Two former Big West men’s basketball players have earned a spot on NBA Opening Week rosters for the 2024-25 season.

Fifth-year NBA veteran Gabe Vincent (UC Santa Barbara ’18) signed a three-year contract with the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2023 offseason. Vincent played four seasons at UC Santa Barbara and earned 2014-15 Big West Freshman of the Year, 2015-16 All-Big West Honorable Mention and 2017-18 All-Big West Second Team honors. The former Gaucho's professional career started 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, Vincent was offered a two-way contract with the Miami Heat, which eventually turned into a standard NBA contract before the 2020-21 season. The Modesto, Calif. native played a key role in getting the Heat to the 2023 NBA Finals averaging 9.4 points per game. 

Ajay Mitchell (UC Santa Barbara '24) was drafted with the 38th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft by the New York Knicks and then traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Mitchell was a three-time All-Big West selection, garnering First Team honors the final two seasons, and was the league's Player of the Year and Championship MVP in 2022-23. In 2023-24, the Ans, Liege, Belgium product averaged 20.0 points, on 50.4 percent shooting, 4.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game. Mitchell compiled 1,463 points in three seasons at Santa Barbara. 

The Big West is prominently represented on NBA coaching staffs with seven alums from five schools featured on the sidelines. In addition to Vincent and Mitchell, over 95 other players that competed for Big West schools will play professionally this season across the globe. 

Big West alumni on NBA rosters
Ajay Mitchell (UC Santa Barbara '24) - Oklahoma City Thunder
Gabe Vincent (UC Santa Barbara '18) - Los Angeles Lakers 
 
Big West alumni on NBA coaching staffs
Scott Brooks (UC Irvine '87) - Assistant Coach, Los Angeles Lakers
AC Carter (Hawai'i ’98) - Assistant Coach, Memphis Grizzlies
Maxwell Kupchak (UC Santa Barbara ’19) - Coordinator of Cap Strategy and Player Personnel, Atlanta Hawks
Jon Pastorek (UC Santa Barbara ’11) - Assistant Coach, Phoenix Suns
Joe Prunty (Cal Poly '91) - Assistant Coach, Milwaukee Bucks
Brian Shaw (UC Santa Barbara '88) - Assistant Coach, Los Angeles Clippers
Isaac Yacob (CSUN '18) - Assistant Coach for Player Development, Indiana Pacers
 
Former Big West coaches on NBA coaching staffs
Garrett Jackson (Hawai’i graduate manager 2018-19) - Assistant Coach, Houston Rockets