Tag: Rising Stars

2024 NBA Rising Stars: Jabari Smith Jr. to represent Rockets at All-Star Weekend

Sophomore forward Jabari Smith Jr. will represent the Rockets in Friday’s Rising Stars challenge at the NBA’s 2024 All-Star Weekend.

On Friday night, 28 players will compete in the NBA’s 2024 Panini Rising Stars challenge. The event takes place at Indianapolis’ Gainbridge Fieldhouse as part of the league’s 2024 All-Star Weekend.

The annual showcase of young talent, featuring a mini-tournament with four teams and three games, airs live at 8 p.m. Central on TNT.

For the Houston Rockets, Jabari Smith Jr. is the lone representative. Fellow second-year forward Tari Eason likely would have joined Smith, but he’s been out due to a leg injury for more than a month and has missed more than half of Houston’s 2023-24 season to date.

Smith, 20, is averaging 13.2 points (45.9% FG, 35.9% on 3-pointers) and 8.4 rebounds in 31.6 minutes per game this season. The 6-foot-11 forward was drafted third overall in 2022.

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Rookies Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore have played increasingly well in recent weeks, but the Rising Stars vote took place at an earlier point in the season. Their recent improvements didn’t come in time to be sufficiently factored in by voters.

Here’s a look at the key details entering Friday night:

Jabari Smith Jr. to rep Rockets at NBA Rising Stars; Cam Whitmore, Amen Thompson left out

Jabari Smith Jr. is among the sophomores chosen for the NBA’s Rising Stars event at All-Star Weekend, but rookies Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore were left out.

On Tuesday, the NBA announced the 28 players who have earned spots to compete in the 2024 Panini Rising Stars challenge. The event will take place on Friday, Feb. 16, at Indianapolis’ Gainbridge Fieldhouse as an official part of the league’s 2024 All-Star Weekend.

The annual showcase of young talent, featuring a mini-tournament with four teams and three games, airs live at 8 p.m. Central on TNT.

In selecting players for the Rising Stars event, each NBA team submitted one ballot per coaching staff.  Each coaching staff selected four frontcourt players, four guards, and two additional players at either position, in order of preference, for rookies and sophomores. Coaches were not permitted to vote for any player on their team.

The NBA participants were determined by the total points each player received from the ballots. Points were awarded based on where a player was ranked on each ballot. The player pool includes one more rookie than sophomore based on total points received.

For the Houston Rockets, Jabari Smith Jr. is the lone representative. Fellow second-year forward Tari Eason likely would have joined Smith, but he’s been out due to a leg injury for the past month and has missed approximately half of Houston’s 2023-24 season to date.

A 6-foot-11, 220-pound forward, Smith is averaging 13.8 points (47.8% FG, 38.3% on 3-pointers) and 8.7 rebounds per game this season. He’s also one of Houston’s most valuable defensive players. Smith and Eason were both on the rookie Rising Stars roster last season, while Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun were in the sophomore group.

As for 2023-24, rookies Cam Whitmore and Amen Thompson have played very well in recent games, but neither was among the 11 rookies selected. Thompson missed most of Houston’s first six weeks of the season with an ankle injury, while Whitmore didn’t consistently join Houston’s rotation until approximately mid-January.

Thus, their surge may have come a bit too late for it to be properly accounted for in voting conducted by opposing coaches.

Unlike the previous two seasons, the 2023-24 Rockets (22-24) are much more competitive, which has also made it more difficult for rookies to earn consistent playing time to put up gaudy statistics.

Read on for the full rosters, teams, and more details on the format, as well as key numbers on Smith’s sophomore season in Houston.

NFLPA names Saints’ Chris Olave a 2023 Rising Star

The NFLPA named New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave a 2023 Rising Star, identifying him as one of the league’s bright young standouts | @DillySanders

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The NFL Player’s association recently threw some credit towards sophomore New Orleans Saints WR Chris Olave’s name by selecting him for their 2023 Rising Stars Veterans list. Olave is the third receiver on the list behind Garrett Wilson and George Pickens. While the Wilson ranking makes sense and tracks with everything we’ve seen from the last season, Pickens was a surprising name to see above Olave.

Here is the NFLPA’s explanation for their list criteria:

The annual NFLPA Rising Stars list identifies top Rookies and Veterans poised to have breakout seasons, gain fan support and ultimately rank among the top-sellers of all officially licensed player merchandise.

Pickens being included in that list does make more sense when you consider the player merchandise aspect, as Steelers fans have shown a propensity to buy a lot of jerseys. There were three Steelers mentioned in the last top 50 list released by the NFLPA, and no Saints.

However, Olave is coming off an amazing rookie campaign with 72 catches for 1,042 yards and four touchdown receptions. All while playing with some ‘sub-par’ quarterback play all season long. Another season playing at the top of a position could be key in getting Olave up in the jersey sales list and more popular around the league as a whole.

He started to make a push as a rookie, making the PFWA All-Rookie team, but was not able to secure the Rookie of the Year award away from his college teammate Garrett Wilson. Maybe this season, playing with Derek Carr, we could see an even better season from the Ohio State standout.

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2023 NBA All-Star events: When and how to watch the young Rockets

Jabari Smith Jr., KJ Martin, Tari Eason, and Alperen Sengun will lead a healthy #Rockets contingent in the NBA’s 2023 All-Star weekend festivities. Here’s when and what to watch for.

Second-year center Alperen Sengun, rookie forwards Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason, and third-year forward KJ Martin will represent the Houston Rockets in three events at the NBA’s 2023 All-Star weekend. Second-year guard Jalen Green was scheduled to, but he no longer will due to the left groin strain that he suffered on Wednesday.

Sengun, Eason, and Smith will play in Friday’s Rising Stars event, while Smith will also participate in Saturday’s Skills Challenge. Martin is one of four NBA players taking part in Saturday’s flagship event — the annual dunk contest to conclude the evening.

With the NBA’s worst record, the young and rebuilding Rockets (13-45) understandably won’t have any representatives in Sunday’s actual All-Star Game. But their widespread representation in many of the other events designed to spotlight the league’s young talent should provide hope that better days are ahead for the franchise.

Here’s a look at specific details for each All-Star event.

Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr. drafted for NBA’s Rising Stars

#Rockets prospects Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun, and Jabari Smith Jr. were drafted in that order for the NBA’s Rising Stars tournament at All-Star weekend. Here’s a look at the results.

Rookie Jabari Smith Jr. and second-year prospects Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun are representing the Houston Rockets in the annual Rising Stars event, as part of the NBA’s 2023 All-Star weekend. The mini-tournament will take place on Friday, Feb. 17, in Salt Lake City.

Rising Stars tournament games will be played to a target score, meaning each game will be won on a shot or free throw instead of the clock running out. The first two games will be played to 40 points, and the final game between the winners will be played to 25 points.

On Tuesday, the 21 active players (11 rookies, 10 sophomores) who were selected to the event by NBA assistant coaches were drafted onto three seven-player teams. Seven G League players selected by the league office will comprise the fourth team.

Former NBA players Pau Gasol, Joakim Noah, Deron Williams and Jason Terry are serving as honorary head coaches, while assistant coaches from the NBA All-Star Game coaching staffs will join them.

In a seven-round format, Gasol, Noah, and Williams each drafted their NBA teams on Tuesday afternoon. Here’s a look at how it all went down, including where each Rockets player went in the order. Green and Sengun will be teammates for Team Deron.

Jabari Smith Jr., Alperen Sengun, Jalen Green to represent Rockets in NBA’s Rising Stars tournament

Between Alperen Sengun, Jalen Green, and Jabari Smith Jr., the #Rockets are the only team with three players in the NBA’s Rising Stars tournament at All-Star weekend.

Rookie Jabari Smith Jr. and second-year prospects Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun will represent the Houston Rockets in the Rising Stars event, which is part of the NBA’s 2023 All-Star weekend, on Friday, Feb. 17.

The 21 NBA players (11 rookies, 10 sophomores) who were selected to the event by NBA assistant coaches will be drafted onto three seven-player teams. Seven NBA G League players selected by the league office comprise the fourth team.

To select the 21 NBA players, each NBA team submitted a rookie ballot and sophomore ballot featuring four frontcourt players, four guards and two more players of any position in order of preference. Coaches were not allowed to vote for any player on their team.

Points were awarded based on where a player was ranked on each ballot, and the players with the highest total points made the cut.

Former NBA players Pau Gasol, Joakim Noah, Deron Williams and Jason Terry will serve as honorary head coaches, while assistant coaches from the NBA All-Star Game coaching staffs will join them.

Rising Stars tournament games will be played to a target score, meaning each game will be won on a shot or free throw instead of the clock running out. The first two games will be played to 40 points, and the final game between the winners will be played to 25 points.

The rebuilding Rockets, who are among the youngest teams this season, are the only NBA team with three players in the competition.

Entering February, key 2022-23 season statistics (on a per-game basis) for Houston’s prospect trio are as follows:

  • Green: 21.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 34.6 minutes
  • Sengun: 15.5 points, 8.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 28.0 minutes
  • Smith: 11.9 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.0 blocks, 29.6 minutes

Third-year forward KJ Martin is also expected to take part in the annual slam dunk contest.

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Rising Stars updates: How Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun, and Jae’Sean Tate fared

Three young Rockets (Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun, Jae’Sean Tate) are taking the big stage Friday at the NBA’s Rising Stars tournament for All-Star Weekend. Here’s our live blog on how they’re doing.

Second-year forward Jae’Sean Tate and rookies Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun are representing the Houston Rockets at the NBA’s 2022 All-Star weekend. The rookies and sophomores in Friday’s official Rising Stars tournament in Cleveland were chosen by current NBA assistant coaches, with each of the league’s 30 teams submitting one ballot per staff.

The new Rising Stars format split players into four seven-man teams, with each competing in a three-game mini-tournament. Twelve rookies, 12 sophomores, and four G League Ignite players were selected.

The Rockets joined Detroit (Cade Cunningham, Saddiq Bey, Isaiah Stewart) and Orlando (Jalen Suggs, Franz Wagner, Cole Anthony) as the only NBA teams to with three representatives in the contest.

Scroll on for highlights, interviews, and real-time reaction related to the performances of all three Houston players on Friday night.

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2022 NBA Rising Stars tournament: When and how to watch the young Rockets

Rockets rookies Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun, along with second-year forward Jae’Sean Tate, are all taking part in Friday’s Rising Stars tournament at the NBA’s 2022 All-Star Weekend.

Second-year forward Jae’Sean Tate and rookies Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun will represent the Houston Rockets at the NBA’s 2022 All-Star weekend. The rookies and sophomores in Friday’s official Rising Stars tournament in Cleveland were chosen by current NBA assistant coaches, with each of the league’s 30 teams submitting one ballot per staff.

Green, the No. 2 pick by the Rockets from the 2021 NBA draft, will also participate in Saturday’s All-Star slam dunk contest.

The new Rising Stars format splits players into four seven-man teams, with each competing in a three-game mini-tournament. Twelve rookies, 12 sophomores, and four G League Ignite players were selected.

The Rockets joined Detroit (Cade Cunningham, Saddiq Bey, Isaiah Stewart) and Orlando (Jalen Suggs, Franz Wagner, Cole Anthony) as the only NBA teams to initially have three representatives in the contest. Scroll on for details on the scoring format, teams, and broadcast details.

Chris Duarte to miss Rising Stars game with toe injury

Former Oregon Ducks guard Chris Duarte will miss the NBA Rising Stars game at All-Star weekend with a toe injury.

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Former Oregon Ducks guard Chris Duarte, now a rookie with the Indiana Pacers, will miss the NBA Rising Stars game at All-Star Weekend with a toe injury, according to a tweet from Shams Charania of The Athletic.

Duarte will be replaced by Golden State Warriors rookie forward Jonathan Kuminga.

The Rising Stars game underwent a new format for this year, with 28 players – 12 rookies, 12 sophomores, and four members of the G League Ignite – divided up into four different teams to compete in three games on Friday, February 18.

Duarte was a part of Team Payton, alongside LaMelo Ball, Scottie Barnes and Davion Mitchell, among others.

Duarte initially suffered the injury in the first quarter of Sunday’s loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. He missed the rest of the game and has not played since, and is now set to miss the All-Star festivities over the weekend.

Fortunately, Pacers coach Rick Carlisle does not believe the injury is too serious, saying he expects he will be back in action after the All-Star break.

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Chris Duarte selected for 2022 Rising Stars Game at NBA All-Star Weekend

Former Oregon Ducks guard Chris Duarte was selected to participate in the 2022 Rising Stars competition as part of NBA All-Star Weekend.

Former Oregon Ducks guard Chris Duarte has been selected to participate in the 2022 Rising Stars game, which will be played as part of NBA All-Star Weekend in Cleveland on Friday, February 18.

Duarte, a member of the Indiana Pacers, was one of 12 rookie players selected by NBA coaches to participate in the game.

Rising Stars has undergone a facelift this year. Instead of rookies vs. sophomores, or separating players by home country, there will be a pool of 12 rookies, 12 second-year players, and four players from the G League Ignite.

Those 28 players will be drafted into four seven-player teams, who will then compete in a mini tournament – with the semifinal games playing to a score of 50.

The two winners will play in the championship, shooting to be the first squad to reach 75 points in honor of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Season.

Duarte got off to a scorching hot start after joining Indiana as the 13th overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft. He is now averaging 13.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 43.2% from the floor and 34.9% from three.

He is sixth in scoring, second in three-pointers made, and third in steals among all the league’s rookies at this point in the season.

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