Alperen Sengun and Franz Wagner are headed to All-Star Weekend to appear in the Rising Stars competition, where they'll join the reigning NBA Rookie of the Year LaMelo Ball and other young talents.
The Charlotte Hornets guard will be joined by three players each from the Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, and Houston Rockets.
The event will feature 12 rookies, 12 second-year players, and four prospects from the NBA G League's Ignite team.
Alperen Sengun
Team: |
Houston Rockets |
Position: | PF, C |
Age: | 19 |
Height: | 206 cm |
Weight: | 109 kg |
Birth place: | Turkey |
While previous editions of the competition featured rookies opposing second-year players, a new format will be in place this year. The players will be divided into four seven-player squads that will face off in two opening-round games. The winners will meet in the final game.
The semifinal games will end when one team hits 50 points, and the final will be first to 75, in honor of the league's 75th anniversary.
The head coaches will be members of the NBA's 75th-anniversary team, and they will be aided by assistant coaches from the All-Star Game coaching staffs. Each head coach will select his squad in a draft, with one G League player to go to each team.
The NBA participants were selected in voting by NBA assistant coaches, while the G League participants were chosen in voting by G League head coaches.
The Rising Stars event will be held on Feb. 18 in Cleveland, where the All-Star Game will be held on Feb. 20.
In between, the skills competition is set for Feb. 19 in Cleveland, highlighted by the Slam Dunk contest. The Athletic reported Tuesday that the Slam Dunk competitors will be Orlando Magic guard Cole Anthony, Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green, New York Knicks forward Obi Toppin, and Golden State Warriors forward Juan Toscano-Anderson.
NBA Rising Stars players
Rookies:
- Cole Anthony, Orlando Magic
- Scottie Barnes, Toronto Raptors
- Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons
- Ayo Dosunmu, Chicago Bulls
- Chris Duarte, Indiana Pacers
- Josh Giddey, Oklahoma City Thunder
- Jalen Green, Houston Rockets
- Herbert Jones, New Orleans Pelicans
- Davion Mitchell, Sacramento Kings
- Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers
- Alperen Sengun, Houston Rockets
- Jalen Suggs, Orlando Magic
- Franz Wagner, Orlando Magic
Second-year players:
- Cole Anthony, Orlando Magic
- Precious Achiuwa, Toronto Raptors
- LaMelo Ball, Charlotte Hornets
- Desmond Bane, Memphis Grizzlies
- Saddiq Bey, Detroit Pistons
- Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves
- Tyrese Haliburton, Sacramento Kings
- Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers
- Jaden McDaniels, Minnesota Timberwolves
- Isaac Okoro, Cleveland Cavaliers
- Isaiah Stewart, Detroit Pistons
- Jae'Sean Tate, Houston Rockets
NBA G League Ignite players
- MarJon Beauchamp
- Dyson Daniels
- Jaden Hardy
- Scoot Henderson