DeMarcus Cousins and John Wall on Thursday were named reserves for the NBA All-Star Game on Feb. 19 in New Orleans, giving Kentucky three former players in the main game.
Anthony Davis, who led Kentucky to the 2012 national championship, was already voted in as a starter for the Western Conference. Wall (Washington Wizards) will suit up for the Eastern Conference while Cousins (Sacramento Kings) will join Davis (New Orleans Pelicans) on the Western Conference squad. No other college has more than two representatives.
Unlike the starters, who were voted in by the fans, players and media members, the NBA All-Star reserves were voted in exclusively by the league’s coaches.
Wall will be making his fourth appearance in the game while Cousins will make his third.
Meantime, four other former Wildcats were announced Wednesday for the Rising Stars Challenge: Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns), Trey Lyles (Utah Jazz), Jamal Murray (Denver Nuggets) and Karl-Anthony Towns (Minnesota Timberwolves), the reigning NBA Rookie of the Year.
The Rising Stars Challenge highlights the league’s best first- and second-year players. The U.S. Team will take on the World Team on Feb. 17 at 9 p.m. ET on TNT.
Towns and Booker are the U.S. Team, with Lyle and Murray, both Canadians, on the World Team.
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