Three former Wildcats named 2023 NBA All-Star Game reserves

ZGeogheganKSR

The 2023 NBA All-Star reserves have officially been announced, with a few former Kentucky Wildcats making the cut for the prestigious midseason honor.

During Thursday night’s broadcast of Inside the NBA on TNT, a handful of one-time ‘Cats were named to the NBA All-Star Game as reserves: Miami Heat forward Bam Adebayo, New York Knicks forward Julius Randle, and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. This will be the second All-Star appearance for both Adebayo and Randle while SGA will be making his debut in the event.

All 30 head coaches voted on the reserves, choosing two guards, three frontcourt players, and two more players of any position from their respective conferences. The NBA All-Star Game is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 19 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

For the first time ever, the actual rosters will be drafted right before the All-Star Game is set to begin. LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers) and Giannis Antetokunmpo (Milwaukee Bucks), the leading vote-getters from the Western and Eastern Conferences, respectively, will make the selections live on TNT/TBS. The draft will begin at 7:30 p.m. EST with the All-Star Game to follow.

Gilgeous-Alexander was a lock to make his first All-Star Game as a reserve after just narrowly missing out on a starting spot. Many have argued he was well-deserving of a starting role, but there’s no question that he earned a reserve selection in what is his fifth NBA season. SGA is averaging incredible numbers for the surprisingly decent Oklahoma City Thunder (24-27), putting up a career-high 30.8 points per game to go along with 4.8 rebounds and 5.6 assists while shooting 50.5 percent from the field, 35.9 percent from beyond the arc, and 91.0 percent from the free throw line.

SGA’s bringing the 🌩 to Salt Lake!@shaiglalex is a 2023 #NBAAllStar pic.twitter.com/h4d0e2DLZx
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 3, 2023

As for Adebayo, he wasn’t as solid of a lock as Gilgeous-Alexander, but it would have been more surprising to see him miss out as a reserve pick than not make it all. He’s been the steadiest contributor for the Miami Heat (29-23) this season, averaging 21.4 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per contest while shooting just a hair under 54 percent from the field while playing elite-level defense on the other end. This is the second All-Star appearance for Adebayo, now in his sixth NBA season, who first made the roster back in 2019-20.

Bam is back in the All-Star Game 💥@Bam1of1 is a 2023 #NBAAllStar pic.twitter.com/KK1me4P4LL
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 3, 2023

Finally, Randle has played in all 52 games for the New York Knicks (27-25) this season, putting up averages of 24.7 points (career-high), 10.9 rebounds (career-high), and 4.1 assists on 45.8 percent shooting. Now in his ninth NBA season, the 28-year-old is having a major bounceback season after being named an All-Star for the first time in 2019-20 (when he was named the league’s Most Improved Player) and then failing to live up to expectations in 2021-22. Alongside Jalen Brunson, those two have the Knicks playing its best basketball in years.

Another one for Julius Randle 🗽

He is a 2023 #NBAAllStar pic.twitter.com/fWBVYBlFOe
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 3, 2023

There were a few other former Wildcats that had significant cases to be named reserves but were ultimately left off the final ballot. Those players include Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox, Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis, and Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker. Those three will still have a chance at making the roster if an injury prevents one of the starters or reserves to miss the All-Star Game.

Congrats to Shai, Bam, and Julius!