Friday, February 16, 2024

J-Speaks: 2024 NBA All-Star Weekend Preview: NBA Rising Stars Preview

 It is that time of year again where the NBA Universe gathers for their unofficial halfway point celebration of their season. NBA All-Star Weekend, which this year takes place in the state for hoops, Indianapolis, IN. The festivities will get underway in a couple of hours tonight with the 30th Annual NBA Rising Stars Challenge, presented by Panini.

On Tuesday, the four rosters that will participate in the four-team mini tournament where the best rookies, best sophomores, and seven promising NBA G Leaguers will battle it out at the home of the Indiana Pacers, Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

The four rosters were selected by three honorary coaches that are legends of professional hoops in Hall of Famers in Pau Gasol, who won two titles with the Lakers and Tamika Catchings, who spent here entire WNBA career with the Indiana Fever, leading them to lone WNBA title in 2012. The third honorary coach for this game is former Pacer, Detroit, MI native and longtime former ESPN television personality Jalen Rose, who played 13 seasons in the NBA with Denver Nuggets (1994-96), Pacers (1996-2002), Chicago Bulls (2003-03), Toronto Raptors (2003-06), New York Knicks (2006) and Phoenix Suns (2006-07). Coaching the G Leaguers will be fellow NBA legend, three-time NBA All-Star (1993, 1995, 1997) and FIBA Hall of Famer Detlef Schrempf, who played 16 seasons in “The Association” (1985-2011) with the Dallas Mavericks (1985-89), Pacers (1989-93), Seattle Supersonics (1993-99), and Portland Trail Blazers (1999-2001).

Team Pau

Rookies: Victor Wembanyama (No. 1 overall pick 2023; 20.5 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 3.2 bpg-Leads NBA, 46.8 FG%) of the San Antonio Spurs; Brandon Miller (No. 2 overall pick; 16.6 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 44.4 FG%, 38.6 3-Pt.%) of Charlotte Hornets; Jaime Jaquez, Jr. (12.9 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 49.2 FG%) of the Miami Heat; Cason Wallace (6.8 ppg, 50.4 FG%, 41.2 3-Pt.%) of the Oklahoma City Thunder; Bilal Coulibaly (8.3 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 44.4 FG%, 36.3 3-Pt.%) of the Washington Wizards; and Brandin Podziemski (9.9 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 39.9 apg, 46.4 FG%, 38.5 3-Pt.%) of the Golden State Warriors.

Sophomore: Jabari Smith, Jr. (13.2 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 45.9 FG%, 35.9 3-Pt.%) of the Houston Rockets.

Team Tamika

Sophomores: Reigning 2022-23 Kia Rookie of the Year Paolo (No. 1 overall pick 2022) Banchero (23.0 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 5.3 apg, 46.2 FG%, 36.5 3-Pt.%) of the Orlando Magic; Jaden Ivey (15.3 ppg, 3.6 apg, 3.7 rpg, 45.4 FG%, 36.1 3-Pt.%) and Jaden Duren (14.0 ppg, 12.0 rpg, 63.1 FG%) of the Detroit Pistons; Keegan Murray (14.8 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 45.9 FG%, 35.0 3-Pt.%) of the Sacramento Kings; Dyson Daniels (5.5 ppg, 3.7 rpg) of the New Orleans Pelicans, who will not play due to injury and his replacement is Vince Williams, Jr. (9.6 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 44.4 FG%, 36.5 3-Pt.%) of the Memphis Grizzlies.  

Rookies: Scoot Henderson (No. 3 overall pick; 12.9 ppg, 4.7 apg) of the Portland Trail Blazers; Keyonte George (11.7 ppg, 34.8 3-Pt.%) of the Utah Jazz.

Team Jalen

Sophomores: Jalen Williams (19.2 ppg, 4.6 apg, 54.4 FG%, 45.3 3-Pt.%) of the Oklahoma City Thunder; Bennedict Mathurin of the Pacers (14.1 ppg, 45.0 FG%, 36.6 3-Pt.%); Walker Kessler (8.5 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 2.8 bpg-2nd NBA, 65.2 FG%) of the Jazz; Shaedon Sharpen (15.9 ppg, 5.0 rpg) of the Trail Blazers, who will not play due to injury and his replacement Jeremy Sochan (11.4 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 3.5 apg, 44.2 FG%) of the Spurs.

Team Detlef

From the NBA’s G League Ignite: Isan Almansa (12.1 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 58.8 FG%), Matas Buzelis (12.9 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 1.7 bpg, 45.5 FG%) Tyler Smith (13.1 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 49.4 FG%), and Ron Holland (20.6 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 2.5 spg, 44.5 FG%), who will not play due to injury and will be replaced by Emoni Bates of the Cleveland Charge (21.7 ppg, 5.7 rpg)

From Oneola Magic: Mac McClung (24.5 pppg, 6.8 apg, 4.6 rpg, 50.4 FG%, 3.9 3-Pt.%)
From Indiana Mad Ants: Oscar Tshiebwe (14.2 ppg, 14.2 rpg)
From Sioux Falls Skyforce: Alondes Williams (20.0 ppg, 6.5 apg, 5.4 rpg, 53.3 FG%, 40.0 3-Pt.%)

Under the format that began in 2022, the Rising Stars event will be a tournament style where Team Jalen will face off against Team Tamika. The winner of the first contest will take on the winner between Team Detlef and Team Pau for the Rising Stars title.

Unlike regular season NBA games that use a clock, these two games will be played with a targeted score.

In the semifinals contest, the first team to reach 40 points wins. In the championship tilt, the targeted score will be 25 points.

Information and statistics are courtesy of 2/16/2024 www.cbssports.com story, “NBA Rising Stars Game 2024: Live Stream, Rosters, Formats, Teams, How To Watch Online, Start Time,” By Sam Quinn; team’s NBA player’s stats from this season from www.espn.com; https://basketball.realgm.com/gleague/teams/NBA-G-League/61/Stats; https://stats.gleague.nba.com/1631214; https://stats.gleague.nba.com/player/1641734; https://stats.gleague.nba.com/1631131; https://stats.gleague.nba.com/1630644; https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rising_Stars_Challenge; https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detlef_Schrempf; https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamika_Catchings; and https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jalen_Rose

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