A team of G Leaguers threatened to crash Sunday’s NBA All-Star party from Friday’s Rising Stars tournament, but Chris Mullins’ team of NBA players ultimately prevailed.
Team G League, coached by Jeremy Lin, beat a team of young NBA stars coached by Mitch Richmond in the semifinals, then took a 12-8 lead against Mullins’ team in the final, which was played to a target score of 25.
But Mullins’ team found its shooting stroke en route to a 17-2 run and a 25-14 win to advance to Sunday’s All-Star tournament. Second-year Jazz guard Keyonte George capped the run and the win with a transition 3-pointer on a pass from Spurs rookie Stephon Castle, who was named the Rising Stars MVP.
The game-winner was George’s only bucket of the final after he led his team in scoring in the semifinals. Castle led the team with 12 of its 25 points in the final after hitting the game-winner in the semifinal round. Castle earned MVP honors for his effort.
Mullins’ Team C will take on Team Shaq in the semifinals of Sunday’s All-Star tournament in the NBA’s latest effort to revise its All-Star format into something more competitive. Candace Parker will take over to coach the team on Sunday against O’Neal’s team, featuring LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant.
Keyonte George led his team in scoring in the semifinals, then hit the game-winning 3 in the final to advance to Sunday’s All-Star tournament. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Sunday’s four-team tournament will mirror Friday’s Rising Stars showcase that crowned one team out of four from a three-game mini-tournament. Friday’s games featured three teams of first- and second-year NBA players and a fourth made up of players from the G League, who pulled off a stunner in the semifinals.
The three teams of NBA players were coached by the iconic former Warriors trio of Tim Hardaway, Mitch Richmond and Mullin, who were collectively dubbed “Run TMC” during their late ’80s and early ’90s playing days together in Golden State.
Their teams were appropriately named Team T, Team M and Team C. Lin coached Team G League, which advanced to the final on Friday by beating Richmond’s Team M in the semifinals. Friday’s semifinal games were played to a target score of 40 points, while the final was a sprint to 25.
Team C’s reward is a Sunday date with with a team dubbed Shaq’s OGs, featuring some of the best players of their era. Damian Lillard, James Harden, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Kyrie Irving join James, Curry and Durant on Team Shaq.
In the other half of Sunday’s All-Star bracket, Charles Barkley’s Team Chuck will take on Kenny Smith’s Team Kenny. The winners will advance to the All-Star tournament final. While Team Shaq features All-Star veterans, Team Kenny features young stars of the NBA, and Team Chuck features some of the league’s international All-Stars.
Team Kenny (All-Star draft selection in parentheses)
Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves (2)
Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks (6)
Jaren Jackson Jr., Memphis Grizzlies (7)Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder (11)
Darius Garland, Cleveland Cavaliers (15)
Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers (16)
Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons (20)
Tyler Herro, Miami Heat (24)
vs.
Team Chuck
Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets (3)Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks (replacing Giannis Antetokounmpo, 4)
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder (8)
Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs (12)
Pascal Siakam, Indiana Pacers (13)
Alperen Şengün, Houston Rockets (17)
Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks (21)
Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers (22)
Team Shaq
LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers (1)Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors (5)
Kyrie Irving, Dallas Mavericks (replacing Anthony Davis, 9)
Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics (10)
Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns (14)Damian Lillard, Bucks (18)
James Harden, Los Angeles Clippers (19)
Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics (23)
vs.
Team Candace
Stephon Castle, San Antonio SpursRyan Dunn, Phoenix SunsZach Edey, Memphis GrizzliesKeyonte George, Utah JazzTrayce Jackson-Davis, Golden State WarriorsDalton Knecht, Los Angeles LakersJaylen Wells, Memphis Grizzlies
Amen Thompson, Houston Rockets (added by Parker after Friday’s games)
In the second semifinal, Team G League shocked Richmond’s team of NBA players in a 40-39 win to advance to the final. Team G League opened a 20-16 lead, then rallied from a 36-33 deficit to nab the win. Pistons second-year wing Ausar Thompson missed four free throws on two separate trips to the stripe with his team leading 37-35.
The misses ultimately gave Team G League a look at a game-winning 3, which Trail Blazers G Leaguer Bryce McGowens hit despite shooting off-balance after getting Wizards rookie Bub Carrington to bite on a pump fake.
McGowens finished the game with 12 points, while Timberwolves G Leaguer Leonard Miller led the way with 14 points and seven rebounds.
Mullin’s Team C beat Hardaway’s Team T in the first game of the night with George leading the way. George scored a team-high 10 points while hitting two of his four 3-point attempts in Team C’s 40-34 win.
Castle sealed the win with a pull-up jumper from the elbow over rookie Wizards center Alex Sarr. Castle waved goodbye after hitting the shot.
Second-year Raptors guard Gradey Dick led Team T with a game-high 12 points in the losing effort.