Rising Stars Challenge


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"Rising Stars game" redirects here. For the video game publisher, see Rising Star Games.

The Rising Stars Challenge is a basketball exhibition game held by the National Basketball Association (NBA) on the Friday before the annual All-Star Game as part of the All-Star Weekend and is intended to showcase young and rising players in the league (mainly rookies and second-year players). Being sponsored by Panini Group, the event is also known as Panini Rising Stars.[1]

The current format used since 2022 includes rookie and sophomore NBA players and NBA G League players selected by the NBA's assistant coaches and league office. Former NBA players, designated as "honorary coaches", draft players for their respective teams, where they play in a single-elimination tournament to reach a Final Target Score in each game.[2]

 
Carmelo Anthony receiving an alley-oop during the 2004 Rookie Challenge game.

Rookie Challenge (1994–2011)

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The Rookie Challenge, established in 1994, was originally competed by two randomly selected teams composed entirely of first-year players. This format was continued until 1996, when it was changed to pit rookie teams of both the Eastern and the Western Conference against each other. In 1999, the game was cancelled as a result of the NBA lockout. Since the 1998 rookie class did not compete that year, the game was revamped and featured a team of standout first-year players ('rookies') against a team of standout second-year players ('sophomores').

Rising Stars Challenge (2012–2021)

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The format of the game and name was changed to the Rising Stars Challenge in 2012. For 2012 and 2013, the format was changed to having two teams drafted by Basketball Hall of Famers Charles Barkley (Team Chuck) and Shaquille O'Neal (Team Shaq).[3] In 2014, the two teams were drafted by Chris Webber (Team Webber) and Grant Hill (Team Hill). The game format changed in 2015 to Team USA vs Team World, where each team should choose at least three Rookies and three Sophomores, and the squad of each team should have four back courts, four front courts and two swingmen.

Unlike regular NBA games, the game was divided into two twenty-minute halves plus multiple five-minute overtime periods, similar to men's college basketball. The participating players were chosen by voting among the league's assistant coaches. In the game, players wear their respective regular team uniforms, except for 2009, in which players wore fan-designed jerseys. The head coaches of the two teams are the lead assistant coaches of the NBA All-Star Game coach. Starting in 2009, two active NBA players were added to the game coaching staffs.

Tournament-style format (2022–present)

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The format was then changed again in 2022. 28 players are selected: 12 rookies, 12 sophomores, and 4 NBA G League Ignite players. They will be drafted into four teams of seven, which are led and coached by members of the NBA 75th Anniversary Team via a draft, in commemoration of the NBA's 75th anniversary season. The coaches include: Rick Barry, Gary Payton, Isiah Thomas and James Worthy. The format itself is now a tournament, with a Final Target Score for each round: 50 points for the semifinals, and 25 points for the finals, for a total of 75 points total for the team that wins the tournament, another nod to the NBA's 75th anniversary.[2]

The format was slightly altered in 2023. 28 players are still selected, but the pool now consists of 21 NBA rookies and sophomores, and 7 NBA G League players (not just limited to NBA G League Ignite). The Final Target Score for the semifinal games was lowered from 50 to 40. In 2023, the 21 NBA players were drafted into three teams led by Pau Gasol, Joakim Noah, and Deron Williams, while the 7 NBA G League players form a single team led by Jason Terry.[4] In 2024, the coaches were Pau Gasol, Tamika Catchings, Jalen Rose, and Detlef Schrempf, with Schrempf coaching the G League team.[1]

Past games and rosters

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The 1994 Rookie Challenge took place on February 12 at the Target Center in Minneapolis. Penny Hardaway was the MVP of the game.

The 1995 Rookie Challenge took place on February 11 at the America West Arena in Phoenix.

The 1996 Rookie Challenge took place on February 10 at the Alamodome in San Antonio.

The 1997 Rookie Challenge took place on February 8 at the Gund Arena in Cleveland.

* Did not play due to injury

The 1998 Rookie Challenge took place on February 8 at the Madison Square Garden in New York City.

The 2000 Rookie Challenge took place on February 11 at the Oakland Arena in Oakland.

* Did not play due to injury

The 2001 Rookie Challenge took place on February 10 at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C.

The 2002 Rookie Challenge took place on February 9 at the First Union Center in Philadelphia.

The 2003 Rookie Challenge took place on February 8 at the Philips Arena in Atlanta.

Sophomores 132, Rookies 112

The 2004 Rookie Challenge took place on February 13 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Said to be the most exciting Rookie Challenge in history due to all the highlight-reel dunks. Much of the hype centered on rookie phenoms LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony, who had 33 and 17 points respectively. Amar'e Stoudemire set a then-Rookie Challenge record with 36 points.

The 2005 Rookie Challenge took place on February 18 at the Pepsi Center in Denver.

* Did not play due to injury

The 2006 Rookie Challenge took place on February 17 at the Toyota Center in Houston.

* Did not play due to injury

Sophomores 105, Rookies 96

The 2007 Rookie Challenge took place on February 16 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Paradise, Nevada.

Sophomores 155, Rookies 114

Rookies 109, Sophomores 136
Scoring by half: 52-66, 57-70

^INJ Greg Oden was unable to participate due to injury.[5]

^DNP Derrick Rose was excused from the Rookie Challenge in consideration of being named to the All-Star Game and his participation in the Skills Challenge.[6]
^REP Anthony Morrow was named as a replacement for Derrick Rose.[6]

^INJ Tyreke Evans was unable to participate due to injury.[7]
^REP James Harden was named Tyreke Evans' replacement.[7]

Shortly before the draft for the rosters, Norris Cole and Jeremy Lin were added to the original player pool.[8] A few days before the game, Tiago Splitter was injured and was replaced by Derrick Favors.[8][9] Lin played only nine minutes in the game, at his request, due to exhaustion from his rise to stardom that month.[10]

^INJ Tiago Splitter was unable to participate due to injury.[11]
^DNP Kawhi Leonard did not play due to a strained right calf.[12]
^REP Derrick Favors was named Tiago Splitter's replacement.[11]

^INJ Andre Drummond was unable to participate due to injury.
^REP Andrew Nicholson was named Andre Drummond's replacement.

^INJ Pero Antić was unable to participate due to injury.
^REP Miles Plumlee was named Pero Antić's replacement.

^INJ1 Adams was unable to participate due to injury.[14]
^REP1 Nurkić was named as Adams' replacement.[14]
^INJ2 Carter-Williams was unable to participate due to injuries.
^REP2 Covington was named as Carter-Williams' replacement.
^INJ3 Olynyk was unable to participate due to injury.[14]
^REP3 Dellavedova was named as Olynyk's replacement.[14]
^OUT Nurkić decided to not participate for personal reasons.
^REP4 Papanikolaou was named as Nurkić's replacement.

The World team won against the U.S. 121–112 at the Rising Stars Challenge at All-Star weekend. Canada's Andrew Wiggins scored 22 points, and Rudy Gobert added 18 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks. Brooklyn's Bojan Bogdanovic of Croatia, and Chicago's Nikola Mirotić of Montenegro added 16 points each for the World team. Victor Oladipo of the Orlando Magic and Zach LaVine of the Minnesota Timberwolves led the U.S. team with 22 points each. Andrew Wiggins, the 2014 NBA draft 1st overall pick, won the game's MVP award.[15]

To celebrate the first time the NBA holds the All-Star game outside of the US, the game makes the World Team the home team instead of Team USA.

^INJ1 Nerlens Noel was unable to participate due to injury.[17]
^REP1 Devin Booker was named as Noel's replacement.[17]
^INJ2 Nikola Mirotić was unable to participate due to injury.[18]
^REP2 Trey Lyles was named as Mirotić's replacement.[18]

Team USA won 157–154 in the highest scoring game in Rising Stars Challenge history.[19] Zach LaVine was named MVP, leading all of the USA team with 30 points while also recording 7 rebounds and 4 assists. Jordan Clarkson, D'Angelo Russell, and Devin Booker all scored over 20 points, with Russell also recording 7 assists. Kristaps Porziņģis and Emmanuel Mudiay led the way for Team World with 30 points each, with Andrew Wiggins also scoring 29 points.

^INJ1 Embiid was unable to participate due to a knee injury.[21]
^REP1 Abrines was named as Embiid's replacement.[21]
^INJ2 Mudiay was unable to participate due to a back injury.[22]
^REP2 Hernangómez was named as Mudiay's replacement.[22]

^INJ1 Malcolm Brogdon was unable to participate due to a leg injury.[24]
^REP1 Taurean Prince was selected as Malcolm Brogdon's replacement.[25]
^INJ2 Lonzo Ball was unable to participate due to a knee injury.[26]
^REP2 De'Aaron Fox was selected as Lonzo Ball's replacement.[27]

^INJ Lonzo Ball was unable to participate due to a left ankle injury.[29]
^REP Kevin Knox was selected as Lonzo Ball's replacement.[30]

^INJ1 Wendell Carter Jr. was unable to participate due to a right ankle injury.[31]
^REP1 Zion Williamson was selected as Wendell Carter Jr.'s replacement.[31]
^INJ2 Tyler Herro was unable to participate due to a sore right ankle.[32]
^REP2 Collin Sexton was selected as Tyler Herro's replacement.[32]
^INJ3 Deandre Ayton was unable to participate due to a sore left ankle.[33]
^REP3 Nicolò Melli was selected as Deandre Ayton's replacement.[33]

Due to the downsizing of the All-Star Game due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the NBA All-Star Weekend was not held, and the Rising Stars Challenge was not played. The NBA still named the Rising Stars rosters of first- and second-year players.[34]

^INJ1 Chris Duarte was unable to participate due to a toe injury.[37]
^REP1 Jonathan Kuminga was selected as Chris Duarte's replacement.[37]
^INJ2 Davion Mitchell was unable to participate due to a hand injury.[38]
^REP2 Bones Hyland was selected as Davion Mitchell's replacement.[38]

SemifinalsFinal
      
 
Team Isiah50
 
Team Worthy49
Team Isiah20
 
Team Barry25
Team Barry50
Team Payton48

Source:[39]

Pau Gasol, Joakim Noah, Deron Williams and Jason Terry

^INJ1 Jalen Duren was unable to participate due to injury.[40]
^REP1 Tari Eason was selected as Jalen Duren's replacement.[40]
^INJ2 Jalen Green was unable to participate due to injury.[40]
^REP2 Ayo Dosunmu was selected as Jalen Green's replacement.[40]

SemifinalsFinal
      
 
Team Pau40
 
Team Deron25
Team Pau25
 
Team Joakim20
Team Joakim40
Team Jason32

Source:[41]

Pau Gasol, Tamika Catchings, Jalen Rose and Detlef Schrempf

^INJ1 Shaedon Sharpe was unable to participate due to injury.[42]
^REP1 Jeremy Sochan was selected as Shaedon Sharpe's replacement.[42]
^INJ2 Dyson Daniels was unable to participate due to injury.[43]
^REP2 Vince Williams Jr. was selected as Dyson Daniels's replacement.[43]
^INJ3 Ron Holland was unable to participate due to injury.[44]
^REP3 Emoni Bates was selected as Ron Holland's replacement.[44]

SemifinalsFinal
      
 
Team Jalen40
 
Team Tamika35
Team Jalen25
 
Team Detlef13
Team Detlef41
Team Pau36

Points

Rebounds

Assists

Steals

Blocks

3 Pointers

Shooting Percentage

Year MVP winner Team played
1994   Penny Hardaway (L) Orlando Magic
1995   Eddie Jones (L) Los Angeles Lakers
1996   Damon Stoudamire Toronto Raptors
1997   Allen Iverson Philadelphia 76ers
1998   Žydrūnas Ilgauskas Cleveland Cavaliers
2000   Elton Brand Chicago Bulls
2001   Wally Szczerbiak Minnesota Timberwolves
2002   Jason Richardson Golden State Warriors
2003   Gilbert Arenas Golden State Warriors (2)
2004   Amar'e Stoudemire Phoenix Suns
2005   Carmelo Anthony Denver Nuggets
2006   Andre Iguodala Philadelphia 76ers (2)
2007   David Lee New York Knicks
2008   Daniel Gibson Cleveland Cavaliers (2)
2009   Kevin Durant Oklahoma City Thunder
2010   Tyreke Evans Sacramento Kings
  DeJuan Blair San Antonio Spurs
2011   John Wall Washington Wizards
2012   Kyrie Irving Cleveland Cavaliers (3)
2013   Kenneth Faried Denver Nuggets (2)
2014   Andre Drummond Detroit Pistons
2015   Andrew Wiggins Minnesota Timberwolves (2)
2016   Zach LaVine Minnesota Timberwolves (3)
2017   Jamal Murray Denver Nuggets (3)
2018   Bogdan Bogdanović Sacramento Kings (2)
2019   Kyle Kuzma Los Angeles Lakers (2)
2020   Miles Bridges Charlotte Hornets
2021 Game was not held due to COVID-19 pandemic
2022   Cade Cunningham Detroit Pistons (2)
2023   Jose Alvarado New Orleans Pelicans
2024   Bennedict Mathurin Indiana Pacers

Participant players by team

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Number Team
23 Cleveland Cavaliers
20 Los Angeles Clippers
18 Vancouver Grizzlies / Memphis Grizzlies
18 Golden State Warriors
17 Chicago Bulls
17 Seattle SuperSonics / Oklahoma City Thunder
16 Philadelphia 76ers
15 Houston Rockets
15 Minnesota Timberwolves
15 New Jersey Nets / Brooklyn Nets
15 Utah Jazz
14 Boston Celtics
14 Denver Nuggets
14 Detroit Pistons
13 Toronto Raptors
13 Sacramento Kings
13 Portland Trail Blazers
12 Charlotte Bobcats / Charlotte Hornets
12 Phoenix Suns
12 San Antonio Spurs
12 Washington Bullets / Washington Wizards
11 Miami Heat
11 New York Knicks
11 Orlando Magic
10 Los Angeles Lakers
10 Milwaukee Bucks
10 Dallas Mavericks
10 Indiana Pacers
7 New Orleans Hornets / New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets / New Orleans Pelicans
6 Atlanta Hawks
  1. ^ a b "Team Jalen knocks off Team Detlef to claim 2024 Panini Rising Stars". NBA.com. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Clorox Rising Stars to feature mini-tournament format at 2022 NBA All-Star". nba.com. January 25, 2022. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  3. ^ "Barkley, Shaq to draft teams for BBVA Rising Stars Challenge" (Press release). National Basketball Association. February 7, 2012. Archived from the original on February 9, 2012.
  4. ^ "Everything to know about the 2023 Jordan Rising Stars". NBA.com. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  5. ^ "Sore knee knocks Blazers' Oden out of Rookie Challenge". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 13, 2009. Retrieved June 22, 2009.
  6. ^ a b "Warriors' Morrow replaces Bulls' Rose for Rookie Challenge". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 2, 2010. Retrieved February 2, 2010.
  7. ^ a b "Thunder's Harden replaces Kings' Evans in Rookie Challenge". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 17, 2011. Retrieved February 17, 2011.
  8. ^ a b BBVA Rising Stars Draft. NBA.com. Retrieved November 23, 2012.
  9. ^ Morre, Matt (February 16, 2012). "NBA holds Rising Stars draft for rookies, sophs". CBSSports.com. Archived from the original on February 18, 2012.
  10. ^ Beck, Howard (February 24, 2012). "Lin, a Rising Star, Needs a Break". The New York Times.
  11. ^ a b "Favors replaces injured Splitter in Rising Stars Challenge". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 21, 2012. Retrieved February 21, 2012.
  12. ^ "Spurs forward Leonard out for Rising Stars game". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 24, 2012. Retrieved February 24, 2012.
  13. ^ a b "Wiggins, Carter-Williams headline rosters for BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge". NBA.com. January 28, 2015. Retrieved February 6, 2015.
  14. ^ a b c d "Nurkic to replace Adams in BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge". NBA.com. February 9, 2015.
  15. ^ "World wins BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge, Canada's Andrew Wiggins, chosen No. 1 in 2014 Draft, takes MVP honors after dropping 22 points in 121-112 victory over USA". NBA.com. February 13, 2015. Retrieved February 14, 2015.
  16. ^ a b "Timberwolves' Wiggins and Towns, Knicks' Porzingis headline rosters for BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge". NBA.com. January 27, 2016. Retrieved January 27, 2016.
  17. ^ a b "Suns' Booker replaces Noel in BBVA Rising Stars Challenge". NBA.com. February 11, 2016. Retrieved February 11, 2016.
  18. ^ a b "BBVA Rising Stars Challenge". NBA.com. February 3, 2016.
  19. ^ "NBA Rising Stars Stats and History". February 14, 2016. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
  20. ^ a b "Minnesota's Towns and Philadelphia's Embiid headline roster for 2017 BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge". NBA.com. January 25, 2017. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
  21. ^ a b "Denver's Jokic and Oklahoma City's Abrines to replace Philadelphia's Embiid in 2017 NBA All-Star Events". NBA.com. February 15, 2017. Retrieved February 15, 2017.
  22. ^ a b "Willy Hernangomez named to 2017 NBA Rising Stars Challenge roster". Bleacher Report. February 15, 2017. Retrieved February 15, 2017.
  23. ^ a b "Philadelphia 76ers' Ben Simmons, Los Angeles Lakers' Lonzo Ball highlight 2018 Mtn Dew Kickstart Rising Stars rosters". NBA.com. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
  24. ^ "Medical Update on Malcolm Brogdon". NBA.com. Retrieved February 14, 2018.
  25. ^ "Prince Named To 2018 Mtn Dew Kickstart Rising Stars". NBA.com. Retrieved February 14, 2018.
  26. ^ "Ball Out Through All-Star Break". NBA.com. Retrieved February 14, 2018.
  27. ^ "De'Aaron Fox to Participate in 2018 Rising Stars". NBA.com. Retrieved February 14, 2018.
  28. ^ a b "Doncic, Simmons headline Mtn Dew Ice Rising Stars rosters". NBA.com. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  29. ^ "LeBron James says Lakers have to 'hold the fort' until Lonzo Ball returns". lonzowire.usatoday.com. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
  30. ^ "Kevin Knox replaces Lonzo Ball for Mtn Dew Ice Rising Stars". NBA.com. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  31. ^ a b c d "NBA All-Stars Luka Doncic and Trae Young headline U.S. vs. World showdown in 2020 NBA Rising Stars". NBA.com. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
  32. ^ a b "Cavaliers' Collin Sexton to replace Heat's Tyler Herro". NBA.com. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  33. ^ a b "New Orleans' Melli to replace Phoenix's Ayton in 2020 NBA Rising Stars". NBA.com. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
  34. ^ Stein, Marc (March 7, 2021). "Two Players Out of N.B.A. All-Star Game Because of Virus Protocols". The New York Times. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
  35. ^ a b "Zion Williamson, Ja Morant lead 2021 Rising Stars roster". NBA.com. March 3, 2021. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  36. ^ a b c d "Clorox Rising Stars rosters set after 4-team draft". NBA.com. February 4, 2022. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  37. ^ a b "Jonathan Kuminga to replace Chris Duarte in 2022 Clorox Rising Stars". NBA.com. February 16, 2022. Retrieved February 19, 2022.
  38. ^ a b "Denver's Hyland to replace Sacramento's Mitchell in 2022 Clorox Rising Stars". NBA.com. February 17, 2022. Retrieved February 19, 2022.
  39. ^ "NBA Rising Stars 2023 rosters: Raptors' Scottie Barnes, Magic's Paolo Banchero headline full list".
  40. ^ a b c d "Bulls' Ayo Dosunmu, Rockets' Tari Eason named injury replacements for 2023 Jordan Rising Stars". NBA.com. February 16, 2023. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  41. ^ "2024 Panini Rising Stars: Roster, date and how it works". NBA.com. January 30, 2024. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
  42. ^ a b "San Antonio's Sochan to replace Portland's Sharpe in 2024 Panini Rising Stars". NBA.com. February 8, 2024. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
  43. ^ a b "Grizzlies guard Vince Williams Jr. to replace Pelicans guard Dyson Daniels in 2024 Panini Rising Stars". NBA.com. February 12, 2024. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
  44. ^ a b "Cavaliers' Emoni Bates to replace Ron Holland in 2024 Panini Rising Stars". NBA.com. February 14, 2024. Retrieved February 15, 2024.