Five former Wildcats make third batch of NBA All-Star fan voting

The NBA released their third dump of fan vote totals for the 2023 All-Star game and five Kentucky players made the list, two more than the first batch. We’ll break down who made the cut in just a bit, but first, a mini-rant:

Fans are the most important part of sports. Without the millions of eyeballs they provide, sports would be a volunteer endeavor, and Austin Reaves would be an accountant in Arkansas. Instead, Reaves makes a couple of million bucks playing for the Los Angeles Lakers and ranks 9th amongst guards in NBA All-Star voting.

However, just because fans’ money and their attention to advertising pay the bills, does not mean they need a voice in All-Star voting. Call me a jaded purist in this regard, but if there were ever evidence that this needs to be stripped away, look no further than the fact whatever white guy is on the Lakers makes the top 10 in All-Star voting every year. Previously, it was Alex Caruso and now it’s Austin Reaves.

I know All-Star voting is a way to drive fan engagement and ultimately their totals only play a role in who starts, and it’s just an exhibition game, and, and, and…

But Austin Reaves has more votes than both Devin Booker and De’Aaron Fox, so tell me I’m wrong.

Former Kentucky Guards on the List

Three former Kentucky players made the top 10 in their respective conferences for guards with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander coming in best in the group at #4 in the West. As much as I ripped on the fans for their conversion of this ballot into a popularity contest, they got this one right.

SGA is having an incredible year, averaging over 30 points per game and helping make the Oklahoma City Thunder contenders to sneak into the playoffs. Sure, having the entire country of Canada at his back could have contributed to his boost in All-Star votes (just ask Pascal Siakam), but the basketball world is waking up and taking notice that SGA belongs in the top tier of NBA superstars.

Next, Devin Booker comes in at #9 in the West for guards. Book has been out with a hamstring injury for several weeks, which no doubt has hurt his showing on this list. Without him, the Phoenix Suns have plummetted in the standings, but there is optimism his return is no more than a week or two away.

Booker has been a borderline All-Star snub multiple seasons, making the team as an injury replacement twice, but should be a lock for the team every year when healthy. After missing so many games already, he finds himself back on the All-Star bubble.

New to the top 10 in Western Conference guards with this vote dump is De’Aaron Fox. Teamed up with former Kentucky running make, Malik Monk, as well as Trey Lyles, Fox has led the Sacramento Kings to their best record in a half-decade. His dynamic playmaking ability has turned the laughing stock of the NBA into a legit playoff team and his surge up the All-Star candidate list is well-deserved.

Frontcourt Players

With little surprise, Anthony Davis tops former Kentucky players in frontcourt All-Star voting, coming in at #3 in the Western Conference in this release. Unfortunately, the other not-so-shocking news is that Davis is out with yet another injury.

Just as he was playing some of the best basketball of his career, a stress injury to his foot derailed his momentum and is keeping Davis out indefinitely. Davis is a generational talent on the world’s most famous team, but the injury bug has taken a chunk out of time on the court the last few years. Don’t expect him to be back for the All-Star game, but hopefully, we see Davis again before the season ends — not that his late arrival will do much for the Lakers’ title hopes.

Rounding out former Kentucky players and serving as the only former ‘Cat in the Eastern Conference on this list is Julius Randle. Randle made the All-Star game in 2021, but Knick fans were a little down on their star player after a relatively down year last season. However, the smooth-shooting, rebound-gobbling lefty has been a monster as of late. On Sunday, Randle became the first Knick since Patrick Ewing to record a 40/15 game. He is another player on the cusp of making the roster and trending in the right direction.

The 2023 NBA All-Star Game is set for February 19, so there is still time to get your vote in and counteract all the basketball bennies out there voting for Austin Reaves.