CLEVELAND, OHIO- Usually when watching the NBA All-Star Break Festivities, the Rising Stars Game is typically an afterthought after considering the All-Star Game, Dunk Contest, and Celebrities Game. Despite this, a newly revised format that showcases twenty-four of the league’s best rookies and second-year players, as well as four members of the G-League Ignite, NBA Fans now have a legitament reason to tune into the Rising Stars Game yet again.
Instead of the traditional two-team setup of ‘Team USA’ and ‘Team World’, the NBA decided to make a three-game Tournament consisting of Four Teams who drafted each of their players. The Four Teams were coached by Isiah Thomas, James Worthy, Rick Barry, and Gary Payton, all of whom were earlier selected as the NBA’s inaugural Top-75 Players List.
This new format also stripped the traditional four twelve-minute quarters, and replaced it with a Target Score of 50 for the Semifinal Games, and 25 for the Championship Game. In the end, Team Barry beat Team Isiah in the Championship Game, 25-20, largely in part to eventual MVP Cade Cunningham’s performance. Here is a recap on all three of Orlando’s Players and how they did in the Tournament.
Suggs’ 16 Points Not Enough as Team Isiah Prevails in First Semifinal Game over Team Worthy, 50-49

In spite of solid performances from Cole Anthony and Jalen Suggs, Team Worthy was unable to beat Team Isiah in the first Semifinal Game, 49-50. When it was all said and done, Anthony and Suggs certainly made the most of their unique experience at the Semifinal Game by filling up the stat sheets.
Suggs finished second on Team Worthy with 16 points while shooting 6-8 from the field and 3-5 from Three-Point Range. While Anthony only had four points, he facilitated to his teammates more so than scoring, notching three assists. After going up 29-19, Team Isiah seemed like they had full control over the rest of the game.
This proved to not be the case, as Team Worthy went on an 18-10 capped off by an Anthony two-point shot to retain the lead, 40-39. Both teams continued to score and the score eventually became striking distance of hitting the winning 50-point mark.
With Team Worthy two points away from hitting the target score, Suggs was fouled on a fastbreak layup attempt by Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton. Needing to make both free throws, Suggs made the first but missed the second to make the score 49-46, keeping Team Isiah in the game.
On the ensuing possession, Detroit’s Saddiq Bey powered his way through multiple defenders to convert the layup, making it 49-48. With another chance to end the game, Team Worthy was unable to do so, as Houston’s Jalen Green had his side-step three-point attempt blocked by Bey.
Suggs’ committed his third and most costly foul, as he reached in to take the ball from Memphis’ Desmond Bane. This sent Bane to the free-throw line, where he calmly nailed both free throws, sending Team Isisah to the Championship Game, where they faced Team Barry.
Despite the loss, Suggs certainly enjoyed the exclusive experience, and was very happy to be able to partake in the All-Star festivities.
“That was super fun,” Suggs said. “Great experience. Great environment. The crowd was energetic. We were all having out there on the court. Got everybody out there to make some plays. That was very fun. I’m looking forward to getting back here next year.”
Wagner Hits Clutch Free-Throw, Sends Team Barry Past Team Payton in Championship Game, 50-48
While Franz Wagner didn’t fill up the box score like his fellow teammates, his presence was certainly felt in both wins by Team Barry to earn the 2022 Rising Stars Challenge Championship Trophy. After Detroit’s Cunningham nailed a three-pointer to give Team Barry a 24-20 lead over Team Payton, Cunningham then found Wagner on a back-door cut to the basket.
Wagner was fouled and went to the free-throw line to end the game with one make. With all eyes on him, Wagner sunk his first of two free-throw attempts to get Team Barry to the Target Score of 25, capping off a 13-2 run after trailing 18-12.
Before going to the line for that game-sealing Free-Throw, Wagner joked with the coaches about whether he should shoot underhand, just like his coach Barry did during his illustrious playing career with the Warriors.
“It was cool. I asked if I could shoot it underhand like Rick used to do,” he said with a gold medal that each member of the championship team received hanging around his neck. “It’s just three hours, but obviously a lot of different experiences, talking to a lot of different guys, and playing was the most fun. Just feeling the energy of the arena and playing with guys that I don’t normally get a chance to play with. I thought it was really cool.”
As previously mentioned, Cunningham was named the 2022 Rising Stars MVP, as the former No. 1 overall pick totaled 18 points, seven rebounds, nine assists, two steals, and two blocks in Team Barry’s two wins.