With complaints from the NBA fanbase about the lack of competition in the NBA All-Star Game rising year by year, the NBA has tried multiple avenues to make the game more exciting. Whether it was the introduction of a target score or removing conference affiliations, nothing seemed to work.
However, this year, another creative solution came up in the form of a tournament between four teams drafted by NBA legends Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley, and Kenny Smith, plus a Rising Stars team coached by Candace Parker.
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Whether by coincidence or planned as such, the draft between the three legends yielded a unique pattern in their squads. While O’Neal has older players on his squad, Barkley is going for an international flavor.
That left Smith to focus on the youngsters of the game. As a result, the three teams are aptly named Shaq’s OGs, Chuck’s Global Stars, and Kenny’s Young Stars, respectively.
The winner of the Rising Stars tournament (Team C, captained by Chris Mullin) is named Candace’s Rising Stars and will join the fray as they battle it out in a knockout tournament, with the winners advancing to the finals.
Here are the exact rosters:
Candace’s Rising Stars
- Stephon Castle | San Antonio Spurs
- Ryan Dunn | Phoenix Suns
- Zach Edey | Memphis Grizzlies
- Keyonte George | Utah Jazz
- Trayce Jackson-Davis | Golden State Warriors
- Dalton Knecht | Los Angeles Lakers
- Jaylen Wells | Memphis Grizzlies
A spectacular performance from the team, led by Rising Stars MVP Castle, earned them a place in the All-Star Game tournament.
He will be joined by Knecht, who will go up against Lakers superstar LeBron James just days after a trade to send him out of L.A. was rescinded by the team due to Mark Williams’ failed physical.
Shaq’s OGs
- Jaylen Brown | Boston Celtics
- Stephen Curry | Golden State Warriors
- Anthony Davis | Dallas Mavericks (replaced by Kyrie Irving | Dallas Mavericks)
- Kevin Durant | Phoenix Suns
- James Harden | Los Angeles Clippers
- LeBron James | Los Angeles Lakers (Out due to ankle soreness)
- Damian Lillard | Milwaukee Bucks
- Jayson Tatum | Boston Celtics
With 86 combined All-Star Game appearances between them, the team O’Neal has put forward isn’t short on experience.
However, unfortunately, James and Davis won’t be playing in the All-Star Game due to injuries.
Chuck’s Global Stars
- Giannis Antetokounmpo | Milwaukee Bucks (replaced by Trae Young | Atlanta Hawks)
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | Oklahoma City Thunder
- Nikola Jokić | Denver Nuggets
- Donovan Mitchell | Cleveland Cavaliers
- Alperen Şengün | Houston Rockets
- Pascal Siakam | Indiana Pacers
- Karl-Anthony Towns | New York Knicks
- Victor Wembanyama | San Antonio Spurs
Led by the generational Wembanyama, the Global Stars team is the most well-rounded when it comes to all facets of the game. They also had the three leading candidates in the MVP race before Antetokounmpo bowed out due to injury.
Still, with the likes of Gilgeous-Alexander, Jokić, and Wembanyama on the squad, it is hard to imagine a team beating this collection of talent.
Kenny’s Young Stars
- Jalen Brunson | New York Knicks
- Cade Cunningham | Detroit Pistons
- Anthony Edwards | Minnesota Timberwolves
- Darius Garland | Cleveland Cavaliers
- Tyler Herro | Miami Heat
- Jaren Jackson Jr. | Memphis Grizzlies
- Evan Mobley | Cleveland Cavaliers
- Jalen Williams | Oklahoma City Thunder
With loads of young stars paving the way forward, led by Edwards, the young stars bring a level of pace that the other two teams might not be able to keep up with.
Moreover, they have the most well-rounded roster overall, featuring an elite collection of guards, wings, and big men.
