All-Star Extravaganza: Jayhawk Style

By Matt Tait     Feb 18, 2009

So last weekend’s NBA All-Star extravaganza got me thinking. Why not craft a blog about Jayhawks in the NBA that is based on the events and festivities that took place in Phoenix, where Shaq and Kobe (of all people) led the West to a drubbing of the Eastern Conference. The concept is simple, although maybe not all that impressive. We’ll pick starters, a bench and participants for the slam dunk contest and three-point shootout. But remember, if they didn’t play in the NBA, they’re not going to be on this list. Game on. Former Jayhawk All-Star Starters

PG Jo Jo White, Boston Celtics — White won a title with the Celtics, was a seven-time NBA All-Star and is widely regarded as one of that franchise’s best of all time. I’d say that qualifies him for this list.SG Kirk Hinrich, Chicago Bulls — Hinrich’s career hasn’t been all glamour, but his first few seasons with the Bulls were outstanding. Besides, this day and age you don’t stick with one team as long as Hinrich has with Chicago without being pretty productive. Yet to be named an All-Star, Hinrich ranks in Chicago’s Top 5 in five major offensive categories. SF Paul Pierce, Boston Celtics — Enough said. PF Danny Manning, Los Angeles Clippers — The weird thing about Manning’s NBA career is that it actually was a lot more productive than most people think. KU’s all-time leader in points and rebounds played in the NBA for more than a decade, scored more than 12,000 career points, averaged 14 points per game and was named to the NBA All-Star team twice. Only injuries kept Manning from being on the NBA’s 50 Greatest Players list. C Wilt Chamberlain, Los Angeles Lakers — 13-time NBA All-Star, 4-time NBA MVP, 2-time NBA champion, 1 100-point game and career averages of 30.1 points and 22.9 rebounds per game….. Wilt locks down this spot on any school’s list. Former Jayhawk All-Star Reserves

PG Jacque Vaughn, San Antonio Spurs — Say what you will about Jacque’s skills and his effectiveness in the NBA. The man quietly has crafted a lengthy career and has a ring. SG Mario Chalmers, Miami Heat — Sorry, kids. Until someone comes along who can start right away like Mario has, he’s on this team. PF Raef LaFrentz, Denver/Boston/Portland — Drafted No. 3 by Denver, LaFrentz had a real chance to be a real player. But a knee injury during his rookie season derailed that and reduced Raef to a spot-up center. Even in that role, he enjoyed a pretty decent career that appears to be coming to an end. PF Drew Gooden, Cleveland/Chicago — Just call Gooden the Rodney Dangerfield of the NBA. He hasn’t gotten much respect from the team’s he has played for, but this journeyman has the skills to play for any team in the league. C Greg Ostertag, Utah Jazz — In 11 professional seasons, Ostertag never played for a team with a sub-.500 record. Sure, John Stockton and Karl Malone had a little to do with that, but for a handful of years, Ostertag was exactly the kind of big man the Jazz needed. Slam Dunk Participants

Darrin Hancock, Charlotte/Milwaukee/Atlanta — Seriously, Hancock played in the NBA. J.R. Giddens, Boston — Like it or not, the kid could fly. He should’ve won the McDonald’s All-American game slam dunk title (but lost to some guy named LeBron). Before his pro career is finished, Giddens will throw one down that makes everyone who sees it go wild. Drew Gooden, Cleveland/Chicago — Gooden wasn’t necessarily known for his slam dunk skills, but I’ll guarantee you this much, there isn’t a dunk this guy wouldn’t try. Part of me wants him on this list just to dream up what kind of crazy dunks this goofy guy would try. Julian Wright, New Orleans — Here’s the deal, this guy treated some games like slam dunk contests, sometimes against better judgment. But the fact remains, that when it was time to put on a show, Julian was always game. Click here to vote for your dunk champion. Three-Point Shootout

Billy Thomas, New Jersey/Washington/Cleveland — Here’s the deal, the only reason Thomas ever got a shot in the league was because of his three-point shooting. And he’s one of the best KU ever had.Rex Walters, New Jersey/Philadelphia/Miami — In seven NBA seasons, Walters made 187 three-pointers and shot 36 percent from downtown. Eye-popping numbers they are not, but, at times, Walters was one of the more dangerous three-point threats in the league, hitting 71 threes in ’94-’95 and 57 triples in ’96-’97. Kirk Hinrich, Chicago — Not the kind of guy who people think of when they think of a pure three-point shooter. But not the kind of guy who takes bad three-pointers either. If left open, Hinrich has the range to rip the nets and has often utilized it during his pro career.Ron Kellogg, Atlanta — They didn’t have the three-point line when Kellogg played, but talk to anyone who saw him shoot and they’ll tell you that he would’ve been near the top of KU’s all-time long range list. Click here to vote for your three-point champion.

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Written By Matt Tait

A native of Colorado, Matt moved to Lawrence in 1988 and has been in town ever since. He graduated from Lawrence High in 1996 and the University of Kansas in 2000 with a degree in Journalism. After covering KU sports for the University Daily Kansan and Rivals.com, Matt joined the World Company (and later Ogden Publications) in 2001 and has held several positions with the paper and KUsports.com in the past 20+ years. He became the Journal-World Sports Editor in 2018. Throughout his career, Matt has won several local and national awards from both the Associated Press Sports Editors and the Kansas Press Association. In 2021, he was named the Kansas Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sports Media Association. Matt lives in Lawrence with his wife, Allison, and two daughters, Kate and Molly. When he's not covering KU sports, he likes to spend his time playing basketball and golf, listening to and writing music and traveling the world with friends and family.