With NBA All-Star starters being announced this week, which former Michigan Wolverines have the best chance at making the squad? Jordan Poole certainly has a case:
While injuries continue to ravage the Michigan contingent in the NBA, those actually on the court are thriving. In this week’s Pro Blue, we’ll examine the chances of several former Wolverines to make the All-Star Game, Tim Hardaway Jr.’s resurgence, and Trey Burke’s big night in the G League.
Wagner, Poole fall slightly in All-Star Fan Vote
The third-round of NBA All-Star fan voting was revealed earlier this week and Michigan has two representatives on the list — Jordan Poole and Franz Wagner.
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokić lead their respective conferences in the third fan returns of #NBAAllStar Voting presented by AT&T.
Fans account for 50% of the vote to decide All-Star starters. Players and a media panel account for 25% each. pic.twitter.com/FBGGd00GB2
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) January 16, 2025
Wagner fell from seventh in the Eastern Conference front court down to eighth. However, this isn’t overly surprising considering he’s out indefinitely with a torn right oblique. In his absence, the Orlando Magic are struggling mightily, suggesting how vital of a piece he is to the team. Even if selected to the All-Star Team, it’s unlikely Wagner is able to suit up in the game itself.
Meanwhile, Poole has been healthy and has been exceptional. On Saturday at his old stomping grounds, he poured in 38 points on 12-of-25 shooting from the field and 8-of-15 from three at Golden State. Despite the Wizards being terrible, Poole continues to lead the team in scoring by a healthy margin, as he’s averaging more than 21 points per game.
Among the guards in the East, Poole fell from eighth to ninth in the latest fan vote results.
Hardaway Jr. paces a pesky Pistons squad
Tim Hardaway Jr. has been a bit up-and-down as of late for the Detroit Pistons . However, in a loss to the Indiana Pacers last Thursday, Hardaway was emphatically up by leading the Pistons in scoring with 25 points on 6-of-14 shooting from the field.
In totality, Hardaway’s scoring is down slightly from last year despite his shooting percentages being up across the board. Despite being a starter for Detroit, he’s being asked to do less for the Pistons than he was a year ago for the Mavericks.
Trey Burke shines in the G-League
Trey Burke hasn’t seen NBA action since the Western Conference Finals in 2022 for the Dallas Mavericks , but that hasn’t stopped him from making an impact on a basketball court. Now a member of the Mexico City Capitanes of the NBA G League, Burke provides a veteran presence on the young unaffiliated team. Other notable names on the Capitanes include Greg Brown III (Texas), Juan Toscano-Anderson (Marquette) and Davon Reed (Miami).
Last Friday night, Burke led the Capitanes to a 121-113 victory over the Santa Cruz Warriors. He stuffed the stat sheet with 26 points, six assists, five steals and four rebounds. Through 10 games with the Capitanes this season, Burke is averaging 21.4 points, 5.5 assists and one steal per game.