Tag: Jaden Ivey

NBA All-Star 2023: Participants for Skills Challenge, 3-Point, Dunk Contest

The NBA on Tuesday unveiled the participants for the Skills Challenge, 3-Point Contest and Slam Dunk Contest at All-Star Weekend.

The NBA on Tuesday unveiled the participants for the Skills Challenge, 3-Point Contest and Slam Dunk Contest on Feb. 18 during All-Star Weekend in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The weekend will get underway on Friday with the Celebrity game and the Rising Stars competition at 9 p.m. EST. The events conclude on Sunday with the G League Next Up Game at 3 p.m. EST and the 72nd All-Star Game at 8:30 p.m. EST.

The festivities on All-Star Saturday night will begin at 8 p.m. EST and will be televised on TNT starting with the Skills Challenge. The second event will be the 3-Point Contest with the Slam Dunk Contest wrapping up the evening at Vivint Arena.

NBA Rising Stars 2023: Full rosters revealed in draft announcement

The NBA on Tuesday unveiled the four seven-player teams for the 2023 NBA Rising Stars game.

The NBA on Tuesday unveiled the four seven-player teams for the 2023 NBA Rising Stars competition set to take place on Feb. 17 as part of All-Star Weekend in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The showcase will feature four seven-player teams competing in a mini-tournament consisting of three games for the second straight year. Each game will be played to a final target score, meaning a game will end with a made basket or a made free throw instead of a running clock.

The pool of 28 players for the game consists of 11 first-year players, 10 second-year players and seven players from the G League. The rookies and sophomores were selected by assistant coaches, and the G League players were chosen by the league office.

The G League players will comprise one of the four teams.

The three teams from the NBA will be coached by Pau Gasol, Joakim Noah and Deron Williams. The three former players each selected seven players to their teams on Tuesday in an order determined by career All-Star appearances: Gasol (6), Williams (3) and Noah (2).

Here are the four rosters for the NBA Rising Stars competition.

Pistons’ Jaden Ivey crosses major career benchmark in latest effort

Ivey led the Pistons in scoring and reached a major career benchmark in a win over the Hornets.

Jaden Ivey led the Detroit Pistons in scoring and reached a major career benchmark in the process on Friday in a win over the visiting Charlotte Hornets.

Ivey produced 24 points, seven assists, three rebounds and one blocked shot in the 118-112 victory for their second win in four games. He shot 8-of-11 from the field, including 4-of-4 from 3-point range, in 29 minutes of work.

With the performance, Ivey became the only rookie in the NBA to reach 700 points, 200 rebounds and 200 assists this season. He is just the ninth first-year player to reach those numbers through his first 49 career games over the last 15 years.

The effort by Ivey was likely his best overall game of the season. It was his third time hitting four 3s in a game this season. He also had only one turnover and picked his spots on offense of when to score and when to facilitate.

 

The fifth pick was among the 11 first-year players selected to the NBA Rising Stars game at All-Star Weekend after averaging 15.3 points, 4.5 assists and 4.1 rebounds. He leads the rookie class in assists and is third in scoring.

The rookie campaign by Ivey has had its ups and downs, but the 20-year-old is seemingly improving each night and is looking to be a franchise cornerstone for the Pistons. He showed that on Friday night.

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NBA Rising Stars 2023: Player pool revealed for annual showcase

The NBA on Tuesday unveiled the list of 28 players set to participate in the annual Rising Stars game on Feb. 17.

The NBA on Tuesday unveiled the list of 28 players set to participate in the annual Rising Stars game on Feb. 17 as part of All-Star Weekend in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The showcase game will feature four seven-player teams competing in a mini-tournament consisting of three games for the second straight year. Each game will be played to a final target score, meaning a game will end with a made basket or a made free throw instead of a running clock.

The pool of 28 players for the game consists of 11 first-year players, 10 second-year players and seven players from the G League. The rookies and sophomores were selected by assistant coaches and the G League players were chosen by the league office.

The 21 NBA players were selected by assistant coaches across the league. Each team submitted a rookie ballot and sophomore ballot featuring four frontcourt players, four guards and two additional players of any position, in order of preference.

The three NBA teams will be coached by Pau Gasol, Joakim Noah and Deron Williams. Jazz assistant coach Jason Terry, who previously coached the Grand Rapids Gold, will lead the G League team. Assistants from the All-Star Game staffs will also coach in the event.

TNT will televise the competition beginning at 9 p.m. EST.

Rookie Power Rankings: Bennedict Mathurin swipes the top spot with recent play

Rookie Wire took a look at the top first-year players over the last two weeks of the 2022-23 season.

The term “rookie wall” is often used to describe how first-year players may hit a roadblock in the midst of their seasons as they adjust to the 82-game schedule and increased competition level in the NBA.

With teams well into the second halves of their schedules, some rookies appear to be slowing down of late. However, there are others that are seemingly heating up at the moment and are continuing to play at a high level.

Indiana’s Bennedict Mathurin fits that bill.

The sixth pick (more on him below) is coming off one of his best outings of the season on Tuesday to lead the Pacers to a win over Chicago. The group snapped a seven-game losing streak with the win to set up a prime rookie matchup on Wednesday against Paolo Banchero and the Magic.

To make sense of it all, we looked at the best recent performances of these first-year players and ranked them in the latest edition of the Rookie Wire Power Rankings. The rankings are not for Rookie of the Year purposes but, rather, to illustrate the best players week to week.

It’s been a challenging NBA start for Johnny Davis

It’s been a challenging NBA start for Johnny Davis

As a member of the Badgers last season, Johnny Davis was the recipient of the Big Ten Player of the Year award. The guard averaged 19.7 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.2 steals per game in his sophomore season with Wisconsin. He was able to beat out the likes of Keegan Murray and Jaden Ivey to earn the top honors in the conference.

Davis leveraged the fantastic season into being selected 10th overall by the Washington Wizards in the 2022 NBA Draft. Going from being a freshman who didn’t start a game to being a top-10 selection in under two years was quite the accomplishment.

That being said, Davis has had a difficult start to his NBA career and as we’ve passed the mid-way point in the season, the guard has had little-to-no impact at the professional level this year.

Davis has struggled to see much action in his rookie campaign, appearing in only 10 games with the Wizards so far, scoring a total of 11 points over 50 minutes. He’s bounced back and forth between the G-League’s Capital City Go-Go and the active roster.

The 20-year-old has played in three games with the Go-Go, averaging 11.3 points and 3.3 rebounds while playing nearly 28 minutes per contest in his limited action. Over the past month, the former Badger has been nursing a hip injury and is expected to make his return to the court in the near future.

Although it has been a tough start to his career, the Wizards’ head coach Wes Unseld Jr. has been impressed with the composure Davis has shown and is encouraged by the guard’s development this season.

With a little under half of the season remaining, Davis will likely get a chance to see extended run with the Go-Go and could earn himself a role on the Wizards’ roster down the stretch.

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Rookie Power Rankings: Paolo Banchero reigns supreme at the halfway point

Rookie Wire took a look at the top first-year players over the last two weeks of the 2022-23 season.

The season is at the halfway point as most teams around the NBA have played at least half of their 82 games as the schedule heads toward a jam-packed lineup on Monday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

With the first half of the season in the books, the basketball community has received a great look at the current rookie class. While Paolo Banchero and Bennedict Mathurin have separated themselves as the top two players, others have had great performances, as well.

Banchero is the overwhelming favorite to win Rookie of the Year with Mathurin behind him in second. It looks to be down to those two players for the annual award, while the race to fill the two All-Rookie teams should be much more competitive.

To make sense of it all, we looked at the best recent performances of these first-year players and ranked them in the latest edition of the Rookie Wire Power Rankings. The rankings are not for Rookie of the Year purposes but, rather, to illustrate the best players week to week.

Jaden Ivey not interested in participating in Slam Dunk Contest

Ivey is reportedly not interested in participating in the Slam Dunk Contest next month at All-Star Weekend.

Detroit Pistons rookie Jaden Ivey is reportedly not interested in participating in the Slam Dunk Contest next month at All-Star Weekend, according to Mike Curtis of The Detroit News.

Ivey said that he hasn’t been formally asked to take part in the festivities, but would have declined the invitation in order to preserve himself for the second half of the season. Pistons teammate Hamidou Diallo, who won the contest in 2019, will also skip the event.

The fifth pick entered the league highly touted for his athleticism and ability as a dunker, which would have made him a good candidate to participate in the event. He will instead be a spectator this year.

Portland Trail Blazers rookie Shaedon Sharpe and Houston Rockets guard KJ Martin have committed to participate in the event on Feb. 18 in Salt Lake City, Utah. They will likely be joined by at least two more players to be named.

New York Knicks forward Obi Toppin won the event last year after out-dunking Cole Anthony, Jalen Green and Juan Toscano-Anderson in Cleveland, Ohio. Green could be a candidate to participate again. He expressed interest in doing so after losing last year.

Voting for the All-Star Game runs through Saturday, Jan. 21.

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Pistons’ Dwane Casey explains the progress of Jaden Ivey

Starting in the NBA as a rookie can be tough, but the Pistons are seeing progress with Ivey this season.

Jaden Ivey has emerged as one of the most productive first-year players this season with the Detroit Pistons, and head coach Dwane Casey can see progress with the fifth pick.

Ivey is averaging 14.9 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists on 40.9% shooting from the field in 39 games. He leads all rookies in assists and is third in scoring and steals. His 160 total assists are the fifth-most by a Pistons rookie through 39 games.

Of course, there have been some learning moments for Ivey.

The former Purdue standout was thrust into a bit of a larger role than likely expected this season with the injury to Cade Cunningham. He is the lead ballhandler as a starter for the Pistons and boasts a 24.1 usage percentage and just a 1.5 assist-to-turnover ratio.

Casey explained the progression of Ivey through the ups and downs.

He has made progress. Like all young guys, it’s not going to happen overnight. He has made some steps but still has steps to go, like all young players his age. The intensity is there, it’s just the knowledge of what to do. Sometimes there’s paralysis through analysis. Sometimes when athletes like that think too much they’re paralyzed. I think he’s guilty of trying to absorb so much information. We try not to give him too much. It is a tough responsibility to start in this league as a rookie.

Ivey leads the rookie class in turnovers (107) and is 18th among all players. The injury to Cunningham prompted the team to lean on Ivey more at the point guard spot. He entered the season known more as a two-guard and the circumstances this year created quite a learning curve for him.

Certainly, the playing time for Ivey at point guard will help him adjust to the improved competition. The team is still in the development stages with so many young players on the roster, giving Ivey and others the ability to play through mistakes.

Ivey has been electric on the court this season and is emerging as a cornerstone player for the team. It will be worth monitoring through the second half of the season how Ivey can continue to adjust to the league and how he can improve.

Note: Ky Carlin of Sixers Wire contributed to this story

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Rookie Power Rankings: Jaden Ivey is efficiently finding his way for Pistons

Rookie Wire took a look at the top first-year players over the last two weeks of the 2022-23 season.

The 2022-23 season is through the much-anticipated Christmas Day slate of games as the NBA schedule progresses toward the start of a new year.

The rookie class looks to be rounding into form with several first-year players performing at a high level. The latest group of standouts includes several high picks along with others drafted down the board emerging.

To make sense of it all, we looked at the best recent performances of these first-year players and ranked them in the latest edition of the Rookie Wire Power Rankings. The rankings are not for Rookie of the Year purposes but, rather, to illustrate the best players week to week.