NBA

Our All-Access Guide To Everything You Need To Know For The 2023 Jordan Rising Stars Festivities

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Zach Wolpin
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Zach Wolpin Sports Editor

Zach Wolpin is an NBA and NFL expert who's been betting on the league for over three years now. Wolpin has been a fan of the NBA and has been watching for a decade and a half. He covers the latest news and stories surrounding the league daily. His passion in life is watching sports and being able to share that through his sports writing. He has written about the NBA and other sports leagues through various media outlets over the years like Sir Charles In Charge, G-Men HQ, and TAP into South Plainfield. Before he became an NBA News Writer, Wolpin attended Montclair State University where he graduated in 2021. He studied Sports Media and Writing while in school.

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Sports Editor

Updated01 Feb 2023

Jordan Rising star pic

The beauty of the all-star weekend festivities is that a number of players around the league get a chance to showcase their talent. Whether it’s the all-star game, dunk or three-point contest, and even the Jordan Rising Stars players, they all want to put on a show for the fans watching. With the Jordan Rising Stars game approaching on 2/17, the NBA announced the pool of players who were selected to participate. 

Last season the NBA introduced an all-new format for the Jordan Rising Stars game and they’ll be keeping the same format into this years festivities. It’s going to feature a three-game min-tournament with four teams showcasing the leagues best young talent across the NBA and G League.

All-star weekend is in Salt Lake City this year.

The 72nd annual all-star game is in Salt Lake City this season

There were a total of 28 players selected to compete in Jordan Rising stars festivities. A total of 11 NBA rookies, 10 NBA sophomores, and seven G League players. Twenty-one of the players are from the NBA and they were selected by NBA assistant coaches. They will be drafted onto three seven-player teams.

The other seven G League participants were selected by the league’s front office and they will be the fourth and final team for the Jordan Rising Stars. Players were chosen on a point’s system that was voted on by all 30 teams, but they assistant coaches could not vote for players on their own team. Here’s who made the cut.

Rookies:

  • Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic
  • Jalen Duren, Detroit Pistons
  • AJ Griffin, Atlanta Hawks
  • Jaden Ivey, Detroit Pistons
  • Walker Kessler, Utah Jazz
  • Bennedict Mathurin, Indiana Pacers
  • Keegan Murray, Sacramento Kings
  • Andrew Nembhard, Indiana Pacers
  • Jabari Smith Jr., Houston Rockets
  • Jeremy Sochan, San Antonio Spurs
  • Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder

Sophomores:

  • Jose Alvarado, New Orleans Pelicans
  • Scottie Barnes, Toronto Raptors
  • Josh Giddey, Oklahoma City Thunder
  • Jalen Green, Houston Rockets
  • Quentin Grimes, New York Knicks
  • Bones Hyland, Denver Nuggets
  • Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers
  • Trey Murphy III, New Orleans Pelicans
  • Alperen Sengun, Houston Rockets
  • Franz Wagner, Orlando Magic

G League:

  • Sidy Cissoko, G League Ignite
  • Scoot Henderson, G League Ignite
  • Mojave King, G League Ignite
  • Kenneth Lofton Jr., Memphis Hustle
  • Mac McClung, Deleware Blue Coats
  • Leonard Miller, G League Ignite
  • Scotty Pippen Jr., South Bay Lakers

Coaching the team compromised of NBA rookies and sophomores are Pau Gasol, Joakim Noah, and Deron Williams. The G League team will be coached by current Utah Jazz assistant head coach Jason Terry. Joe Mazzulla of the Boston Celtics was selected to coach team Giannis in the all-star game, but tea LeBron’s head coach is yet to be determined.