Rising Stars Tournament Odds
Team Pau Odds – +170
Team Deron Odds – +200
Team Joakim Odds – +280
Team Jason Odds – +500
Date: February 17th, 2023
Location: Vivint Arena
TV: TNT
On Friday night, NBA All Star weekend will begin with the 2023 Jordan Rising Stars Tournament at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City. Similar to last year, the league has formatted a mini-tournament, comprising four teams of rookies, sophomores, and NBA G League players. Teams were selected by the four coaches, Pau Gasol, Deron Williams, Joakim Noah, and Jason Terry.
Team Pau (+170)
, Orlando Magic
, Indiana Pacers
, Detroit Pistons
, Toronto Raptors
Jose Alvarado, New Orleans Pelicans
, Sacramento Kings
Andrew Nembhard, Detroit Pistons
There is a reason that Team Pau is favored to win this tournament. , the top pick in this past summer’s draft, is averaging 19.9 points and 6.6 rebounds in his rookie campaign. is averaging 17.2 points in only 28.2 minutes of action for the Indiana Pacers in 60 games played. These two scorers are balanced well with a pair of playmakers, and , each of whom is averaging 4.6 assists or more per game this season. In a tournament that will cater to offensive skill, this group is well-equipped to make noise on Friday.
Team Deron (+200)
, Orlando Magic
, Houston Rockets (Injured, will not play)
Alperen Sengun, Houston Rockets
, New Orleans Pelicans
, Atlanta Hawks
Bones Hyland, Denver Nuggets
, Utah Jazz
, Chicago Bulls
Team Deron is headlined by , who scored the winning point in last year’s Rising Stars tournament, finishing an and-one opportunity after teammate found him on a back-door cut. Though will not play, this roster is still replete with talent, including the versatile big-man, , who is averaging 15.1 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 3.7 assists for the Houston Rockets this year. is averaging 8.2 points on an efficient 71.2% shooting for the Utah Jazz. provides this group with a capable deep threat, evident by his 39.7% shooting from beyond-the-arc in his 56 games played.
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Team Joakim (+280)
, Cleveland Cavaliers
, Oklahoma City Thunder
, Oklahoma City Thunder
, San Antonio Spurs
, New York Knicks
, Houston Rockets
, Detroit Pistons (Injured, will not play)
Tari Eason, Houston Rockets
Though likely felt extra motivation last year, playing in front of his home fans, it is still worth noting that he had 18 of his team’s 75 points across two games in last year’s tournament. He provides an athletic rebounding and scoring presence in the paint, which pairs well with playmaking. If there is one thing that Team Joakim is missing, it is a perimeter scoring threat. No player on this roster is shooting above 35.0% from beyond-the-arc this year. If Mobley and company are going to make noise on Friday, they will likely need to show an inordinate commitment on the defensive end of the floor.
Team Jason (+500)
Sidy Cissoko, G League Ignite
Scoot Henderson, G League Ignite
Mojave King, G League Ignite
, Memphis Hustle
, Delaware Blue Coats
Leonard Miller, G League Ignite
, South Bay Lakers
is averaging 20.6 points per game this season for the Memphis Hustle, and is averaging 19.1 points for the Delaware Blues. However, the rest of this roster is devoid of much scoring potential. is shooting 41.0% from three-point territory in the G League this season, but there are few other reliable marksmen available to complement his perimeter skills. It would be surprising to see Team Jason do much on Friday night.
Jordan Rising Stars – Picks & Predictions
It is never sexy to pick the favorite in any situation, but Team Pau is unquestionably the most talented and well-rounded roster in this year’s Rising Stars tournament. has experience in this event, having scored nine points and collected four rebounds last year. Supporting him is the the consensus favorite for NBA rookie of the year, a 17.2 points per game scorer from Indiana, and a skilled passer, with Ivey likely handling a fair amount of the ball handling responsibilities. Expect Barnes and company to get the job done to begin the weekend’s festivities.
PICK: Team Pau (+170, FanDuel)
Image Credit: Getty Images
