Tonight’s NBA All Star Weekend festivities marked the beginning of a new format for the Rising Stars game. Instead of two teams playing a game that can be sloppier than even the main All Star Game, the NBA revised the format.
Tonight there were four teams of seven top first and second year NBA players, and they played a mini tournament of single elimination games. The games were played to a set score of 50 for the opening round, and 25 for the “Final”. The first team to reach that mark won.
Here are the rosters:
TEAM BARRY
- Dyson Daniels, G League Ignite
- Isaac Okoro, Cleveland Cavaliers
- Jae’Sean Tate, Houston Rockets
TEAM ISIAH
- Saddiq Bey, Detroit Pistons
- Jaden Hardy, G League Ignite
- Isaiah Stewart, Detroit Pistons
TEAM PAYTON
- Scottie Barnes, Toronto Raptors
- Scoot Henderson, G League Ignite
- Bones Hyland, Denver Nuggets (Injury replacement for Mitchell)
- Jonathan Kuminga, Golden State Warriors (Injury replacement for Duarte)
- Jaden McDaniels, Minnesota Timberwolves
- Davion Mitchell, Sacramento Kings (Injured, will not play)
TEAM WORTHY
- Cole Anthony, Orlando Magic
- MarJon Beauchamp, G League Ignite
- Jalen Green, Houston Rockets
- Jalen Suggs, Orlando Magic
The first game featured Team Worthy, with Jalen Green against Team Isaih, featuring lots of second year breakout players, including 2020 1-1 pick Anthony Edwards.