In the new tournament format of the Rising Stars Game, Team Payton, featuring Golden State Warriors rookie Jonathan Kuminga, fell to Team Barry in their first game, 50-48. Kuminga scored two points off the bench, generally displaying the same effort level that got him benched in the G League. He missed both of his three-point attempts and despite playing with lob maestro LaMelo Ball of the Charlotte Hornets, he didn’t dunk once.
It really felt like Rick Barry’s team had a level of intensity and seriousness that the other four squads lacked. They were running actual NBA sets, and reportedly had a very long practice to get ready.