NBA Rising Stars Challenge 2023: Start time, roster predictions, TV channels, and storylines to follow
The NBA Rising Stars Challenge 2023 will feature some of the best young players in the league. Besides the young stars who have been drafted in recent years, the game will also feature several great players from the G League.
The game will be one of the first events during the 2023 NBA All-Star Weekend. It will be played on Friday, Feb. 17, and will start at 9 PM Eastern Time. The Rising Stars Challenge will begin shortly after the conclusion of the All-Star Celebrity Game.
The clash between the best young players will be played at Vivint Arena, the home of the Utah Jazz, but fans will also be able to watch the live broadcast on TNT.
NBA Rising Stars will feature many great young players
The NBA's annual showcase of young stars will feature four different teams. The teams were drafted by former All-Stars Pau Gasol, Joakim Noah and Deron Williams, who will also serve as honorary coaches.
The fourth team features bright stars from the G League and was selected by Jason Terry, the former NBA champion. The NBA Rising Stars challenge will feature a 3-game tournament among participating teams.
What makes the NBA Rising Stars Challenge special is the exclusion of the shot clock. Instead of a clock, teams will compete to reach the target score. The first two games will have a target score of 40 points, while the score will be lowered to 25 points for the final game.
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Here is the format and schedule of the Rising Stars games:
- Game 1: Team A vs. Team B
- Game 2: Team C vs. Team D
- Game 3: Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2
The first team to reach 25 points in the third game will be the tournament champion. All three games will take place on Friday.
Can anyone beat Team Pau?
Pau Gasol has selected a powerful team that may easily win the tournament. The team consists of several incredible rookies, including Paolo Banchero and Bennedict Mathurin.
Scottie Barnes and Jose Alvarado will provide the team with defense, while Keegan Murry's sharpshooter skills will make Team Pau very dangerous from the 3-point line.
The NBA has tried several different formats for the annual showcase of young players, but the three-game tournament has received mostly positive feedback.
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Considering how many talented players the league currently has, we expect the NBA Rising Stars Challenge to be very exciting and have a lot of highlights.