Image Source: USA Today Sports
[Saba Sports News] The 2024 NBA All-Star Game could be an unofficial reunion for the University of Kentucky, given the notable presence of Wildcats alumni across both the Eastern and Western Conference teams. A record-breaking seven former Kentucky players have been selected for the All-Star event, scheduled to take place at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana, this month. This figure almost doubles the previous record for the most NBA All-Stars from a single college, which stood at four.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder is the only Kentucky graduate to start in the game, while the reserves list, announced on Thursday, includes six additional Wildcats: Anthony Davis, Julius Randle, Karl-Anthony Towns, Devin Booker, Bam Adebayo, and Tyrese Maxey. Maxey, a 23-year-old guard for the Philadelphia 76ers and a 2020 draft pick, marks his first All-Star appearance, making him the youngest of the Kentucky contingent.
Davis, the veteran of the group, was part of the 2011-12 Kentucky squad that clinched the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship. Despite Kentucky’s recent struggles to reach the Final Four since 2014, the school continues to be a significant source of NBA talent, largely due to Coach John Calipari’s recruitment efforts. The impressive number of Wildcats in this year’s NBA All-Star game underscores Kentucky’s ongoing influence in basketball.