He played for the National Basketball Association's Utah Jazz, Houston Rockets, New Jersey Nets and Memphis Grizzlies.

Padgett saw limited playing time during his freshman season (1994–95) on a roster that included future NBA players Wayne Turner, Tony Delk, Rodrick Rhodes, Walter McCarty, Jeff Sheppard, Mark Pope and Antoine Walker.

He became an integral part of that team, playing alongside future NBA players Ron Mercer, Derek Anderson, Nazr Mohammed and Jamaal Magloire.

Padgett was the starting power forward on the 1997–98 team, and was one of its leading players as it won the 1998 NCAA tournament.

Highlights of the season included scoring 29 points and grabbing 10 rebounds against the University of Kansas in a second-round NCAA tournament game.

In 2003, Padgett joined the Houston Rockets and was mainly utilized as a backup for two seasons which included the highlight of his NBA career where on January 21, 2005, he made a one-handed, off-balance last-second shot to win against the New York Knicks.

The Dave and Scott Show was moved to television on Louisville's CW affiliate in the same time slot.

[5] On April 16, 2009, it was announced that Padgett would be returning to his alma mater along with his former college teammate Tony Delk to serve on coach John Calipari's staff at the University of Kentucky.

[6] Padgett left Kentucky to take a job coaching at Manhattan College for the 2010–11 season where he served as an assistant under former teammate Steve Masiello.