Kentucky players in NBA All-Star contests throughout history

The 2024 NBA All-Star weekend is basically a Kentucky basketball reunion. Seven former Wildcats earned a spot in the actual All-Star game, smashing the previous record for players from the same university in a single year, but in total, 12 former ‘Cats will take part in All-Star festivities.

Oscar Tshiebwe and Cason Wallace put on a show at the Rising Stars games, Ashton Hagans, and Skal Labiessere led the voting to get into the G League Up Next game on Sunday, but all eyes will be on the Dunk Contest, 3-point Contest, and Skills Challenge Saturday, and Kentucky alumni will have a chance to win all of them.

Let’s take a look back through history at how former Kentucky players have faired in these NBA All-Star feats of skill.

The Dunk Contest

What used to be the crown pinnacle of the All-Star break has slowly seen its once majestic shine dull a bit over the years, as more and more big names have opted to play the role of sideline hype men, rather than enter the contest themselves. Regardless, Jacob Toppin looks to become the fourth Kentucky player to win the Slam Dunk crown.

Five former Kentucky Wildcats have taken part in seven NBA Slam Dunk Contests, and three of them have won it. That is a pretty good ratio. Let’s relive each one of them.

1989 – Kenny Walker (Champion)

The NBA Dunk Contest started in 1984, and it took just six years for someone from Kentucky to win it when Kenny “Sky” Walker achieved that feat in 1989. Just three days after the passing of his father, Walker took down Clyde Drexler in the finals to bring home the trophy. Walker landed a one-handed windmill 360 for the win, while Drexler missed an attempt to recreate Michael Jordan’s dunk from the free throw line.

1990 – Kenny Walker (3rd Place) and Rex Chapman (6th Place)

Kenny Walker set out to defend his Dunk Contest Title in 1990, where he would have to go up against another former Wildcat, rookie Rex Chapman, and almost-sorta-kinda-Wildcat, Shawn Kemp.

Chapman made a good impression on both of his throw-it-to-himself dunks, and Walker made another strong showing with his power-style dunking, but they couldn’t out-slam the great Dominique Wilkins, who won his second Slam Dunk title.

1991 – Rex Chapman (3rd Place)

Rex Chapman decided to run it back in 1991 after coming in 6th place in 1990. Chapman stuck with the throw-it-to-himself style dunks with better results but ultimately came up short of eventual winner Dee Brown, who performed the no-look dunk every kid of a certain age tried to emulate on their 7-foot goal for years to come.

2013 – Eric Bledsoe (3rd Place)

The first former Wildcat ever to record a perfect score of 50 in the NBA Dunk Contest was none other than Eric Bledsoe. And if it weren’t for a missed between-the-legs 360 in his first-round attempt, he very well could have been the first former ‘Cat to win the Slam Dunk crown.

2014 – John Wall (Champion)

Seeing his old teammate, Eric Bledsoe, show out in the year before, John Wall entered the Slam Dunk Contest in 2014. The NBA mixed things up with a team-oriented format, complete with a freestyle round, but it didn’t matter. John Wall danced his way to the championship by dunking over the Wizards mascot.

2019 – Hamidou Diallo (Champion)

Hamidou Diallo was one of the first primarily G-Leaguers to take part in the Slam Dunk Contest and made his presence felt. He became the third former Wildcat to win the championship, highlighted by an elbow-through-the-rim dunk over Shaq while revealing a Superman shirt underneath his jersey.

3-Point Contest

Six former Wildcats have taken part in the 3-point contest over the years with two of them taking home the trophy. Karl-Anthony Towns looks to become the first former ‘Cat to repeat as 3-point king in 2024.

1986 – Kyle Macy (5th Place)

The 3-point contest started in 1986, and former Kentucky legend Kyle Macy was part of the inaugural competition. There isn’t much footage of Macy, but he managed just 13 points and was eliminated in the first round.

2003 – Antoine Walker (6th Place)

Antoine Walker maintains one of the best quotes from a former Kentucky player of all time when he told a report who condescendingly asked him why he shoots so many 3s, “Because there are no 4s.” Walker may have only scored seven points, tied for the lowest in contest history, but he averaged more than seven 3-point attempts per game that season, and his quote was a perfect score.

2016 – Devin Booker (3rd Place)

19-year-old rookie Devin Booker took part in the 2016 NBA 3-point competition and out-dueled some of the game’s best before falling short of the Splash Brothers, Steph Curry, and champion Klay Thompson.

2018 – Devin Booker (Champion)

Booker came back for revenge against Klay Thompson in 2018, getting the best of the man who beat him in 2016 and winning the title, setting the contest record of 28 in the final round.

2019 – Devin Booker (4th Place)

Although he scored a solid score of 23 in the first round, Booker lost his bid for repeat 3-point champ by two points to Joe Harris.

2020 – Devin Booker (2nd Place)

Devin Booker nearly became a two-time 3-point champ in 2020, but Damian Lillard hit his final money ball to eke out the victory over the former Kentucky sharpshooter.

2022 – Karl-Anthony Towns (Champion)

Karl-Anthony Towns was considered the longshot in the 2022 NBA 3-point contest but proved everyone wrong and became the first center to ever win the competition. His effortless jump shot proved efficient in his format.

2023 – Julius Randle (7th Place)

At the last minute, Julius Randle replaced Anfernee Simons in the 3-point contest. The big man lefty only mustered 13 points, but, if nothing else, did better than Kevin Huerter.

2023 – Tyler Herro (6th Place)

Last season, there were two former Kentucky players in the 3-point contest, as Tyler Herro joined Julius Randle. Herro finished with 16 points in the first round, coming in 6th place.

All-Star Skills Challenge

Former Kentucky players have only taken part in two NBA Skills Challenges. They won both. This year, Tyrese Maxey looks to become the third in a relatively new team-based format.

2016 – Karl-Anthony Towns (Champion)

Rookie Karl-Anthony Towns won the 2016 NBA skills competition and was immediately mobbed by fellow Kentucky big men Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins. He, Steph Curry, and Damian Lillard are the only players ever to win both a Skills Challenge and a 3-Point Contest.

2020 – Bam Adebayo (Champion)

Bam Adebayo followed the footsteps of Karl-Anthony Towns and became the only other big man to win the NBA Skills Challenge. Adebayo, who normally doesn’t shoot 3s, drained a 3-pointer before Sabonis did to win the trophy.

Go bring home some more hardware in 2024, ‘Cats.