This Wednesday, the annual NBA Draft began, marking an occasion of excitement and anticipation for young players hoping to take their careers to another level. This year, four Auburn men’s basketball alumni from the 2025 Final Four team joined the class of rookies looking to prove themselves in the big leagues.
During the second round on Thursday, star forward Johni Broome became the 36th Auburn men’s basketball player to be drafted into the NBA. Broome was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers with the 35th pick. Broome, the 2025 SEC Player of the Year, averaged 18.6 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game during his exceptional senior season with the Tigers. Broome was Auburn’s leader throughout the season and postseason, but ended up losing the NCAA Player of the Year to Duke’s Cooper Flagg, who went No. 1 overall to the Dallas Mavericks. Broome should be a great addition and role player for the 76ers, and will get to learn from seasoned veterans such as Joel Embiid, Paul George, Kyle Lowry, and many more.
However, getting drafted is not the only path to the NBA. Late Thursday night, after the conclusion of the draft, guard Miles Kelly signed a two-way contract with the Dallas Mavericks. A two-way contract allows for the Mavericks to have Kelly on their roster but still have him eligible to play for their G-League team, the Texas Legends. This helps Kelly develop as a player as well as get the chance to play with the Mavericks at an NBA level. Kelly averaged 11.3 points during his senior season at Auburn, and proved to be dependable in clutch moments down the stretch.
Just a few short hours after Kelly’s contract was announced, the news broke that center Dylan Cardwell had also signed a two-way contract and would be heading to California to play for the Sacramento Kings. Cardwell will join fellow Auburn athletics alumni Keandre Lambert-Smith and Jarquez Hunter on the West Coast. Lambert-Smith and Hunter were drafted to the NFL this April and play for the Los Angeles Chargers and Rams, respectively. This past season, Cardwell averaged 5.0 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks for the Tigers, proving to be a vital defensive piece and leader during the 2025 Final Four run.
When it seemed that Auburn had sent three players on to the NBA, news broke Friday morning that forward Chaney Johnson would make it four, signing an Exhibit 10 contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers. An Exhibit 10 contract is a one-year, no-guarantees deal for Johnson that would also grant him a bonus if he spends 60 days with their G-League team, the Cleveland Charge. Johnson was a strong role player for Auburn during his time here, and averaged 9.1 points and 4.9 rebounds per game, providing a reliable presence off the bench.
Despite all taking different roads to get there, these four have achieved one of basketball’s greatest honors in getting to play in the NBA. Auburn fans will be able to see their beloved players don their new jerseys with the kickoff of the 2025-2026 NBA season in late October, and should stay tuned to see how the former Tigers fare in the big leagues.
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Jackie is a freshman majoring in Drug and Biopharmaceutical Sciences. She started with The Plainsman in fall 2024.
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