SPOKANE, Wash. — The 2026 NBA playoffs get underway Saturday, and seven former Gonzaga Bulldogs will be on five different teams competing for the Larry O’Brien Trophy.

The seven Zags competing in the NBA postseason are Chet Holmgren (Thunder), Rui Hachimura (Lakers), Drew Timme (Lakers), Corey Kispert (Hawks), Kelly Olynyk (Spurs), Julian Strawther (Nuggets), and Jalen Suggs (Magic).

Chet Holmgren — Thunder

Chet Holmgren and the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder return to the playoffs seeking back-to-back titles after beating Indiana in seven games in last year’s Finals.

Holmgren, who was drafted second overall in the 2022 NBA Draft by Oklahoma City, played and started in a team-high 69 games, averaging a team-high 1.9 blocks per game, 17.1 points and 8.9 rebounds, both tied for second-best on the team, while shooting 55.7% from the field and 36.2% from 3-point range.

Holmgren and the Thunder are the betting favorites to win the championship at +100 odds and will play the (Suns/Warriors) in the first round. Game 1 is scheduled for ____.

Rui Hachimura and Drew Timme — Lakers

Gonzaga greats Rui Hachimura and Drew Timme are part of a banged-up Los Angeles Lakers team that finished first in the Pacific Division.

Hachimura, who was originally drafted by Washington with the ninth overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, has been a key contributor for the Lakers this season. In 68 appearances, Hachimura made 41 starts and averaged 11.5 points and 3.3 rebounds while shooting 51.4% from the field and 44.3% from 3-point range.

Timme went undrafted in the 2023 NBA Draft but worked his way to a two-way contract with the Lakers after time in the G League.

Since joining Los Angeles, Timme has played in 27 games, including one start, averaging 8.7 minutes, 3.4 points and 1.2 rebounds. He has reached double figures three times, including a career-high 21 points in a loss to Portland.

The Lakers are long shots (+25000) to win the championship and will play the Rockets in the first round without stars Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, who are both injured. Game 1 is set for 6 p.m. Sunday on ABC.

Julian Strawther — Nuggets

Julian Strawther and the Denver Nuggets finished as the third-best team in the Western Conference with a 54-28 record.

Strawther is in his third NBA season after being drafted by Denver in 2023 with the No. 29 pick. He started a career-high 14 games this season and played in 57 total games. Strawther averaged just more than 15 minutes per game, 7.2 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.1 assists while shooting 46.7% from the field and 38.7% from 3-point range.

The Nuggets have the fourth-best odds to win the title and will play the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round. The series begins Saturday, with tipoff set for 12:30 p.m. on Prime Video.

Corey Kispert — Hawks

In the middle of his sixth NBA season, Corey Kispert was traded from the Washington Wizards to the Atlanta Hawks.

Since the trade in early January, Kispert has made eight starts in 39 games, averaging 18.2 minutes, 9.2 points and 2.3 rebounds while shooting 45.5% from the field and 35.4% from 3-point range.

The No. 6-seed Hawks will meet the No. 3-seed New York Knicks in the first round, with Game 1 tipping off at 3 p.m. Saturday on Prime Video. Atlanta is +12500 to win the title.

Kelly Olynyk — Spurs

Kelly Olynyk is the most veteran player of the group, playing his 13th NBA season for his seventh team. This past summer, Olynyk was traded from New Orleans to the San Antonio Spurs, where he helped guide them back to the playoffs as the No. 2 overall seed.

Olynyk was originally drafted by Dallas with the 13th overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft.

This season, Olynyk has dealt with injuries, leading to career lows in nearly every statistical category. He has played in 42 games, made zero starts and averaged 8.6 minutes, 3.2 points and 1.8 rebounds.

The Spurs, led by Victor Wembanyama, have the second-best odds to win the championship at +550.

San Antonio and the No. 7-seed Portland Trail Blazers open their first-round series Sunday. Game time is set for 6 p.m., and it will be broadcast on NonStop Local KHQ.

Jalen Suggs — Magic 

Jalen Suggs and the Orlando Magic had to fight their way through the play-in to get to the NBA Playoffs, but they’re in.

Suggs was drafted with the fifth overall pick by Orlando in the 2021 NBA Draft. Since then, he’s played five seasons of consistently good basketball for the Magic and has put together one of his best in 2025-26.

This season, Suggs had played in 57 games and started all but one. He’s averaged 27.6 minutes per game, 13.8 points, 5.5 assists, 3.9 rebounds and is Orlando’s leading assist man and fifth leading scorer.

Suggs and the Magic will take on Detroit, the top seed in the East, starting Sunday at 3:30 p.m. The game will air on NonStop Local KHQ.