PORTLAND, Ore. — Portland Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson is one of 31 players who will compete in the NBA Rising Stars games on Friday, one of the first events of NBA All-Star Weekend.
Henderson is one of the league's top rookies, ranking fourth in points per game (12.9) and first in assists per game (4.7) among rookies. Blazers second-year guard Shaedon Sharpe was also named to the Rising Stars roster, but he won’t play due to injury. Sharpe had surgery on Feb. 9 to repair a core muscle injury. In 32 games this season, Sharpe ranked third in scoring (15.9 points per game) and second in 3-pointers per game (1.9) among NBA sophomores.
The games are also an opportunity for Blazers fans to get a look at potential lottery picks in the upcoming NBA draft. Several players on the G League Rising Stars team are projected to be drafted in the first round, including Matas Buzelis, Tyler Smith and Izan Almansa. Projected lottery pick Ron Holland was named to the team but won't play due to injury. Portland has two picks in the first round this year, its own and Golden State’s draft selection. Currently, both project to be lottery picks (among the top 14).
The annual event that spotlights the NBA’s best young talent will feature a three-game mini tournament this season. Four teams comprised of rookies, sophomores and G League players will compete against each other.
Henderson will play on Team Tamika, coached by former WNBA star Tamika Catchings. The other three coaches are former NBA players Pau Gasol, Jalen Rose and Detlef Schrempf. (See the full rosters for for the four teams below).
Each of the three games in the mini-tournament will be played to a target score. The two semifinal games will be played to a target score of 40 points. The championship game will be played to a target score of 25 points.
The games will be played at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, home of the Indiana Pacers. Indianapolis is hosting NBA All-Star Weekend.
HOW TO WATCH
Rising Stars mini-tournament
- When: Games start Friday at 6 p.m. PT
- TV: TNT (channel 754 on Xfinity; 245 on DirecTV; 138 on DishNetwork)
SCHEDULE
- Semifinal 1: Team Jalen vs. Team Tamika
- Semifinal 2: Team Detlef vs. Team Pau
- Championship: Semifinal winners
ROSTERS
Team Pau
- Victor Wembanyama (center, rookie, San Antonio Spurs)
- Brandon Miller (forward, rookie, Charlotte Hornets)
- Brandin Podziemski (guard, rookie, Golden State Warriors)
- Jaime Jaquez. Jr. (forward, rookie, Miami Heat)
- Jabari Smith Jr. (forward, sophomore, Houston Rockets)
- Cason Wallace (guard, rookie, Oklahoma City Thunder)
- Bilal Coulibaly (guard, rookie, Washington Wizards)
Team Tamika
- Paolo Banchero (forward, sophomore, Orlando Magic)
- Jaden Ivey (guard, sophomore, Detroit Pistons)
- Jalen Duren (center, sophomore, Detroit Pistons)
- Keegan Murray (forward, sophomore, Sacramento Kings)
- Scoot Henderson (guard, rookie, Portland Trail Blazers)
- Keyonte George (guard, rookie, Utah Jazz)
- Dyson Daniels (guard, sophomore, New Orleans Pelicans) *
- Vince Williams Jr. (guard, sophomore, Memphis Grizzlies)
- * Daniels is injured and will not play; replaced by Williams Jr.
Team Jalen
- Chet Holmgren (center, rookie, Oklahoma City Thunder)
- Jalen Williams (forward, sophomore, Oklahoma City Thunder)
- Bennedict Mathurin (guard, sophomore, Indiana Pacers)
- Shaedon Sharpe (guard, sophomore, Portland Trail Blazers) *
- Dereck Lively II (center, rookie, Dallas Mavericks)
- Jordan Hawkins (guard, rookie, New Orleans Pelicans)
- Walker Kessler (center, sophomore, Utah Jazz)
- Jeremy Sochan (forward, sophomore, San Antonio Spurs)
- * Sharpe is injured and will not play; replaced by Sochan
Team Detlef
- Izan Almansa (forward, G League Ignite)
- Emoni Bates (forward, Cleveland Charge)
- Matas Buzelis (forward, G League Ignite)
- Ron Holland (guard, G League Ignite)*
- Mac McClung (guard, Osceola Magic)
- Tyler Smith (forward, G League Ignite)
- Oscar Tshiebwe (center, Indiana Mad Ants)
- Alondes Williams (guard, Sioux Falls Skyforce)
- * Holland is injured and will not play; replaced by Bates
