2022 NBA Rising Stars Challenge - Team Barry Wins Championship

The 2022 NBA Rising Stars Challenge took place on February 18, 2022, at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio. The event returned after being canceled in 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but it featured a substantially different format from previous years. Instead of a single exhibition between Team USA and Team World, the NBA introduced a four-team tournament with three games.

Twenty-eight players participated in the event, including 12 NBA rookies, 12 second-year NBA players and four players from NBA G League Ignite. The four teams were coached by members of the NBA's 75th Anniversary Team: Rick Barry, Isiah Thomas, Gary Payton and James Worthy.

Team Barry emerged as the tournament champion, defeating Team Isiah 25-20 in the final. Detroit Pistons rookie Cade Cunningham earned Most Valuable Player honors after totaling 18 points, seven rebounds, nine assists, two steals and two blocked shots across Team Barry's two victories.

The championship was a closely contested game that featured a dramatic comeback. Team Isiah led 18-12 before Team Barry closed the contest on a 13-2 run. Cunningham hit a three-pointer to extend Team Barry's lead to 24-20, then found Orlando Magic rookie Franz Wagner cutting to the basket. Wagner was fouled and made the free throw that gave Team Barry the required 25 points.

Toronto Raptors forward Precious Achiuwa led all scorers in the championship with 12 points, making four of eight field-goal attempts and two three-pointers. Cunningham, Cleveland Cavaliers rookie Evan Mobley and Houston Rockets forward Jae'Sean Tate each scored five points for Team Barry, while G League Ignite guard Dyson Daniels added four points and Wagner scored three.

The championship appearance was Team Barry's second victory of the evening. In the semifinals, Team Barry edged Team Payton 50-48 after trailing during the closing stages. Cunningham led the winners with 13 points, five rebounds and six assists, while Mobley added 13 points and eight rebounds. Jae'Sean Tate scored the winning basket on a drive through traffic.

Team Payton received 12 points from Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels, but its late attempts to win the game with three-pointers were unsuccessful. Team Barry advanced to the championship by just two points.

The other semifinal was equally dramatic. Team Isiah defeated Team Worthy 50-49, with Memphis Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane making the deciding free throw. Team Worthy had rallied from a 10-point deficit, but Orlando Magic rookie Jalen Suggs missed an opportunity to end the game at the free-throw line.

Houston Rockets rookie Jalen Green scored 20 points for Team Worthy in the semifinal. For Team Isiah, Detroit Pistons teammates Saddiq Bey and Isaiah Stewart combined for 26 points.

The 2022 format changed the rhythm of the Rising Stars Challenge. Each semifinal was played to a target score of 50 points, and the championship was played to 25. The games did not use traditional timed quarters, meaning that every basket near the target score could determine the winner.

The tournament also introduced NBA G League Ignite prospects into the Rising Stars event. Dyson Daniels played for Team Barry, Jaden Hardy represented Team Isiah, Scoot Henderson joined Team Payton and MarJon Beauchamp competed for Team Worthy. Their participation expanded the event beyond players already on NBA rosters.

Cunningham's MVP award made him the central figure in the inaugural tournament-format Rising Stars Challenge. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft combined scoring, rebounding and passing to lead Team Barry through two close games, culminating in the 25-20 championship victory.

Date: February 18, 2022
Arena: Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
Location: Cleveland, Ohio
Format: Four-team, three-game tournament
Semifinal Target Score: 50 points
Championship Target Score: 25 points
Champion: Team Barry
Runner-Up: Team Isiah
Championship Score: Team Barry 25, Team Isiah 20
Most Valuable Player: Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons
MVP Tournament Statistics: 18 points, 7 rebounds, 9 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks
Team Barry Coach: Rick Barry
Team Isiah Coach: Isiah Thomas
Team Payton Coach: Gary Payton
Team Worthy Coach: James Worthy
Players Selected: 28

Head Coach: Rick Barry | Result: Won 25-20

Head Coach: Isiah Thomas | Result: Lost 25-20

Chris Duarte of the Indiana Pacers and Davion Mitchell of the Sacramento Kings were originally selected for Team Payton but withdrew because of injuries. Jonathan Kuminga replaced Duarte, while Bones Hyland replaced Mitchell.

Cade Cunningham Wins Rising Stars MVP

Detroit Pistons rookie Cade Cunningham won the award after totaling 18 points, seven rebounds, nine assists, two steals and two blocks in Team Barry's two victories. Cunningham scored 13 points in the semifinal and five in the championship.

First Four-Team Rising Stars Tournament

The NBA replaced the traditional single-game format with a four-team tournament. Each semifinal was played to 50 points, while the championship was played to 25 points.

Team Barry Wins Two Close Games

Team Barry defeated Team Payton 50-48 in the semifinals before beating Team Isiah 25-20 in the championship. Both games ended on decisive late possessions.

Franz Wagner Scores the Championship-Winning Point

Orlando Magic rookie Franz Wagner made the free throw that completed Team Barry's 13-2 closing run and secured the championship.

Jalen Green Scores 20 Points in Semifinal

Houston Rockets rookie Jalen Green led Team Worthy with 20 points in its 50-49 semifinal loss to Team Isiah.

Desmond Bane Wins the First Semifinal

Memphis Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane made the deciding free throw to give Team Isiah a 50-49 victory over Team Worthy.

Jae'Sean Tate Wins the Second Semifinal

Houston Rockets forward Jae'Sean Tate scored the winning basket as Team Barry edged Team Payton 50-48.

NBA G League Ignite Players Join the Event

Four G League Ignite prospects participated: Dyson Daniels, Jaden Hardy, Scoot Henderson and MarJon Beauchamp. Their inclusion was one of the most significant changes to the Rising Stars format.

NBA Legends Serve as Coaches

Rick Barry, Isiah Thomas, Gary Payton and James Worthy coached the four teams. All four were members of the NBA's 75th Anniversary Team.

2022 NBA All-Star Weekend in Cleveland

Cleveland hosted NBA All-Star Weekend for the first time since 1997. Team LeBron defeated Team Durant 163-160 in the main All-Star Game on February 20, 2022, with Stephen Curry winning MVP after scoring 50 points and making 16 three-pointers.

Who won the 2022 NBA Rising Stars Challenge?

Team Barry won the championship, defeating Team Isiah 25-20.

Who was the 2022 Rising Stars MVP?

Cade Cunningham of the Detroit Pistons won MVP after totaling 18 points, seven rebounds and nine assists in two games.

Where was the 2022 Rising Stars Challenge played?

The tournament took place at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio, on February 18, 2022.

What were the semifinal scores?

Team Isiah defeated Team Worthy 50-49, and Team Barry defeated Team Payton 50-48.

Why did the 2022 Rising Stars Challenge have four teams?

The NBA introduced a new tournament format with four teams of seven players, replacing the previous USA-versus-World exhibition.

Who scored the winning point in the championship?

Franz Wagner made the free throw that gave Team Barry its 25th point and ended the game.

Who coached the four Rising Stars teams?

Rick Barry, Isiah Thomas, Gary Payton and James Worthy coached the teams named after them.

Did G League players participate?

Yes. Dyson Daniels, Jaden Hardy, Scoot Henderson and MarJon Beauchamp represented NBA G League Ignite.

The NBA published separate box scores for each of the three games because the 2022 event used a tournament format.

Semifinal 1: Team Worthy vs. Team Isiah
Semifinal 2: Team Payton vs. Team Barry
Championship: Team Barry vs. Team Isiah

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