The Bay Area is set to welcome the Big Blue Nation this weekend as it hosts the 2025 NBA All-Star Weekend, showcasing nine athletes connected to the University of Kentucky. Notably, four Wildcats have been selected to participate in the 74th NBA All-Star Game: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Karl-Anthony Towns, Anthony Davis, and Tyler Herro. Although Davis won’t be playing due to injury, Gilgeous-Alexander, Towns, and Herro are eager to represent their alma mater.
The All-Star Game, scheduled for February 16 at the Chase Center, will feature a new format with a four-team tournament setup starting at 8 p.m. ET. Gilgeous-Alexander and Towns will compete as part of “Team Barkley,” under the leadership of NBA great Charles Barkley, while Herro will join Kenny Smith’s lineup. This event underscores Kentucky’s impressive basketball legacy, as it has the most All-Star representatives from any university, with Davis earning his record 10th selection.
In addition to the main event, several Kentucky alumni will participate in key events throughout the weekend. Olympic gold medalist and former track & field star Masai Russell will take part in the Ruffles NBA All-Star Celebrity Game on Friday at 7 p.m. ET, broadcasted on ESPN. Later that night, Reed Sheppard will join the Castrol Rising Stars mini tournament at 9 p.m. on TNT, although Oklahoma City Thunder’s Cason Wallace will miss the event due to injury.
On Saturday, Tyler Herro will showcase his shooting skills in the Starry 3-Point Contest, where he will compete against seven other players at 8 p.m. ET on TNT. Herro, making his first All-Star appearance, aims to become the third Wildcat to win this contest, joining former champions Devin Booker and Towns.
Skal Labissiere and TyTy Washington Jr. will also participate in the weekend’s festivities, taking to the court on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. for the G League Up Next Game presented by AT&T.
Here’s the complete schedule for Kentucky’s participants:
Friday, Feb. 14
7 p.m. | Ruffles NBA All-Star Celebrity Game – Masai Russell // ESPN
9 p.m. | Castrol Rising Stars – Cason Wallace (injured), Reed Sheppard // TNT
Saturday, Feb. 15
8 p.m. | Starry 3-Point Contest – Tyler Herro // TNT
Sunday, Feb. 16
3:30 p.m. | G League Up Next Game presented by AT&T – Skal Labissiere, TyTy Washington
8 p.m. | 74th NBA All-Star Game – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Karl-Anthony Towns, Anthony Davis (injured), Tyler Herro // TNT
The presence of so many talented athletes from Kentucky offers a thrilling prospect for basketball fans and highlights the strong impact the university continues to have in the NBA. This celebration not only pays homage to past achievements but also inspires future generations of players.