on 53.8 percent of his field goal attempts. Newell posted season-high tallies of 19 points against Miami and 11 boards versus both the Heat and the Phoenix Suns. He also played in 12 games for the College Park Skyhawks, the Hawk's G-League affiliate, and averaged 22.8 points, 8.5 boards, 1.8 assists and 1.6 blocks in those outings.
Numerous other Bulldogs have already signed contracts to play overseas during the 2026-27 campaign, including:
• Justin Abson with Helsinki Seagulls in Finland's Korisliiga
• Justin Bailey with Esgueira/Aveiro/Oli in Portugal's Liga Betclic
• Braelen Bridges with BC Kavkasia Tbilisa in Georgia's Superleague
• Mike Edwards with Yamaguch Pats Five in Japan's B.Next League
• J.J. Frazier with Absheron Baku in Azerbaijan's ABL & Europe Cup
• Rayshaun Hammonds with Wonju DB Promy in South Korea's KBL
• Jordan Harris with Fabo Herons Montecatini in Italy's Serie B Nazionale
• Dakota Leffew with Coretec Oostende in Belgium's Pro Basketball League
• Mardrez McBride with Cimarrones Del Choco in Colombia's LBP
• Derek Ogbeide with Unahotels Reggio Emilia in Italy's Serie A
• Terry Roberts with Caledonia Gladiators in U.K.'s SLB
• Noah Thomasson with Veolia Towers Hamburg in Germany's BBL
• Trey Thompkins with Taishin Dreamers Changhua in Taiwan's TPBL
Additional former Bulldogs who played professionally last season include: Tyree Crump, Nemi Djurisic, Savo Drezgić, Tyrin Lawrence, Gerald Robinson and Terrance Woodbury.
Most prominently, four Bulldogs – two with new franchises and two with the same team as last season – are gearing up for NBA training camps in September.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope signed with the Philadelphia 76ers this summer, rejoining his former Los Angeles Lakers teammate LeBron James. Caldwell-Pope, the 2013 SEC Player of the Year, will be looking to earn a third NBA Championship ring. He helped the Lakers capture the 2020 title with James and won a second championship with the Denver Nuggets in 2023. The 76ers will be Caldwell-Pope's seventh NBA team during his 14 seasons in the NBA. He was the No. 8 overall selection in the 2013 Draft by Detroit and played four seasons with the Pistons through 2017 before moving on to L.A. from 2017-21, the Washington Wizards in 2021-22, the Nuggets from 2022-24, the Orlando Magic in 2024-25 and the Memphis Grizzlies in 2025-26.
Nicolas Claxton was traded to the Chicago Bulls this summer after playing for the Brooklyn Nets since he was drafted No. 31 overall in 2019. In 380 games, including 297 starts, over the past seven seasons, Claxton has scored 4,024 points, grabbed 2,875 rebounds and blocked 611 shots. He also has been one of the league's most efficient shooters, connecting on 62.2 percent of his shots from the field. Claxton will be reunited with first-year Bulls head coach Tiago Splitter, who served as an assistant coach for the Nets from 2019 through 2023.
Anthony Edwards, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, is set for his seventh season with the Minnesota Timberwolves. A four-time NBA All-Star, two-time All-NBA performer, 2024 Olympic Gold Medalist and originator of the popular "Believe That Awards," Edwards has led Minnesota to to the Playoffs in each of the past five seasons, including advancing to the Western Conference Finals in 2024 and 2025. Edwards will be joined on the Timberwolves' roster this season by LaMello Ball, the No. 3 pick in the 2020 Draft.
Asa Newell, the No. 23 pick of the 2025 Draft, is prepping for his second campaign with the Atlanta Hawks. He saw action in 44 games as a rookie, averaging 5.2 points and 2.2 rebounds while connecting on 53.8 percent of his field goal attempts. Newell posted season-high tallies of 19 points against Miami and 11 boards versus both the Heat and the Phoenix Suns. He also played in 12 games for the College Park Skyhawks, the Hawk's G-League affiliate, and averaged 22.8 points, 8.5 boards, 1.8 assists and 1.6 blocks in those outings.
Numerous other Bulldogs have already signed contracts to play overseas during the 2026-27 campaign, including:
• Justin Abson with Helsinki Seagulls in Finland's Korisliiga
• Justin Bailey with Esgueira/Aveiro/Oli in Portugal's Liga Betclic
• Braelen Bridges with BC Kavkasia Tbilisa in Georgia's Superleague
• Mike Edwards with Yamaguch Pats Five in Japan's B.Next League
• J.J. Frazier with Absheron Baku in Azerbaijan's ABL & Europe Cup
• Rayshaun Hammonds with Wonju DB Promy in South Korea's KBL
• Jordan Harris with Fabo Herons Montecatini in Italy's Serie B Nazionale
• Dakota Leffew with Coretec Oostende in Belgium's Pro Basketball League
• Mardrez McBride with Cimarrones Del Choco in Colombia's LBP
• Derek Ogbeide with Unahotels Reggio Emilia in Italy's Serie A
• Terry Roberts with Caledonia Gladiators in U.K.'s SLB
• Noah Thomasson with Veolia Towers Hamburg in Germany's BBL
• Trey Thompkins with Taishin Dreamers Changhua in Taiwan's TPBL
Additional former Bulldogs who played professionally last season include: Tyree Crump, Nemi Djurisic, Savo Drezgić, Tyrin Lawrence, Gerald Robinson and Terrance Woodbury.
Players Mentioned
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