After powering UConn to back-to-back national titles, the sharpshooting forward brings his championship experience to Sacramento workouts, aiming to prove his elite efficiency translates to the NBA's pace.
UConn forward Alex Karaban is one of the most accomplished players in the 2026 NBA Draft, and he is bringing his winning pedigree to a new chapter in his career.
The Sacramento Kings invited five more prospects for their pre-draft workouts on Friday, and Karaban was one of them. The 6-foot-8 forward competed against other players who spent multiple years in college.
"This group was definitely the guys that stayed in college for four years, and it was good to play against older players," Karaban told reporters on Friday. "The next level is just going to be a whole different jump itself, but just having that competition this time today, especially with veteran guys, was awesome."
Karaban spent five years at UConn playing under Dan Hurley. He became a crucial part of the Huskies' dominance in college basketball, as they won back-to-back national championships in 2023 and 2024.
The former Husky made the Big East All-Freshman team during the program's first championship run. Karaban also earned second-team All-Big East in 2025 and first-team All-Big East this past season.
He's started 150 of the 151 games he played at UConn and finished his career with a 116-24 record -- translating to an 83% win rate. Karaban is carrying over his winning pedigree in his NBA journey, and his time under Hurley has prepared him.
The Southborough, Massachusetts, native said the read-and-react aspects of college and the NBA are similar. However, Karaban noted the main difference between the two levels is the speed.
"At UConn, we run a lot more plays, we're a lot more slower and just play at our speed," Karaban said. "NBA, the tempo, the pace, it's a lot faster, and I'd say the read and react, too."
Karaban is starting a new chapter in his career, meaning he is starting all over. Although what he accomplished in college breeds confidence in his play style, it does not matter at the NBA level.
He will be a rookie with a clean slate and needs to rebuild from the ground up. The former Husky understands that perspective and is fighting to find ways to contribute at the next level.
"At the end of the day, at the next level, you step on the court with other players; they don't care about that," Karaban said. "You're really restarting, you're really trying to gain your own ground, trying to find the way you can impact and help win."
Karaban was a consistent scoring threat at UConn, scoring in multiple ways. He shot 38.5% from three in three of his four seasons with the Huskies, can attack the rim off designed plays and is a good off-ball cutter.
Mock drafts project Karaban as an early second-round pick. ESPN draft analyst Jeremy Woo projected the New York Knicks to select him with the 31st pick. Yahoo Sports' Kevin O'Connor had the Oklahoma City Thunder drafting him with the 37th pick.
He is in the Kings' draft range with the 34th pick, and they could select him if he impressed at his pre-draft workout. Karaban's winning pedigree is an intangible that makes him an intriguing prospect.
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