@KentuckyMBB
If our daily #BBNBA updates weren’t indication enough, Kentucky players are absolutely killing it in the NBA right now. Nine Cats will participate in this weekend’s All-Star festivities, the most from any school. Today, ESPN wrapped up their ranking of the top 50 NBA players under the age of 25, and, predictably, Kentucky accounted for a big chunk of them. Eight in the top 35, in fact:
1. Anthony Davis, Pelicans
3. Karl Towns, Timberwolves
13. Devin Booker, Suns
22. Enes Kanter, Thunder
23. Julius Randle, Lakers
30. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Hornets
31. Nerlens Noel, 76ers
35. Jamal Murray, Nuggets
If you’re curious, Giannis Antetokounmpo was #2, Joel Embiid #4, and Kyrie Irving #5. Check out the complete list here.
In accordance with NBA All-Star Weekend, UK sent out a release about its nine participants that included this great breakdown of how each is doing:
Devin Booker – Earlier this season became the youngest player in NBA history with three games of at least 39 points and the youngest player to post back-to-back games of 39 points or more
Demarcus Cousins – In late November, posted four straight games with at least 30 points, marking the longest streak by a Kings players since Chris Webber in 2001. Also one of four players (Davis and Towns being two of the others) with a 45-point, 15-rebound game this season
Anthony Davis – Ranked seventh in the league in player efficiency rating and began the NBA season by becoming the first player since Michael Jordan in 1986-87 to begin the first two games of the years with at least 90 points
Dakari Johnson – Was named NBA D-League Player of the Month for the month of November and leads his team with 11 double-doubles
Trey Lyles – Has scored in double figures in 18 games this season
Jamal Murray – Has scored in double figures in eight of the last 11 games
Alex Poythress – Leads the Fort Wayne Mad Ants in scoring and rebounding to go along with nine double-doubles
Karl Towns – The reigning NBA Rookie of the Year is third in the league with 42 double-doubles, highlighted by a 47-point, 18-rebound game in November vs. the Knicks
John Wall – Was named the NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Month for December and currently leads all Eastern Conference guards in assists, steals and double-doubles (trails only triple-double machines Russell Westbrook and James Harden among all guards in double-doubles)
Here’s the schedule of events:
Friday, Feb. 17
BBVA Rising Stars Challenge (9 p.m. ET | TNT) – Booker, Lyles, Murray, Towns
Saturday, Feb. 18
NBA D-League All-Star Game (2:30 p.m. ET | NBA TV) – Johnson, Poythress
Taco Bell Skills Challenge (8 p.m. ET | TNT) – Booker, Cousins, Davis, Wall
Sunday, Feb. 19
NBA All-Star Game (8 p.m. ET | TNT) – Cousins, Davis, Wall