THE APEX TIMES
Carson Cooper and Jaxon Kohler, both MSU big men, land NBA contracts after going undrafted
After the 2026 NBA Draft passed without them being selected, the former Michigan State frontcourt duo each signed first professional deals, extending their climb from college basketball to the league.
Former Michigan State starters Carson Cooper and Jaxon Kohler have agreed to NBA deals, turning their draft nights into first-pro signings rather than calls from teams selecting in the 2026 NBA Draft, according to Yahoo Sports’ report published June 25, 2026.
The contracts keep both players on the professional track immediately after their college run with the 2025-26 Michigan State team. While they were not drafted, the report frames the moves as expected outcomes for two experienced big men who were already part of the Spartans’ core rotation.
Cooper and Kohler each earned their first NBA opportunity as undrafted prospects, a path that often hinges on training-camp work and summer-league performance. In practice, these signings typically represent a team’s decision to take a close look at a player’s fit, development trajectory, and ability to contribute in organized NBA settings.
Michigan State’s experience-heavy frontcourt was a defining part of its identity during the 2025-26 season, and landing both players into the NBA reinforces the program’s recent ability to get rotation-caliber talent to the professional level. It also highlights how the NBA draft is only one route into the league, particularly for players with clear roles and coachability cultivated through college systems.
For Cooper and Kohler, the immediate next step will be proving they can translate their college skill set to the NBA’s pace, spacing, and physical demands. Even with a contract in place, the league’s depth charts are fluid, and the practical challenge remains earning consistent minutes against NBA bigs and exploiting matchup openings created by offenses rather than by a team’s scheme alone.
What to watch next is not just whether either player makes an early-season roster, but how they’re deployed. Big men entering the league after going undrafted are often evaluated across multiple dimensions, including screen-and-roll execution, rim protection consistency, and whether they can guard in space without sacrificing team defense.
Why It Matters
- The signings add two additional big-men development paths to the league outside the draft, illustrating how undrafted players still secure NBA opportunities.
- Michigan State’s continued pipeline of frontline talent helps validate the program’s recruiting and player development process for rotation-level prospects.
- Early-season role decisions will determine how quickly Cooper and Kohler can convert an NBA contract into meaningful minutes and long-term value.
- Their success could affect how NBA teams evaluate similar NCAA big men who may not be draft picks but have professional profiles.
Key Facts
- Carson Cooper and Jaxon Kohler, former Michigan State players, signed NBA contracts after going undrafted in the 2026 NBA Draft.
- Yahoo Sports reported the signings as first professional contracts for both players.
- The report describes them as the starting frontcourt core of Michigan State’s 2025-26 team.
- Both players’ deals were with NBA teams, per the report, following their undrafted status.
- The contracts extend their transition from college basketball into the league immediately after the draft.