First batch of 2024 NBA All-Star fan votes features 6 former Wildcats

It was all the way back in 2015 when John Calipari said he hoped to see half of an NBA All-Star Game filled with his former Kentucky players. Nearly a decade later, the chances of that happening — while still admittedly low — rise with every passing year. Why? Calipari continues to pump out NBA superstar after NBA superstar following their brief stints in Lexington.

A total of 28 former Wildcats have played in an NBA game at some point through the first half of the 2023-24 season. Not all of them are high-impact producers, but nine of them currently average at least 20 points per game for their respective teams. 15 of them hit at least 13 points per game while five more average at least six points per game. You could make two full teams out of former ‘Cats that would do some serious destruction to the rest of the league.

But back to the first sentence of this article. Calipari wants to see half of an NBA All-Star Game featuring his former players. The All-Star Game is made up of two teams with 12 players each. Getting a dozen players from one school into the midseason event is unlikely to ever happen, as I already mentioned, but what about getting a fourth of the two rosters?

On Thursday, the NBA announced the first 2024 All-Star fan voting return. The list is compiled of 40 total players — 20 from each conference that is then cut in half by guards and frontcourt. Six former Kentucky Wildcats were included among the first return. Fan voting accounts for 50 percent of the overall vote to decide the All-Star starters, with players and select media members each receiving 25 percent of the vote.

Western Conference frontcourt

• Anthony Davis (Lakers) 988,225 votes | 4th
• Karl-Anthony Towns (Timberwolves) 139,642 votes | 10th

Western Conference guards

• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder) 966,927 votes | 3rd
• De’Aaron Fox (Kings) 210,911 votes | 8th

Eastern Conference frontcourt

• Bam Adebayo (Heat) 238,485 votes | 6th

Eastern Conference guards

• Tyrese Maxey (76ers) 480,062 votes | 5th

Lakers’ LeBron James and Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo lead the NBA’s first 2023-24 All-Star fan voting return: pic.twitter.com/PuLC37lMFN

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 4, 2024

The odds of all six getting into the actual game are small, but all of the players listed above will have more than a puncher’s chance to make it. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Anthony Davis are near locks at this point. Bam Adebayo and Tyrese Maxey aren’t far behind. De’Aaron Fox and Karl-Anthony Towns still have some ground to make up, but it’s not out of the question.

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker, who didn’t even crack the top 10 in fan voting for Western Conference guards, is averaging 26.7 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 7.8 assists per game and could easily wind up making the final cut once all votes are accounted for.

The most former Wildcats to play in one NBA All-Star Game under Calipari was actually last year during the 2023 game when Adebayo, Gilgeous-Alexander, Fox, and Julius Randle all made the team. Getting four for the 2024 game feels like the floor right now. Kentucky could very easily get five representatives to suit up.

You can help make it happen, too. On Friday, fan voting will count for three times the normal amount. So if you want to help rack up some votes for your favorite former ‘Cats, do so by clicking the link here.

The 2024 NBA All-Star Game is set for Sunday, Feb. 18 at 8:00 p.m. EST in Indianapolis on TNT.