With less than three weeks to Cleveland’s All-Star Weekend, the NBA is starting to announce its attendees for the various events scheduled over the three-day festivities.
And after the names of the alleged participants in the Slam Dunk Contest leaked in the evening, we learned the names of those who will participate in the Rising Stars Challenge. This meeting, which traditionally brings together the rookies and the sophomores.
An enticing set for rookies and sophomores
As for the rookies, there is also no surprise, since we will find the main contenders for the Rookie of the Year trophy. Namely Evan Mobley, Cade Cunningham, Scottie Barnes, Josh Giddey or even Franz Wagner.
Jalen Green will also be present, before torturing the circles during the dunk contest the next day. Ditto for his teammate Alperen Sengun, while the nice surprises Davion Mitchell, Ayo Dosunmu and Herbert Jones will also be there. The set is completed by Jalen Suggs and Chris Duarte.
About the sophomoreswho were unable to participate in the event last year due to Covid-19, they will of course be led by LaMelo Ball, the 2021 Rookie of the Year, and his runner-up Anthony Edwards.
Draft 2020 No. 1 and No. 3 will be accompanied by the obvious Desmond Bane, Tyrese Maxey and Tyrese Haliburton, while the less publicized Saddiq Bey, Isaac Okoro, Jae’Sean Tate, Isaiah Stewart and Jaden McDaniels are also invited by their peers.
Finally, another participant in the Slam Dunk Contest, namely Cole Anthony, will have the opportunity to walk the floor of Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on Friday evening.
With the Scoot Henderson attraction, without Killian Hayes or Theo Maledon…
In the radius of absences among rookies, we can mention the names of Jonathan Kuminga (Warriors), Ziaire Williams (Grizzlies), Bones Hyland (Nuggets) or even Cameron Thomas (Nets). At the sophomoresthose of Immanuel Quickley (Knicks), Obi Toppin (Knicks), Onyeka Okongwu (Hawks) and Deni Avdija (Wizards) but also French Theo Maledon (Thunder) or Killian Hayes (pistons).
It should be noted that, among the novelties of this match, four young leads of the G-League Ignite Team will be able to evolve with their elders.
These are Jaden Hardy, Dyson Daniels as well as MarJon Beauchamp, all called to appear in the 2022 Draft, but also (and above all) Scoot Henderson. A phenomenon that some already imagine as the future n°1 of the 2023 Draft, ahead of the Frenchman Victor Wembanyama…
As a reminder, the 2022 edition of the Rising Stars Challenge will differ from previous ones, because the NBA has decided to use the “Elam Ending” format, for a tournament featuring four teams made up of seven players each. They will face each other first in two semi-finals, then in a final, on February 18th.
In the two semi-finals, the teams will have to reach the score of 50, the first to do so advancing to the final. The two victorious teams will then have to reach a score of 25 during the final meeting, which therefore gives a total of 75 points to win the tournament, in reference to the 75th anniversary of the league.
SELECTED ROOKIES
Scottie Barnes (Raptors) — Cade Cunningham (Pistons) — Ayo Dosunmu (Bulls) — Chris Duarte (Pacers) — Josh Giddey (Thunder) — Jalen Green (Rockets) — Herbert Jones (Pelicans) — Davion Mitchell (Kings) — Evan Mobley (Riders) — Alperen Sengun (Rockets) — Jalen Suggs (Magic) — Franz Wagner (Magic)
SELECTED SOPHOMORES
Precious Achiuwa (Raptors) — Cole Anthony (Magic) — LaMelo Ball (Hornets) — Desmond Bane (Grizzlies) — Saddiq Bey (Pistons) — Anthony Edwards (Wolves) — Tyrese Haliburton (Kings) — Tyrese Maxey (Sixers) — Jaden McDaniels (Wolves) — Isaac Okoro (Horsemen) — Isaiah Stewart (Pistons) — Jae’Sean Tate (Rockets)
SELECTED G-LEAGUE PROSPECTS
MarJon Beauchamp — Dyson Daniels — Jaden Hardy — Scoot Henderson
