The 2023 NBA All-Star Game will kick off Sunday, February 19 from Salt Lake City’s Vivint Arena for the first time in 30 years. Coverage of the event begins at 7:30 pm ET when team captains LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo pick their teams from the roster, followed by the game at 8:30 pm ET.
With a star-studded roster of players who also took to the field this year, we take a look back at where each player went in school and the programs with the most players selected to participate this year.
*Captains LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo as well as Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic are absent from this list after James was drafted out of high school and the other three were drafted from teams overseas.
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Duke – 3: Kyrie Irving, Jayson Tatum and Zion Williamson
The three Blue Devils selected to play in this year’s NBA All-Star Game, Kyrie Irving, Jayson Tatum and Zion Williamson, make Duke tied for the program with the most selections this year.
While each of these players spent only one year in Durham before declaring for the draft, they made a major impact for the Blue Devils during their tenures.
Kyrie Irving possesses some of the best maneuvers this game has ever seen and since entering college, it was clear that Irving had what it takes to be a future pro. His already truncated and over college career was further shortened by a foot injury that sidelined him for 26 games. Even so, none of these variables have stopped him from showing off as a top-flight player. Irving scored in double figures in all 11 games he played, including a 31-point performance against Michigan State, set a freshman record for assists in his program debut (9), and helped Duke reach the Sweet Sixteen in the March Madness tournament before declaring for the season-ending draft.
Before Jayson Tatum led the Boston Celtics to the deep playoffs in the NBA, he put up impressive numbers as a member of the Blue Devils. Averaging 16.8 points, 7.3 boards, 2.1 dimes, Tatum was named to the ACC All-Freshman Team, appeared in 29 games with 27 starts, and was a finalist for the Julius Erving Small Forward Award of the Year. After a quick second-round exit from the Big Dance in 2017, Tatum declared for the NBA Draft.
Zion Williamson’s college play has achieved elite status. En route to securing the major six National Player of the Year awards, Williamson was the only player in DI men’s basketball during the 2018-19 season to average over 20 points, eight rebounds and two steals. He set a single-game freshman scoring record, losing 35 points to Syracuse and led his team to an Elite Eight appearance before electing to turn pro.
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Kentucky – 3: Bam Adebayo, De’Aaron Fox and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Bam Adebayo, De’Aaron Fox Kentucky
Head coach John Calipari is known for his ability to recruit young talent and put them through fast, but affective years playing for Kentucky. And just like Duke’s three all-stars, Bam Adebayo, De’Aaron Fox and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander were unique to the Wildcats.
Bam Adebayo and De’Aaron Fox will reunite on the Vivint Arena hardwood for the first time after their time as teammates at Kentucky. Adebayo and Fox delivered a one-two punch for the Wildcats during the 2016-17 season, with Adebayo averaging 13 points and eight rebounds and Fox averaging 16.7 points, four rebounds and 4.6 assists. Adebayo and Fox led their team to a 29-5 regular season record and a deep postseason run as Fox set an NCAA tournament record as a freshman with 39 points against UCLA in the Sweet 16. shared heartbreak after losing to eventual champion North Carolina, 75-73, in the Elite Eight.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has shined for the Oklahoma City Thunder this season en route to his first all-atar game selection. The 6’6, the Canadian guard brought his talents to Kentucky in college, where he averaged 14.4 points, 4.1 rebounds and 5.1 assists for the SEC powerhouse. Gilgeous-Alexander recorded career highs of 30 points, eight rebounds and 10 assists during his tenure and helped his team secure a No. 1 seed. 5 in the NCAA Tournament before being upset by Kansas State in the Sweet 16.
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Check out the complete list of NBA All-Stars and their respective schools below.
Appetizers
Position Player School Years F Jayson Tatum Duke 2016-17 G Donovan Mitchell Louisville 2015-17 G Kyrie Irving Duke 2010-11 C Joel Embiid Kansas 2013-14 G Ja Morant Murray State 2017-19 F Lauri Markkanen* Arizona 2016-17
Reserves
Position Player School Years G Jaylen Brown Calfiornia 2015-16 C Bam Adebayo Kentucky 2016-17 F DeMar Derozen USC 2008-09 G Tyrese Haliburton* Iowa State 2018-20 G Jrue Holiday UCLA 2008-9 F Julius Randle Kentucky 2013-14 F Pascal Siakam New Mexico State 2013-15 F Anthony Edwards* Georgia 2019-20 G De’Aaron Fox* Kentucky 2016-17 F Paul George Freso State 2008-10 G Shai Gilgeous-Alexander* Kentucky 2017-18 F Jaren Jackson Jr.* Michigan Statale 2017-19 Sol Damian Lillard Weber Statale 2008-12 Do Domantas Sabonis Gonzaga 2014-16
Out due to injury
Position Player School years F Kevin Durant Texas 2006-07 G Stephen Curry Davidson 2006-09 F Zion Williamson Duke 2018-19
*First time All-Stars
