On February 21, 1993, at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Philadelphia 76ers player Charles Barkley battles with New York Knicks center Patrick Ewing in the NBA All-Star Game.(Image courtesy of Sports Illustrated/Manny Millan via Getty Images))
On Sunday night, there will be the 73rd NBA All-Star Game. A total of fourteen athletes from Alabama’s universities and high schools have been selected to participate in the NBA All-Star Game.
However, in the last ten years, just one of those all-stars with ties to Alabama basketball has participated in the match. DeMarcus Cousins, a former standout from LeFlore High School, participated in the 2018 NBA All-Star Game. This Sunday night’s game will be the sixth consecutive one in which no players from Alabama institutions or high schools will be included.
Since 1976, when former J.F. Shields High School standout John Drew became the first player from an Alabama high school or college to appear in the NBA All-Star Game, it is the longest break in history.
The players from Alabama high schools and colleges who were selected for the NBA and ABA All-Star Games are listed in order of number of selections:
Artis Gilmore attended Carver High School in Dothan. He played 11 games in the NBA (1983–1986) with the San Antonio Spurs, and in the ABA (1972–1973, 1974, 1975, and 1976) with the Kentucky Colonels.
Charles Barkley attended Leeds High School and Auburn. He played for the Philadelphia 76ers in 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, and 1992, the Phoenix Suns in 1993, 1994, 1995, and 1996, and the Houston Rockets for 11 games in 1997.
Larry Kenon attended Birmingham’s Ullman High School. He played five games in the NBA in 1978 and 1979 with the San Antonio Spurs after playing for the Nets in the ABA in 1974 and 1975 and the Spurs in 1976.
Latrell Sprewell, Alabama: played four games with the New York Knicks in 2001 after spending 1994, 1995, and 1997 with the Golden State Warriors.
Ben Wallace, from Hayneville’s Central High School: four games with the Detroit Pistons in 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006.