IRVINE, Calif. – Three former Big West men’s basketball players will suit up on NBA Opening Week for the 2021-22 season.
 
David Nwaba (Cal Poly ’16) currently plays for the Houston Rockets, his fifth NBA team. He played three seasons at Cal Poly and was a 2015-16 All-Big West Honorable Mention selection. Nwaba made his way into the NBA through the G-League where he played for the Los Angeles Lakers affiliate, the D-Fenders, during the 2016-17 season. He signed a 10-day NBA contract with the Lakers in the middle of the season and has been a mainstay in the league since. Aside from the Rockets and Lakers, Nwaba has played for the Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers and Brooklyn Nets. 

Gabe Vincent (UC Santa Barbara ’18) is currently in his second year in the NBA with the Miami Heat. He played four seasons at UC Santa Barbara where he was the 2014-15 Big West Freshman of the Year, 2015-16 All-Big West Honorable Mention and 2017-18 All-Big West Second Team selection. Vincent played two years with the Stockton Kings, the G-League affiliate of the Sacramento Kings. After averaging 23.4 points per game for the team during the 2019-20 season, he was offered a two-way contract with the Miami Heat. Vincent signed a standard NBA contract with the Heat this past offseason. 

JaQuori McLaughlin (UC Santa Barbara ’21) is currently a rookie with the Dallas Mavericks. He played three seasons for UC Santa Barbara and was a 2019-20 All-Big West Honorable Mention selection, the 2020-21 Big West Player of the Year and 2021 Big West Tournament MVP. McLaughlin played well enough in the NBA Summer League and was offered a two-way contract with the Dallas Mavericks. Under the terms of the deal, he will split time between the Mavericks and their G-League affiliate, the Texas Legends. 
 
Big West alumni on NBA coaching staffs
Scott Brooks (UC Irvine '87) - Assistant Coach, Portlant Trailblazers
Joe Prunty (Cal Poly '91) - Assistant Coach, Atlanta Hawks 
Brian Shaw (UC Santa Barbara '88) - Assistant Coach, Los Angeles Clippers