The NBA season wrapped up Saturday, June 13, as the New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5 of the NBA Finals on the road, winning their first championship in 53 years.
With Damion Lee retiring after the 2024-25 season and Terry Rozier being placed on indefinite unpaid leave by the NBA because of an FBI sports gambling fraud case against him, only two former Louisville Cardinals saw the court this season. Here is a look at how they fared:
Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers
Donovan Mitchell led the Cleveland Cavaliers to their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance since 2018, when LeBron James was still running the show there. But after collapsing in Game 1 against the eventual-champion Knicks, the Cavs fell flat and were swept by New York.
In the four-game series, the former Louisville Cardinal averaged 27.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.5 steals. During the regular season, Mitchell averaged 27.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 1.5 steals. He was named to the All-NBA Second Team this season.
Mitchell helped guide his team past the Toronto Raptors in the first round and the Detroit Pistons in the conference semifinals. Both series went to seven games. Cleveland won Game 7 against Toronto at home before taking down Detroit on the road.
The seven-time NBA All-Star played at Louisville from 2015-17 and was named first-team All-ACC in his final year with the Cardinals.
Chucky Hepburn, Toronto Raptors
Chucky Hepburn spent his rookie season with the Toronto Raptors after going undrafted following his lone season at Louisville.
Hepburn appeared in just two games this season and totaled one rebound, two assists and one steal. He tore his meniscus in his right knee in January 2026. Prior to his injury, he was averaging 12.4 points, 8.6 assists and 2.3 steals per game in the G League. The Raptors fell to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round of the playoffs in seven games.
Hepburn played for Louisville from 2024-25 after transferring in from Wisconsin. He was named the 2025 ACC Defensive Player of the Year and first-team All-ACC.
Reach sports trending writer Alaina Morris at amorris@gannett.com and follow her on X at @alainammorris.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Donovan Mitchell led Louisville basketball products in NBA 2025-26
