Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Karl-Anthony Towns named 2025 NBA All-Star Game starters

A pair of Wildcats were announced as 2025 NBA All-Star Game starters on Thursday night.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is one of five starters from the Western Conference while New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns is one of five starters from the Eastern Conference. The news was announced live on NBA on TNT ahead of an NBA doubleheader, which will be capped off with Caleb Wilson‘s college decision. The All-Star starters were decided by a combined vote from fans, players, and media members.

This marks the first time that two former Kentucky players were named NBA All-Star Game starters in the same year. Gilgeous-Alexander was also a starter for the midseason event in 2024. This will be SGA’s third All-Star Game appearance and the fifth for Towns.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC) and Karl-Anthony Towns (NYK) were named 2025 NBA All-Star Game starters tonight on TNT.

This will be SGA's third All-Star appearance and the fifth for KAT.

MORE: https://t.co/YzLIAMZh0x pic.twitter.com/JxNg68BkfZ

— KSR (@KSRonX) January 24, 2025

It’s no surprise to see either of these one-time ‘Cats named as starters. Gilgeous-Alexander is the current frontrunner to win league MVP while Towns is having arguably the best season of his career.

Starting with SGA, the 26-year-old point guard is producing a historic season. Leading the 36-7 Thunder, he’s averaging 32 points, 6.1 assists, 5.4 rebounds, 2.1 steals, and 1.1 blocks in 34.2 minutes per outing on shooting splits of 53/34.8/90.2. FanDuel currently has SGA as the favorite to win MVP at -600 odds. He poured in a career-high 54 points on Wednesday night in a win over the Utah Jazz. Gilgeous-Alexander has been special this season (he won Western Conference Player of the Month in November and December) and could become the first Kentucky player ever to win NBA MVP if he keeps up this pace.

As for Towns, the trade from Minnesota to New York this past offseason has worked out perfectly. Alongside Jalen Brunson (also named an All-Star starter), the two have formed a deadly offense that ranks second in the league. Towns is averaging 25.1 points, 13.9 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.9 blocks in 34.9 minutes per outing on incredible shooting splits of 54.5/43.3/83.6. The 29-year-old center has 35 double-doubles across 40 games played this season.

Kentucky could have a few more representatives sneak into the All-Star Game as reserves. The likes of Anthony Davis (LAL), De’Aaron Fox (SAC), Devin Booker (PHX), Tyler Herro (MIA), and Tyrese Maxey (PHI) are all in the mix for All-Star nods. Reserves will be announced on Thursday, Jan. 30. The 2025 NBA All-Star Game will be held on Sunday, Feb. 16 at the Chase Center in San Francisco, CA.