With the latest round of NBA All-Star voting results being revealed, do one or more former Michigan Wolverines have a shot at making the ASG?
In last week’s edition of Pro Blue Hoops , we detailed how each of the 10 former Michigan Wolverines currently on NBA rosters are performing. Sadly, injuries have derailed the once-promising seasons of Franz Wagner, Mo Wagner and Kobe Bufkin, but the other seven are holding it down in the professional ranks.
Here are some other stories around professional basketball that involve former Wolverines.
Wagner, Poole appear on NBA All-Star Game fan voting returns
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokić continue to lead their respective conferences in the second 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.
Next fan update:… pic.twitter.com/oQvm99AmE5
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) January 9, 2025
Despite the injury, Franz Wagner still finds himself seventh in fan voting in the Eastern Conference front court. The young forward was having a breakout season prior to tearing his right oblique.
Jordan Poole also makes an appearance as the eighth-highest vote-getter in the Eastern Conference back court. Despite Washington’s abysmal start to the season, Poole remains rather popular in D.C.
Hardaway Jr. hits a season-high
Tim Hardaway Jr. and the scorching hot Detroit Pistons have won seven of their last eight contests. Last Monday in a win over Portland, Hardaway Jr. set a season-high with 26 points on 67 percent shooting. He then outdid himself by scoring 27 points on 69 percent shooting in a win over Toronto on Saturday night.
Michigan well-represented overseas as well as in the front office
Not only does the Michigan basketball program have 10 former players on NBA rosters, but it also has an abundance of representation in front offices across the league. Here’s a list of former players along with their current titles:
- Phoenix Suns : Josh Bartelstein, CEO
- Los Angeles Lakers : Rob Pelinka, General Manager
- Los Angeles Clippers: Mark Hughes, Assistant General Manager
- Brooklyn Nets : Juwan Howard, Assistant Coach
- Cleveland Cavaliers : Campy Russell, Director of Alumni Relations
- Miami Heat: Glen Rice, Scouting
Additionally, 14 former Wolverines are on professional rosters overseas. This list remains fluid but as of now, but here’s where each guy has most recently been tied to:
- Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman: Bilbao Basket (Spain)
- Ignas Brazdeikis: B.C. Zalgiris (Lithuania)
- Eli Brooks: EWE Baskets Oldenburg (Germany)
- Chaundee Brown Jr: Kobe Storks (Japan)
- Zak Irvin: Caneros del Este (Dominican Republic)
- Manny Harris: Al Riyadi Beirut (Lebanon)
- Brandon Johns Jr: BC Lulea (Sweden)
- DeVante’ Jones: Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (Slovenia)
- Jaelin Llewellyn: Newcastle Eagles (England)
- Olivier Nkamhoua: NINERS Chemnitz (Germany)
- Glenn Robinson III: Magnolia Hotshots (Philippines)
- Zavier Simpson: U-Banca Cluj Napoca (Romania)
- Derrick Walton Jr: S.E. Melbourne Phoenix (Australia)
- D.J. Wilson: Shanghai Sharks (China)
Lastly, four former Wolverines are currently fighting for an NBA spot in the G-League. As mentioned last week, Moussa Diabate is on a two-way contract with the Hornets, so he is technically on the Greensboro Swarm roster as well. Trey Burke currently plays for the Mexico City Capitanes, while Joey Baker plays for the Grand Rapids Gold and Tray Jackson is on the Delaware Blue Coats’ roster.
Needless to say, Michigan basketball covers the globe currently with no end in sight.