Three Former Marquette Players Set for 2026 NBA Playoffs First Round

Three former Marquette players — Tyler Kolek, Jamal Cain, and Oso Ighodaro — have secured spots in the 2026 NBA playoffs first round, with Kolek averaging 4.8 points in limited Knicks minutes, Cain scoring nine points to clinch the Magic’s eighth seed, and Ighodaro posting 10 points, six rebounds, a block and a steal in the Suns’ Play‑In win.

Marquette’s presence in the 2026 postseason is thinner than in recent years. Kam Jones finished the season with the Indiana Pacers at 19‑63, 24 games out of the Play‑In Tournament, while Olivier‑Maxence Prosper’s Memphis Grizzlies ended 25‑57, 12 games shy of the postseason. Historically, the program has produced multiple rotation players in the playoffs, but this year only Kolek, Cain and Ighodaro represent the Golden Eagles in the 16‑team bracket that begins Saturday.

Tyler Kolek appeared in 41 of the New York Knicks’ final 57 regular‑season games, averaging 4.8 points, 1.9 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 12.6 minutes per contest. His usage dropped after a strong stretch following the NBA Cup, and he was inactive for the final three games of the year, raising questions about his playoff role against the sixth‑seeded Atlanta Hawks. For comparison, Knicks guard Jalen Brunson averaged over 24 points per game in the same span.

Jamal Cain contributed nine points and one rebound in 12 minutes as the Orlando Magic defeated the Charlotte Hornets 121‑90 to lock the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference. The victory gave Orlando its third straight playoff appearance, though the franchise has not won a series since 2010. Orlando will face the top‑seeded Detroit Pistons in the opening round, a team whose leading scorer Cade Cunningham posts nearly 24 points per game.

Oso Ighodaro started and played 26 minutes in the Phoenix Suns’ Win‑or‑Go‑Home Play‑In game versus the Golden State Warriors, finishing with 10 points, six rebounds, one assist, one block and one steal in a 111‑96 Suns victory. That performance earned Phoenix the eighth seed in the West, setting up a first‑round matchup with the Denver Nuggets, whose center Nikola Jokić averages a triple‑double.

Given their limited regular‑season minutes, Kolek, Cain and Ighodaro are likely to see sporadic playing time unless injuries or matchup adjustments create openings. Kolek’s playmaking could provide a spark off the bench for the Knicks if the Hawks’ backcourt struggles, while Cain’s energy might be useful in short bursts against the Pistons’ size. Ighodaro’s versatility offers the Suns a defensive option off the bench against a Nuggets squad that relies on interior scoring.

Watch how each player’s minutes evolve in the first round and whether any can translate their limited regular‑season production into meaningful playoff impact.