Tag: 2023 Rising Stars

2023 All-Star Weekend Journal: How it was like covering the event

What it was like covering All-Star weekend in Utah.

SALT LAKE CITY — I was fortunate enough to be credentialed for the entire 2023 All-Star Weekend thanks to USA Today’s Sports Media Group.

I stayed in Salt Lake City, Utah, for roughly five days and was granted access to all of the events and media availabilities. I attended Friday’s Rising Stars contest, Saturday’s multiple events headlined by the Dunk Contest and Sunday’s All-Star game.

In terms of work, I was there mainly to focus on the three Oklahoma City Thunder representatives, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Josh Giddey and Jalen Williams. The former was making his first All-Star appearance. The latter two were participating in the Rising Stars challenge.

Being credentialed for All-Star weekend was one of my career highlights.

All-Star weekend celebrated the unofficial halfway mark of the regular season where only the best players in the league are invited. The fact that the Thunder had three representatives is a hugely positive sign of where the young core is going.

Because of that, I want to share my experience with the readers on what it was like covering the All-Star extravaganza from a first-hand perspective.

I have broken it down by days and am listing events in chronological order.

2023 Rising Stars: Josh Giddey, Jalen Williams lose in final

Recapping the 2023 Rising Stars event as Josh Giddey & Jalen Williams lose in the finals.

SALT LAKE CITY — Oklahoma City Thunder duo Josh Giddey and Jalen Williams almost tasted victory in the Rising Stars challenge.

Giddey and Williams advanced to the 2023 Rising Stars final following Team Joakim Noah’s 40-32 win over Team Jason Terry, which consisted of G League players.

In the final, Team Noah faced Team Pau Gasol and lost 25-20. The semifinal games had a target score of 40 points while the final had a target score of 25 points.

New Orleans Pelicans sophomore wing Jose Alvarado was named Rising Stars MVP following his team’s win, which included him hitting the dagger shot.

Let’s recap both games in terms of what Giddey and Williams did along with what they had to say following their five-point loss in the finals.

2023 Rising Stars: Josh Giddey & Jalen Williams media availability recap

The biggest takeaways from the Rising Stars media availabilities.

SALT LAKE CITY — The Rising Stars media availability was held on Friday morning with members from all four teams speaking with reporters.

This includes Josh Giddey and Jalen Williams, who will share a team together on Joakim Noah’s team.

The Rising Stars challenge will be a four-team tournament held on Friday with a target score of 40 points for the semi-finals and a target score of 25 points for the finals.

The Oklahoma City Thunder duo participated in the event. Let’s take a look at some of the best quotes and paraphrases from their media availabilities and their general thoughts on being involved in All-Star weekend.

2023 Rising Stars: Josh Giddey and Jalen Williams drafted onto Joakim Noah’s team

Josh Giddey & Jalen Williams stay on the same team.

The NBA held the Rising Stars draft with Pau Gasol, Deron Williams and Joakim Noah selecting their teams.

This year’s Rising Stars challenge will be a four-team tournament. Each of the three former players will coach a team, and Jason Terry will lead the G League team.

The Oklahoma City Thunder have two representatives among the first-and-second-year players, Josh Giddey and Jalen Williams.

Noah selected Giddey with the fourth pick of the snake draft. Noah selected Williams with the ninth pick.

Giddey and Williams will be joined by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as Thunder players participating in the All-Star weekend.

Here are the full rosters:

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