NBA All-Star: Predicting which Wildcats could be next

John Calipari has produced seven NBA All-Stars during his time at Kentucky. From John Wall and Anthony Davis making the roster in 2014 to Julius Randle last season, some of UK’s best have appeared on one of the NBA’s biggest stages. With more young and talented former Wildcats still early in their NBA careers, who could be up next to be named an All-Star?

Western Conference Wildcat Point Guards

One of the deepest positions Kentucky has had under Calipari has been point guard. Three have become starters at the position for their respective franchises, but injuries and records have kept them out as of late.

Jamal Murray was close to being named an All-Star a season ago. At 21.2 points per game on one of the West’s best teams in the Denver Nuggets, he just missed the cut. Not long after the event, Murray would suffer a torn ACL and has yet to return for this season. Murray showed he’s one of the best young players in the NBA, especially in the playoffs. Now health and production moving forward will play a big part in when or if he’ll be an All-Star

In Sacramento, De’Aaron Fox has put up the numbers to warrant consideration. The Kings simply haven’t had the record, though, to push him over the top. He has scored over 20 points per game the last three seasons with a career-high 25.2 last season. In those seasons, the Kings have finished 12th the last two and are currently 13th this time around. If Sacramento ever escapes the basement of the Western Conference or if he makes his way to a new franchise, Fox might finally get the recognition he deserves.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is in a similar spot in Oklahoma City. SGA averaged 21.8 points the last three seasons, but the Thunder finished second to last the last two seasons. The one season they didn’t was his second season in the NBA and voters elected to put Chris Paul in as the Thunder’s All-Star. The numbers are there, but the record will have to follow if he wants to break in on All-Star Weekend.

2019 Draft Class

The 2019 draft class for Kentucky consisted of three players, but all three have made an early mark in their careers.

Tyler Herro had an outside chance to make an All-Star appearance this season. As one of the Miami Heat’s most impactful and available players this season, Boy Wonder had a shot at a reserve spot. The media elected his teammate Jimmy Butler to be South Beach’s representative instead. He made the NBA Finals as a rookie, but this is his best season as he’s averaging 20 points per game. At the very least Herro has shown he has the potential to make it someday.

Keldon Johnson had a slow start to his NBA career in San Antonio, appearing in 17 games as a rookie. Johnson has since become a full-time starter for the Spurs. After winning a gold medal with Team USA, Johnson is having a career season with 15.7 points and 6.0 rebounds. He’s been incredible from deep this season as well at 42.5%, which is seventh-best in the league. The Spurs young core earned their first All-Star this year in Dejounte Murray, but Johnson may not be far behind.

PJ Washington was drafted 12th in 2019, but he is currently the least likely of the trio to be named an All-Star. He lost his starting spot for the Hornets after averaging 12.6 points per game in his first two seasons. With the emergence of LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges, that places him third at best on his team. Still, he’s a quality stretch four in the NBA at 38% from three and only 23 years old. It may not be soon, but he still has a lot of time left to grow to that level.

Too Early To Tell for All-Star

A season ago, Malik Monk had little to no chance of reaching an All-Star level. After four seasons in Charlotte at 9.1 points a game, the Hornets did not re-sign him as his NBA future was in question. The Los Angeles Lakers grabbed him on a small one-year deal, and he’s proven to be a saving grace for them at times this season. After scoring 20 or more just 25 times in 233 games in Charlotte, he’s done it 15 times already in his 52 games as a Laker. He still has a ways to go to reach that level, but it’s no longer inconceivable.

Tyrese Maxey was the main beneficiary of the Ben Simmons saga in Philadelphia. He has started all but one game this season for the 76ers and has doubled nearly every stat including points per game at 16.9. The only issue now is that with the Ben Simmons trade, Maxey will have to share the backcourt with one of the biggest high-usage players in the NBA, James Harden. Trying to attain an All-Star level on a team featuring Harden and Joel Embiid will be difficult. Until Harden makes his debut, it’s still uncertain how that move will affect Maxey moving forward.

In the Big Apple, Immanuel Quickley will have the New York platform to push his candidacy once he reaches the level that will earn him All-Star consideration. As one of the league’s most disappointing teams this season, it may be some time before that happens. The Knicks have regressed from 4th in the East last season to 12th at the moment. Meanwhile, Quickley is playing similar minutes while averaging fewer points on worse shooting from the field and three. Playing behind the Knicks ball-handlers hasn’t helped his development into his second NBA season. If they ever reach a point for a youth movement, Quick would have a chance to reach that level. It’s just a wait-and-see game to find out what direction the Knicks are going in moving forward.

Two current UK All-Stars will play for Team Durant tonight. Devin Booker and Karl-Anthony Towns will take the floor for the 2022 NBA All-Star game at 8 p.m. ET on both TNT and TBS.