As we previously relayed, the NBA announced a new format for its Rising Stars event at All-Star weekend, which will take place on Friday, February 18. The event will feature four seven-player teams competing in a three-game tournament (two semifinals and a final).
The player pool is comprised of 12 NBA rookies, 12 sophomores, and four players from the G League Ignite, while the games will be played to a target score: 50 points in the semifinals and 25 points in the final, in honor of the league’s 75th anniversary season.
The rosters were announced on February 1, but now the four honorary coaches (75th anniversary team members Rick Barry, Isiah Thomas, Gary Payton and James Worthy) have selected their seven-man teams, per our JD Shaw (Twitter link). Here are the rosters:
Team Barry:
- Cade Cunningham (Pistons)
- Dyson Daniels (GLI)
- Evan Mobley (Cavaliers)
- Isaac Okoro (Cavaliers)
- Alperen Sengun (Rockets)
- Jae’Sean Tate (Rockets)
- Franz Wagner (Magic)
Team Isiah:
- Precious Achiuwa (Raptors)
- Desmond Bane (Grizzlies)
- Saddiq Bey (Pistons)
- Anthony Edwards (Timberwolves)
- Tyrese Haliburton (Kings)
- Jaden Hardy (GLI)
- Isaiah Stewart (Pistons)
Team Payton:
- LaMelo Ball (Hornets)
- Scottie Barnes (Raptors)
- Ayo Dosunmu (Bulls)
- Chris Duarte (Pacers)
- Scoot Henderson (GLI)
- Jaden McDaniels (Timberwolves)
- Davion Mitchell (Kings)
Team Worthy:
- Cole Anthony (Magic)
- MarJon Beauchamp (GLI)
- Josh Giddey (Thunder)
- Jalen Green (Rockets)
- Herbert Jones (Pelicans)
- Tyrese Maxey (Sixers)
- Jalen Suggs (Magic)
James Ham of ESPN 1320 and The Kings Beat provides (via Twitter) the full draft results.
The top 10, in order, were: Edwards, Mobley, Ball, Anthony, Giddey, Barnes, Cunningham, Bey, Bane, and Wagner. It’s worth noting that Worthy and Anthony both went to the University of North Carolina, so Anthony’s selection at No. 4 is less surprising given that context.
What do you think of the teams? Who do you think will come out on top? Head to the comments section and let us know your thoughts!
What a shame Cade couldn’t be on team Isiah!
Where is Kuminga? He is the moist exciting NBA rookie.
idk about moist, but I agree that this is sad for the event as Kuminga is a high octane, exciting player with so much potential. Maybe because of low usage (until recently)?
Trying to call him the “most” exciting rookie is funny enough. But mistakingly calling him “the moist exciting rookie” is pure comedy!
If calling him the most exciting rookie is funny, then who is seriously the most exciting rookie, in your eyes…
Cade, Mobley, Giddy, Wagner, Barnes! Are you seriously asking me this?
And don’t try to give me that “he doesn’t get enough playing time” mess. Because it is irrelevant. These guys are based on results not hypothesis.
Hmm I think you don’t watch enough basketball, my friend, to think calling Kuminga one of the most exciting rookies is funny…
Cause he had 2 or 3 decents games and a handful of nice dunks? You trippin.
Hmm like I said bud, get that league pass it’s only $50 for the rest of the season! It’ll make watching games more accessible for you
Got it bro! And I still disagree with you and think your take is nonsense. So now what?
And you know what your whole take is worthless. Because the original poster called him THE MOST EXCITING ROOKIE, you are challenging me about him being ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING ROOKIES but I never said he isn’t ONE of the most exciting! Stay in school my friend!
Also what are you even talking about, “results not hypothesis”… literally makes no sense. If Scottie Barnes were on the Warriors (2nd best team in the league) he’d be in the same role as Kuminga. As would Giddey, Cade, Mobley, etc…
I’m not arguing those players aren’t the most exciting. Just calling out your ridiculous statement, that’s all
What the hell are you talking about? What does if Scotty Barnes was on the Dubs have to do with anything? He is not! Hence my hypothetical statements are irrelevant in this argument comment! Yet you couldn’t comprehend and rebutted with a hypothetical anyway lol!
Kuminga can dunk better than those other players you just mentioned. Problem for him is being on one of the best teams so his minutes are less than being on a team going nowhere.
I don’t find Giddy more exciting.
Guys been rookie of the month in the west every month and you don’t find him more exciting than a guy with a few good games and a handful of dunks? OK lol! Tell me your a Dubs fan without telling me your a Dubs fan then.
Full Context.
Kuminga is an uber athletic two way wing contributing on a title contender.
Giddey is an inefficient guard with spotty defense putting up numbers on a tanking dumpster fire.
Also Per 36 minutes Kuminga’s numbers blow Giddey’s numbers out of the water and Kuminga has the much higher True shooting percentage.
More hypotheticals for Dubs fans to play up Kuminga over guys who are actually doing it. Why are you Dubs fans trying to diminish what the other rookies are doing just because Kuminga is not getting minutes?
You’re pretty narrow minded but that’s one way of looking at it. Another way of looking at is he has to earn his minutes on an extremely deep and competitive team.
Not being narrow minded at all . But you are. I think Kuminga is very exciting (BUT NOT THE MOST EXCITING ROOKIE) which is the statement that started this whole debate. And he could be a top rookie on a lesser team. But that is hypothetical at this point and not worth putting him over other rookies who are performing. My last time explaining because this mess is like I am typing into a black hole. Some of these commentors clearly just want to try and rebuff me and are not even paying attention to what I am typing!
@”Stons” Fan – You realize “exciting” has nothing to do with stats, nor awards, nor whether one player is better than another correct??
Sometimes the two mesh, and that’s when you get a main attraction like Zion in college or Ja Morant now.
Take James Harden for example, he put up some excellent stats the past few years, won some awards, and yet imo he was one of the LEAST exciting players to watch in the NBA.
Also, take Zach LaVine, at the beginning of his career he was alot more of an exciting player to watch, now he isn’t quite as exciting. Does that mean, he’s gotten worse?? No, in fact LaVine has grown his game leaps and bounds..
Kuminga is a very exciting player, so is Cade…
What are you even arguing about?? Regardless whatever you want to say or are trying to say, two people don’t have to agree on what excites them..What excites one person is different compared to what excites another…
Again not paying attention. I simply said it was funny calling him”the most exciting rookie” to which I got challenge and named numerous rookies I find more exciting. Furthermore I never said he wasn’t exciting or ONE of the most exciting. You guys do not pay attention a simple take is being twisted up like a pretzel. So I am done due to lack of comprehension.
Nah man you struggled with expression… just watch more games
It depends on whether you value providing a legitimate contribution to a championship contender as much as you value getting better stats on a lottery team. I think Kuminga has to be there, and of course, some of you chose to mention some five players who also have to be there, as if that disqualifies him. I’m not going to say he is more deserving than Cade, Mobley or Barnes, but he is in the top five best and most exciting rookies as much as they are, let alone in the top twelve.
At 50 games give me Mobley. A very underrated stat to me is MPG. This dude’s in for the haul from jump street and going to be a menace for the Eastern Conf for a long time defending Cleveland’s side of the court
What an audible tho from Toronto vs Consensus taking Scottie B.
Drafts are usually dubious to judge, but man, what a call down with middle pair and the flush and straight on the board. GSW as well had a splendid draft, Im very high on Moody
Funny thread, arguing over “most” vs “one of the most” exciting rookies. Either could be technically accurate, as the statement could mean almost anything … as a present or future relative assessment. As a Warriors fan I tend to agree with “Stons” Fan here, and that exciting = potential All-Star and presently Kuminga looks to be a solid candidate, but perhaps not as exciting as say Evan Mobley who the Warriors would likely trade for in a hot minute!
I agree. When he gets the minutes, he will be fun to watch. At Vegas Summer League, I had a front row seat to an incredible Kuminga cross-over dunk to end the half. The photo loop is really cool. Can’t wait to see what he can do on a regular basis.
Talk about splitting hairs! Since when has an opinion been right nor wrong. That’s what these comment sections are for.
Kuminga is exciting! He prob missed because he isn’t getting minutes on a deep team. He was an x-factor at the draft, still is and could go either way tbh!
Giddey in comparison is a bit boring (in my opinion), but both the Warriors and OKC had him higher on the draft board than Kuminga. No doubt he would have seen more court time than Kuminga with the dubs….simply has a higher IQ and rebounds better (higher IQ again given athletic attributes).
Kuminga is a work in progress, great trade bait for the warriors in the next year or so if his consistency doesn’t track as they want. But no surprises he missed the squad, given circumstances.
It would be cool to include 1 spot for UDFA’s as well per team
Why? It’s bad enough some desearving rookies can’t get there because of Ignite. Even though I am interested in seeing the Ignite guys play against top NBA rrookie talent!
This game feels more like a showcase than an badge of honor for the NBA and it’s players
– I’ve always taken a liking to UDFA’s as they are playing an {unfair} uphill battle to ever earn their next contract. It’s changing a bit recently but a little extra spotlight couldn’t hurt
I like the G league entrees this year as well
You nailed it, that’s PRECISELY what this game is all about. The NBA just simply wants to showcase some of its young and upcoming talent, and they want to reward the G-League Draft prospects for taking that route, so they’re including them as well.
I’m sure that has to be pretty awesome to be a high school prospect, and to know you can go to the GLeague, play against grown men, get paid, and then also you get to perform on a huge stage during All-Star Weekend!! That part was added SOLELY as a future selling point for future prospects..
I truly like how different it is now, rather than it being some boring scoring exhibition with zero defense..
Also, btw, congrats goes out to Ayo Dosunmu!! Dude was a mid 2nd rounder that has done some serious work for the Bulls, and if it wasn’t for Ayo stepping up, the Bulls likely might not be anywhere near that #1 spot..
Amen on Ayo. He didn’t get any respect in the NBA draft and he didn’t get any respect on this draft. It wouldn’t be a surprise to me if wins the MVP of the game.
If you earn the respect of DeRozan in a half a season like Ayo has, you can ball.
Just watch the G League ASG if you’re so thirsty for “under the radar” talent smdh…
As a Wolves fan, I am still happy we picked Edwards over Bell; so it’s interesting to see both Edwards and Mobley get picked over Bell – even though a lot of columnists are saying Bell was a ASG snub.
Precious Achiuwa is shooting 45% from 2 as a big man lol
The NBA has done a great service to its fans as this showcases, tournament-style, its young talent but also makes it seem like something you would expect to find on any Saturday afternoon at your local Y or church gym except for the talent level, of course.
If I read the draft order correctly Tyrese Halliburton went in the 4th Round? Wow! Way too low.