The NBA has revealed the 28 players (12 rookies, 12 sophomores, and four G League Ignite players) who will suit up for the 2022 Clorox Rising Stars Game in Cleveland this year, per its official PR account (Twitter links). There are a few intriguing surprises among the first-year NBA players.
Here are the players who made the cut:
Rookies:
- Scottie Barnes (Raptors)
- Cade Cunningham (Pistons)
- Ayo Dosunmu (Bulls)
- Chris Duarte (Pacers)
- Josh Giddey (Thunder)
- Jalen Green (Rockets)
- Herbert Jones (Pelicans)
- Davion Mitchell (Kings)
- Evan Mobley (Cavaliers)
- Alperen Sengun (Rockets)
- Jalen Suggs (Magic)
- Franz Wagner (Magic)
Sophomores:
- Precious Achiuwa (Raptors)
- Cole Anthony (Magic)
- LaMelo Ball (Hornets)
- Desmond Bane (Grizzlies)
- Saddiq Bey (Pistons)
- Anthony Edwards (Timberwolves)
- Tyrese Haliburton (Kings)
- Tyrese Maxey (Sixers)
- Jaden McDaniels (Timberwolves)
- Isaac Okoro (Cavaliers)
- Isaiah Stewart (Pistons)
- Jae’Sean Tate (Rockets)
Additionally, four players from the G League Ignite will participate in the Rising Stars Game based on voting from NBA G League head coaches. The NBAGL has announced (Twitter link) that MarJon Beauchamp, Dyson Daniels, Jaden Hardy and Scoot Henderson will partake in the action. Players will be separated into four teams, and each G League player will be drafted to join one of the teams later this week.
Among the rookie NBA players, the additions who would be most surprising ahead of the 2021/22 season would be Dosunmu and Jones, both of whom were second-round draft selections. 2021 lottery picks Jonathan Kuminga, Ziaire Williams, James Bouknight, Joshua Primo and Moses Moody were all omitted from inclusion this year.
Among the second-year players, Ball could be appearing on multiple nights during All-Star Weekend this season, as he appears to be a very possible first-time All-Star this year thanks to his outstanding work with the upstart Hornets.
The lottery-bound Magic, Pistons, and Rockets can boast having the most inclusions here, with three players apiece.
As we detailed last week, this year’s Rising Stars event will look a little different, with the four teams taking part in a mini-tournament and playing to a target score in each game: 50 points in the semifinals and 25 points in the final, in honor of the league’s 75th anniversary season.
More fuel to feed the fire inside Onyeka Okongwu
Like I said not good enough
Who is Herbert Jones? Sounds like a Guess Who character.
One of the best young defensive players in the league. He starts for NO & was SEC DPOY last season. Alot of Stacey Augmon in his game
He started 38 games for the Pelicans…At least look up guys before commenting, “who is this?”.
my bad for not being intimately familiar with a rookie on a not-even-bubble team in a market that rarely gets a nationally televised game.
sec dpoy from now on I’ll know him as the Herb that can’t be smoked. stick that in your pipe
Bottom 3 comment
No kuminga ? Why ?
Not enough minutes and his profile is strictly potential at this point.
A couple dozen nice dunks and his aggressive game getting to the bucket are fantastic, but not enough to be a part of the rookie All-Star Squad.
Not a fan of adding the four G-League players. They haven’t earned anything in the NBA yet since they aren’t even in the league. So letting them play over potentially four other actual NBA players like Kuminga or Williams is disappointing.
I agree but for a different reason. I think what they’re doing is shining a spotlight on that whole thing. I don’t like that it is done this way and perhaps leading guys to think they don’t need college.
Now every guy will say, “well I’ll just go in the D-League.., I don’t need good grades for college.” But there’s only room for a few dozen guys? Bad news.
I think it’s a ploy from the NBA to get more high school kids committing to the Ignite side rather than college or overseas. Especially now that college kids can get paid too.
I don’t think it’s right they get in over NBA guys who have been working their buts off just to try get minutes like the guys you mentioned. But it is cool that they get to come play against the best young players and show what they can do.
Will boost draft stock hugely if you play well or get a couple highlights.
This is on target. They want non lotto prospects to go to the G League from high school. I suppose this means in theory you could go to college and play G League professionally, but I doubt anyone will have the means to do that, or the time. So, just promoting a system similar to baseball for development of players.
I think they should have put 4 of the g league all stars instead so they can get a chance for a game or two
I agree
No Kuminga? The guy is one of the most exciting players just because he plays on one of the best teams shouldn’t take away his future all star play.
What has Jonathan kuminga done to deserve an All-Star spot on the rookie team?
I love the guy and I wouldn’t trade him for anyone right now, but he’s all potential at this point. Love his game, love his attitude, love his aggression, but he’s done nothing so far on his resume. That’s not a knock on him, he just doesn’t get the minutes.
What has Jonathan Kuminga done to deserve an all-star spot on the rookie team?
For starters, he is the most exciting rookie out there. Granted, a subjective factor, but the highlights speak for themselves. Out of the 28 players chosen, maybe a handful are arguably in a similar level in terms of being fun to watch.
But in terms of objective factors:
1) He provides a meaningful contribution to a winner and championship contender. How many on the list can say that? Most rookies are putting up empty stats in lottery teams.
2) His stats per 36 are among the best.
I’ll tell you he’s looking better and better every game.
The league itself picks the players. Seems to be based on minutes played, 95% or so. If not, there’s some other CYA criteria. Not worth any passion; nor, like most All Star games, worth watching.
Pritchard should’ve been on here but the horrible coach doesn’t know how to use him hopefully after this season ownership finally step in and cleans house by firing clueless Stevens and his horrible coaching hirer
I like Prichard too. Heady player, lots of grit, perfect backup point guard.
hence rising stars, not rising backups.
It’s too bad. Pritchard hasn’t had a chance. No minutes. Then the announcers say he’s fallen back, in a slump. Ha!
@case
That much passion for a rookie shooting 36% from the field? Coach Udoka MIGHT be over his head but technically the teams over .500 a very slight improvement over their ³previous year where they were flat at .50%. I think Udoka at least deserves the opportunity to see what he can do with the next GM
.
Very disappointing that Kuminga was left out, counting how low was the bar taking someone like Suggs… it just doesn’t make sense, right?
Rising Stars is a lot of fun. I agree with people asking, where are the stars Kuminga, but i’m all where are the future stars Pritchard, J. Smith, & Garza?
There’s who is gonna give it to ya. Even Bol too he’s going to
No G League Players. I’d rather see actual NBA players in the NBA rookie/sophomore teams. They are G League players. Let them play on the G League all star game where they belong. There are several rookies and sophomores I haven’t even seen mentioned yet but could easily be on one of those teams.