The Rising Stars Game is one of the staple events in the All Star weekend festivities as the future young stars in the league have the platform to showcase their skills to the national audience. Since the last few years, it has lacked the excitement and uniqueness for the fans to glue themselves on the couch for the whole game. As a Friday night event, they implemented a whole new format for this year in the hopes of bringing in brand new excitement.
There will be four teams comprised of seven players each as there will be 12 rookies, 12 sophomores, and the new insertion of four G-League athletes. It could add a new flavor and interest to the die-hard NBA fans as the players may have extra motivation to win and vie for the Rising Stars MVP award. Miles Bridges was the last MVP winner in the 2020 iteration, but here are a few names to keep an eye on for the 2022 edition.
Similar to Bridges' style of play, his teammate LaMelo Ball will bring the razzle-dazzle an exhibition match such as the Rising Stars Game calls for as he will chuck it up from long range and dish it off with alley-oop jams to his teammates. His swag and charisma is perfect for the bright lights of the All Star weekend as he is not timid of the attention he will receive from the media and fans.
In an iconic high school highlight, Ball even pointed on the half court line and converted a shot from way downtown. It is not a far-fetched possibility for Ball to attempt these kinds of shots as it will be an easier path to rack up over 20 points in this prestigious match. Additionally, his handles are top notch in the association as his opponents could be susceptible to getting ankle broken or being on the highlight reel.
Another individual who has constant appearances on House of Highlights or SportsCenter Top 10 plays is talented Houston Rockets guar Jalen Green. He has been struggling in the midst of his rookie campaign, especially before his 14-game absence due to a hamstring injury. Even with his subpar season, the Rising Stars Game is a massive opportunity for Green to extremely raise the attention of casual fans.
With Green competing in the Slam Dunk contest on Saturday night, he could bring home two trophies in two nights. He is already the utmost favorite for the aforementioned competition, but one could imagine how he could flourish with a point guard like Ball, Cade Cunningham, or Tyrese Haliburton on his team. With little defense being played, Green has incredible energy to just sprint toward the rim on every possession for him to collect a ton of points and raise the eyebrows of every person watching this game.
This could be an underrated or unexpected selection for the Rising Stars Game MVP, but Cole Anthony is one individual who does not lack any sort of confidence. In just his sophomore season, Anthony has already swished a few memorable game winners for the Orlando Magic. He will not be shy to just get the ball on this night and add to his point total in various spectacular fashions.
Anthony's personality resonates on the casual fans despite being in a small-market franchise. Even with injuries surrounding him this season, his numbers and impact on Orlando has vastly improved from his rookie season as he is continually progressing toward a starting caliber point guard in the league. Moreover, Anthony's post game interviews with the Magic are some of the funniest and most entertaining content that could stand out in the All Star weekend as well.
With guards being chosen as plausible winners of this rare award, it is the position that makes most sense because they handle the ball for majority of the game. Additionally, these two draft classes have been amazing that their guards would prioritize having the eye balls of the fans on them. More than the knowledge and IQ of the game, one must realize that the Rising Stars Game is in dire need of a plethora of exciting plays and historical highlights.
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