The 2025 NBA playoffs are a little more than a week in. Some former Mountaineers on playoff teams have secured their spots in the second round, while others are trying to close the series out.
WVU Basketball has five former players who have made it past the first round of the NBA Playoffs. Consisting of two players, two coaches, and one executive, the second round of the NBA Playoffs will feature former Mountaineers.
All six former WVU basketball players are a part of teams in the second round of the NBA Playoffs
Along with the New York Knicks, former WVU player Miles “Deuce” McBride will play against the Boston Celtics. The Knicks defeated the Detroit Pistons 4-3 to advance to the next round of the playoffs. Unfortunately for the Knicks and McBride, it does not get any easier in their second matchup. The Knicks will be squaring up with the Boston Celtics as the series starts on Monday.
The Celtics have two former WVU basketball players on their coaching staff. Led by NBA Champion Head Coach Joe Mazzulla, the Celtics clinched their spot in the second round after a 120-89 win over the Orlando Magic last Tuesday. Mazzulla is accompanied in his coaching by Da’Sean Butler, who Mountaineer fans remember for his time in Morgantown.
Mazzulla and Butler will be game planning on how to limit McBride and his fellow guard Jalen Brunson, who made the game-winning shot with 5.1 seconds in Game 6 to claim a 116-113 win over the Pistons. Brunson finished Game 6 with 40 points.
McBride averaged 3.8 points per game with one assist per game and had two steals over the six games in the series. When McBride was on the floor, his +/- was 2.66, meaning the Knicks outscored the Pistons by 2.66 while McBride was on the floor in the series. Even though he has not left a super big impact on the game, McBride has shown this year that he can score at high levels, given the opportunity.
In a stunning upset over the Los Angeles Lakers (3 seed), the Minnesota Timberwolves (6 seed) clinched a second-round birth in the NBA Playoffs. Although listed on the roster, Jesse Edwards did not get any minutes during the series win over the Lakers.
The Timberwolves have three-time All-Star, four-time All-NBA, and four-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert, who anchors the Timberwolves at the center position. With such an impactful player ahead of him at his position, Edwards will not see much time on the court because of the caliber of player that Gobert is and what he brings to the court. However, Gobert could just be the perfect match for Edwards to learn from under the tutelage of Gobert.
Mike Gansey, the current GM of the Cleveland Cavaliers and WVU Basketball alumni, has his team in the second round of the playoffs. The Cavs scorched past the Heat in four games, and all four games were very controlled by the Cavaliers.
The final Mountaineer in the NBA playoffs is Jonnie West. The current Personnel Director for the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors are won their series 4-3 against the Houston Rockets, and now West's Warriors will face off against Edwards' Timberwolves.
Seeing different former Mountaineers in different areas amongst NBA teams in the playoffs is a welcomed sight for WVU fans. With such good representation, the chance of a former WVU basketball player walking away with an NBA Championship is higher. And what WVU fan doesn’t love to see that?