First batch of 2025 NBA All-Star votes include SEVEN former Wildcats

The 2024 NBA All-Star Game featured seven former Kentucky Wildcats, a record by one school for the league’s annual midseason showcase. Could we see another seven make the cut again in 2025?

They’re off to a good start so far. The first batch of All-Star votes was released on Thursday and Kentucky alums were mentioned up and down the 40-player ballot, including one who earned more votes among Western Conference backcourt players than anyone else. Five of the seven Wildcats included in the first return of votes were All-Stars last year while two new faces cracked the list.

Western Conference frontcourt

(4th) Anthony Davis | LAL – 999,540 votes

Western Conference backcourt

(1st) Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | OKC – 1,053,683 votes

(8th) De’Aaron Fox | SAC – 132,937 votes

(9th) Devin Booker | PHX – 120,602 votes

Eastern Conference frontcourt

(3rd) Karl-Anthony Towns | NYK – 1,099,966 votes

Eastern Confernce backcourt

(7th) Tyrese Maxey | PHI – 246,648 votes

(9th) Tyler Herro | MIA – 125,251 votes

via NBAPR

Herro and Fox are the two new names on the first ballot who did not make the 2024 All-Star Game. There’s a very good chance that both end up making the actual rosters when all is said and done, too. Keep in mind that fan voting only accounts for 50 percent of the overall vote with the media and fans making up the remaining 50 percent. So while Herro is only ninth in the Eastern Conference backcourt standings right now, he could still make the final roster with the help of the media and fans over the coming weeks.

We can go ahead and assume that Gilgeous-Alexander, Towns, and Davis will make the All-Star Game. SGA and Towns were named Players of the Month for December while Davis is having arguably his best season since winning the 2020 NBA Finals. Gilgeous-Alexander might even be the MVP frontrunner at this stage. So that’s three expected All-Stars from Kentucky right there.

Maxey, who has been forced into taking on a larger role due to injuries to the star players around him, is having a season right on par with what he did in 2023-24. Herro is easily having his best season to date and is the only reason the Heat haven’t completely fallen into oblivion. They’ll have great cases to make the roster.

That leaves Fox and Booker, who will be true wild cards. Fox has been great this season, but on a Kings team (15-19) has been bad. Would voters put in two Sacramento players (Domantas Sabonis, who is having a career season, being the other) if the franchise is several games under .500? The same could be said for Booker and the 15-17 Suns. He’s having a “down” year scoring-wise and is teammates with the still-amazing Kevin Durant, who is a lock to make the All-Star roster.

If I had to guess, I would pick Gilgeous-Alexander, Towns, and Davis as locks to make the All-Star Game with SGA and Towns as starters. If Maxey and Herro continue to play at this level, they’ll sneak in too. They’ve done a lot this season with little (and inconsistent) help around them. Fox and Booker could be on the outside looking in. Don’t discount the possibility of someone like Julius Randle (MIN) having a great January and forcing his way into the mix, either.

All-Star voting will conclude on Jan. 20. You can vote by clicking the link here. The 2025 All-Star Game in San Francisco is set for Sunday, Feb. 16.

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