The NBA Rising Stars Challenge 2024 is like a preview of who the next superstars in the league will be.
This year's edition is not lacking potential superstars. Some even have the case to be included in the All-Star Game stats-wise. The last rookie to make the ASG in his inaugural season was Blake Griffin in 2011.
NBA Rising Stars Challenge Format
The league will continue with a three-game tournament format first introduced in 2022.
Four teams of rookies, sophomores, and the best G-League players will participate in a winner-take-all tourney.
They will be branded as Team A, B, C, and D. It will be A vs B and C vs D. The winner of these two matches will meet in the final game for the title.
They will play for a target final score of 40, but by the final game, the target score goes down 25 points.
NBA Rising Star Teams and Rosters
Los Angeles Lakers legend Pau Gasol, WNBA legend Tamika Catchings, and Jalen Rose were all selected to coach the Rising Star selections. Detlef Schrempf will be the man on the bench for the fourth team, comprised of G-League stars.
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Gasol, Catchings, and Rose held a draft, with Victor Wembanyama naturally getting selected first by the Spanish.
Team Gasol: Wembanyama (Rookie, San Antonio Spurs), Brandon Miller (Rookie, Charlotte Hornets), Brandin Podziemski (Rookie, Golden State Warriors), Jaime Jaquez. Jr. (Rookie, Miami Heat), Jabari Smith Jr. (Sophomore, Houston Rockets), Cason Wallace (Rookie, Oklahoma City Thunder), and Bilal Coulibaly (Rookie, Washington Wizards).
Team Tamika: Paolo Banchero (Sophomore, Orlando Magic), Jaden Ivey (Sophomore, Detroit Pistons), Jalen Duren (Sophomore, Detroit Pistons), Keegan Murray (Sophomore, Sacramento Kings), Scoot Henderson (Rookie, Portland Trail Blazers), Keyonte George (Rookie, Utah Jazz), and Grizzlies' Vince Williams who replaced the injured Dyson Daniels.
Team Jalen: Chet Holmgren (Rookie, Oklahoma City Thunder), Jalen Williams (Sophomore, OKC), Bennedict Mathurin (Sophomore, Indiana Pacers), Shaedon Sharpe (Sophomore, Blazers), Dereck Lively II (Rookie, Mavs), Jordan Hawkins (Rookie, Pelicans), Walker Kessler (Sophomore, Jazz), and Jeremy Sochan (Sophomore, Spurs).
Team Detlef: G-League Ignite's Izan Almansa, Tyler Smith, Matas Buzelis, Ron Holland, Mac McClung (Osceola Magic), Oscar Tshiebwe (Indiana Mad Ants), and Alondes Williams (Sioux Falls Skyforce).
Who's going to be the breakout star and MVP?
Two players are shoo-ins to stand out-Banchero (already selected in the All-Star Game on Sunday) and Wembanyama.
These two players are already playing at a high level on a night-to-night basis compared to other rookies.
Wembanyama is the most exciting and athletic player on any roster because of his out-of-this-world abilities. Fans might be treated to an array of moves only he can pull off.
The Rising Stars Challenge is the time for players to show off, and Wemby got more than enough to pull guard-like skills as he has shown throughout the season.
Banchero, for his part, will feel like a man among boys. He already leads his team in points, rebounds, and assists as they try to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Other players that might stand out are Jaquez, who instantly grew into a rotation player for the Hear, and Holmgren, who can go toe-to-toe with Wemby.
Prediction: Team Pau wins it all. His squad is the most stacked. Aside from Spurs rookie, he also got Brandon Miller and Jabari Smith.
MVP: Wembanyama
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