The Kentucky Men’s Basketball program has once again been well represented in the 2023 NBA All-Star Game. Three alumni, Bam Adebayo, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Julius Randle, were named as reserves by the league’s head coaches. This announcement was made on Thursday on TNT. The teams will be selected by the All-Star starters, who will be selected by fan votes. LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo will be this year’s captains, who will select their teams from the pool of players.
Under the leadership of Coach John Calipari, the Kentucky Men’s Basketball program has enjoyed tremendous success in putting players into the NBA. Over the past 13 seasons, 45 players have been selected in the NBA Draft, more than any other school. This includes 34 first-round picks, three No. 1 overall selections, and 22 lottery selections. The program has also seen 27 players on 2022-23 NBA opening-day rosters, which is the most of any school.
Calipari’s players are not only making it to the next level, but they are also succeeding once they get there. Since 2010, nine Calipari-coached players have received 31 All-Star selections, and Derrick Rose was named league MVP in 2011. Seven players have been named All-NBA, three have been named NBA Rookie of the Year, Randle was named the NBA’s Most Improved Player in 2021, Tyler Herro won NBA Sixth Man of the Year in 2022, and 15 players from Calipari’s first 12 teams at Kentucky have made the NBA All-Rookie teams. Coach Calipari has more total players and All-Star selections than any other active collegiate coach.
Bam Adebayo will make his second appearance in the NBA All-Star Game in 2023. He is having a career year with the Miami Heat, averaging 21.4 points per game, and is a three-time selection to the All-NBA Defensive Team. Adebayo is a key player for one of the league’s best defensive units and is contributing 1.1 steals and 0.8 blocks per game, along with 10.0 rebounds per game.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will make his first appearance in the All-Star Game. He is the league’s fifth leading scorer, averaging 30.8 points per game, and is also contributing 5.6 assists and 4.8 rebounds per game for the Oklahoma City Thunder. Gilgeous-Alexander has 30 games with 30 or more points this season.
Julius Randle is having a career year with the New York Knicks, averaging 24.7 points per game, 10.9 rebounds, and 4.1 assists. Randle has two 40-point games, including the first 40-point, 15-rebound game for the Knicks since Patrick Ewing in 1996. This will be his second appearance in the All-Star Game after being selected in 2021, the same season he was voted as the NBA’s Most Improved Player.
The Kentucky Men’s Basketball program continues to be a powerhouse in putting players into the NBA and seeing them succeed at the next level. The 2023 NBA All-Star Game will feature three of its alumni, who are having remarkable seasons in the league. Coach John Calipari and the Kentucky Men’s Basketball program should be proud of their continued success.
