NBA unveils format change to Rising Stars event
Brandon Clarke #15 of the World team wins the opening tip against the USA at the United Center on February 14, 2020 in Chicago, Illinois. Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images/AFP
The NBA on Tuesday announced a change to its Rising Stars competition during All-Star weekend, unveiling its plan to make it a three-game tournament.
The event, which will take place on Feb. 18 in Cleveland, will feature four teams of seven players out of a pool of 12 rookies, 12 sophomores and four G League Ignite players squaring off in the mini-tournament. The new format replaces Team World vs. Team USA and rookies vs. sophomores before that.
The pool of NBA players will be chosen by NBA assistant coaches. The pool of Ignite players will be chosen by NBA G League head coaches. Each squad will be coached by a member of the NBA 75 team who will draft his squad ahead of the event. Each team will have an Ignite player on it.
Each game will be played to a final target score instead of dictated by the clock. Games 1 and 2 will be played until a team reaches 50 points. The winners of those games will meet in Game 3 and the contest will be played until a team reaches 25 points – 75 points in all to celebrate the league’s 75th anniversary season.
