There are 24 roster spots in the NBA All-Star Game. Five of them belong to the Kentucky Wildcats.
Let that sink in for a second. More than 20% of the best players in the world played their college ball in Lexington.
We already knew that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder) and Tyrese Maxey (76ers) had secured starting spots in the backcourt. But on Sunday evening, the reserves were announced, bringing the total count to five as the league prepares to descend on Los Angeles.
The reserves
- Karl-Anthony Towns (Knicks): KAT joins Maxey on the Eastern Conference squad, continuing his resurgence in New York.
- Devin Booker (Suns): A staple of the mid-season classic, Booker earns another nod in the West.
- Jamal Murray (Nuggets): The Blue Arrow joins his teammate Nikola Jokić to represent the defending champs.
A new format in LA
The 75th NBA All-Star Weekend is shaking things up. Taking place Feb. 13-15 at the new Intuit Dome (home of the Clippers), the league is ditching the traditional East vs. West game for something entirely new.
The 2026 game will feature a "U.S. vs. World" format with a round-robin tournament. Three teams will compete in four 12-minute games on Sunday, Feb. 15 (5 p.m. ET on NBC/Peacock).
Let’s be honest: The All-Star game has been unwatchable for years. Hopefully, this tournament style injects some actual competition back into the event.
Don't forget Reed Sheppard
The Sunday game isn't the only place you'll see Big Blue Nation represented. Rookie sensation Reed Sheppard has been selected for the Rising Stars game, ensuring Kentucky has a footprint on Friday night as well.
The Dunk Contest and 3-Point Contest participants will be announced later this week, so that number could still grow.
Los Angeles might be Lakers town, but for one weekend in February, it’s going to look a lot like Lexington West.