Deprogrammed last year due to the health context, the ” Rising Stars Challenge” returns during this All-Star Weekend 2022, based on a brand new formula.
This time, it is no longer two teams of ten players each but four teams of seven players who compete in a mini-tournament that uses the format of “Elam Ending”. In order to make this match more attractive, which always brings together the best rookies and the best sophomores. With, as a bonus, some of the best prospects from the Ignite Team (G-League).
For the occasion, four legends were asked to design the different rosters, thanks to a Draft: Rick Barry, Gary Payton, Isiah Thomas and James Worthy. Their players thus confronted each other in two semi-finals (target set at 50 points to win the match) then in a final (target set at 25 points to win the title). With, in the meantime, a “Clutch Challenge” to ignite the audience at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse.
SEMI-FINAL N°1: TEAM ISIAH v. TEAM WORTHY
— Team Isiah Thomas : Tyrese Haliburton, Jaden Hardy, Anthony Edwards, Desmond Bane, Saddiq Bey, Precious Achiuwa, Isaiah Stewart.
— Team James Worthy : Josh Giddey, Cole Anthony, Jalen Suggs, Tyrese Maxey, Jalen Green, MarJon Beauchamp, Herbert Jones.
Unsurprisingly, it’s a match that is in line with the All-Star Weekend festivities: entertainment above all, little defense and a selection of greedy shots on offense.
For Team Worthy, it’s the “Jalen’s” duo, Green and Suggs, who are the most prominent at the start: the two young backs score the first 22 points for their team! On the side of Team Isiah, as a symbol, it is the two young shoots of the Pistons, Isaiah Stewart and Saddiq Bey, who show the way to their team, combining together 17 of the 27 points of their training.
Despite a 10-point deficit, Team Worthy did not give up, caught up and took the lead, with in particular a huge “alley-oop” concluded by Cole Anthony, put into orbit with the board by his Magic teammate , Jalen Suggs. This same Suggs who, a few minutes later, misses an opportunity to offer victory to Team Worthy, on free throws (49-46)…
Not varnished, the former Gonzaga player will then commit, a few possessions later, the fateful fault on Desmond Bane. And the back of the Grizzlies does not tremble on the line, registering his two throws to qualify Team Isiah in the final, despite the attempt to concentrate from Cole Anthony, who lowered his shorts to disturb him (50-49).
SEMI-FINAL N°2: TEAM BARRY v. TEAM PAYTON
— Team Rick Barry : Cade Cunningham, Dyson Daniels, Isaac Okoro, Franz Wagner, Jae’Sean Tate, Evan Mobley, Alperen Sengun.
— Team Gary Payton : LaMelo Ball, Bones Hyland, Ayo Dosunmu, Scoot Henderson, Jonathan Kuminga, Scottie Barnes, Jaden McDaniels.
This second semi-final differs very quickly from the first, because the level of intensity and commitment is much higher. Both teams intend to win the match and it will be necessary to defend to get there. Leaves to forget the show.
For Team Payton, it is the young inside of the Wolves, Jaden McDaniels, who is rapidly gaining strength: he scored 9 of the first 18 points of his formation, led by LaMelo Ball and Scottie Barnes. Opposite, for Team Barry, it is Cade Cunningham and Evan Mobley who hold the house, in turn.
Halfway through, Bones Hyland, replacing Davion Mitchell for the event, had a heat stroke and scored 8 consecutive points, including two award-winning shots. His team, Team Payton, has the momentum and turns to +7, but Team Barry has the answer and, under the impetus of a Cunningham / Mobley duo, intractable on “pick-and-roll”, they iNFLict a 10-0 on their opponents. Taking over the controls.
The end of the match is very intense and physical, which is particularly pleasant to observe for a first evening of All-Star Weekend. Finally, it was Rockets winger Jae’Sean Tate, incidentally a native of Ohio, who sent Team Barry to the final, on a powerful left-hand penetration (50-48)!
Also read: the summary of the “Clutch Challenge”
FINAL: TEAM ISIAH v. TEAM BARRY
— Team Isiah Thomas : Tyrese Haliburton, Jaden Hardy, Anthony Edwards, Desmond Bane, Saddiq Bey, Precious Achiuwa, Isaiah Stewart.
— Team Rick Barry : Cade Cunningham, Dyson Daniels, Isaac Okoro, Franz Wagner, Jae’Sean Tate, Evan Mobley, Alperen Sengun.
Beware of false starts in this final, because you no longer need to score 50 points but 25 to win.
Team Isiah quickly understood this and signed the best start, thanks to its outside address. But as in the semi-finals, Cade Cunningham and Evan Mobley do the work to keep Team Barry in contact. The address is not really there, especially on the side of Team Isiah, but this final has at least the merit of being tight, if not spectacular.
Inside, Precious Achiuwa did a tremendous job to allow Team Isiah to move to +6, a significant gap in this kind of match. Except that the Rockets duo, Jae’Sean Tate – Alperen Sengun, respond to him and Team Barry once again picks up the score (20-20). Suffice to say that the “money-time” promises, as in the two semi-finals, to be tense.
Finally, it is all the class of Cade Cunningham who will make the difference for Team Barry, while the players of Team Isiah chain the errors, at 3-pts and in the management of the ball. From an outside shot, the N ° 1 of the Draft 2021 thus offers a lead of +4 to Team Barry. Team Isiah will not get up again, while it is Franz Wagner who bends the case on a final free throw (25-20).
Allowing, above all, Cade Cunningham to be elected MVP of the “Rising Stars Challenge” 2022, despite competition from an Evan Mobley at home (just like Isaac Okoro). The Pistons point guard compiled 13 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists in the semifinals, before finishing with 5 points, 2 rebounds and 3 assists in the final. Enough to succeed Miles Bridges, winner of this trophy!
