From 2000 through 2018, the Alabama men’s basketball program produced just six total NBA draft picks. In 2019, athletic director Greg Byrne announced the hiring of Buffalo head coach [autotag]Nate Oats[/autotag] and the Tide turned (pun intended).
Since Oats’ arrival in Tuscaloosa, the Crimson Tide have had six players drafted, four of which have been first-round picks.
Before Brandon Miller and Noah Clowney were selected in the 2023 NBA draft on Thursday night, Kira Lewis, Josh Primo, Herb Jones, and J.D. Davison were all draft picks under the tutelage of Oats.
It’s starting to make sense as to why the Tide has been so successful on the hardwood over the past few seasons, elite talent and development have paved the way to Alabama becoming one of the premier programs in college basketball under the leadership of Nate Oats. And it doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon.
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