Saturday, April 04, 2020

Syracuse All-Star Encounters

The Orange have played several great college players over the decades.  86 of the opposing players have gone on to be named an NBA All-Star, with Michael Jordan leading the way with 14 All-Star bids.

There are four future NBA All-Stars that the Orange faced in college 10 or more times.  That would include Boston College's Michael Adams (11x) and Dana Barros (10x), along with Georgetown's Patrick Ewing (11x) and Alonzo Mourning (10x).

The Orange had more encounters with future All-Stars in the 1980s than any other decade; in fact, it is more than the next four decades combined.


Overall there were 16 different future All Stars that Syracuse faced 101 times during that decade.  Besides the previously mentioned Ewing, Mourning, Adams and Barros, the Orange faced other players such as Chris Mullin, Brad Daugherty, Clyde Drexler, Hakeem Olajuwon, David Robinson and Glen Rice, to name a few.  

The 1990s saw players such as Paul Pierce, Chris Bosh, Ray Allen and Dikembe Mutombo.

The 2000s had Roy Hibbert, Kyle Lowry, James Harden and Blake Griffin.

And last decade, the 2010s, had Jimmy Butler, Andre Drummond, and Draymond Green.

The 70s saw the Orange as an independent, but they still faced some notable players. The best of that group would have included Julius Irving (aka Dr. J), Bernard King, Norm Nixon and Magic Johnson.

The 60s was the least impressive, yet Orange fans did get to see Calvin Murphy three times, Rick Barry, Bill Bradley and Jo Jo White, among others.

The 50s had Tom Gola, Rud LaRusso, Tom Heinsohn and Larry Costello leading the way.

And the earliest decade for All-Stars, the 1940s, had the legendary Bob Cousy, Mel Hutchins and Carl Braun.

For a complete list click here.