2023 NBA RISING STARS CHAMPIONSHIP
TEAM PAU 25 - TEAM JOAKIM 20
Team Pau: 2 Wins, 0 Losses
MVP: Jose Alvarado - New Orleans Pelicans
2023 NBA Rising Stars Challenge Recap
The 2023 NBA Rising Stars Challenge took place on February 17, 2023, at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. The event continued the four-team tournament format introduced in 2022, featuring 21 NBA rookies and sophomores and seven NBA G League players. Four teams competed in two semifinals and a championship game, with each contest ending when a team reached a designated target score.
Team Pau, coached by former NBA star Pau Gasol, won the championship by defeating Team Joakim 25-20. New Orleans Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado earned Most Valuable Player honors after scoring 13 points in the opening semifinal and making the championship-winning three-pointer.
The tournament began with Team Pau defeating Team Deron 40-25. Alvarado led all scorers with 13 points, making six of 10 field-goal attempts. Orlando Magic rookie Paolo Banchero contributed nine points and five rebounds, while Indiana Pacers rookie Bennedict Mathurin added seven points. Sacramento Kings rookie Keegan Murray ended the game with a three-pointer off an assist from Andrew Nembhard.
Team Deron struggled offensively, shooting 11-for-27 from the field and making only three of 16 three-point attempts. New Orleans Pelicans forward Trey Murphy III led the team with nine points, while Bones Hyland scored seven and Chicago Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu added four. Utah Jazz rookie Walker Kessler contributed two points, one rebound and one assist in his appearance before the home crowd.
The second semifinal featured Team Joakim against Team Jason, a squad composed of NBA G League players. Team Joakim prevailed 40-32 behind 13 points from New York Knicks guard Quentin Grimes. Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley added eight points, while San Antonio Spurs rookie Jeremy Sochan contributed six.
Team Jason mounted a second-half rally led by Mac McClung, who scored 10 points. Scoot Henderson contributed three points, but Team Joakim held on. Grimes sealed the victory with a three-pointer to reach the 40-point target.
The championship featured a closely contested matchup between Team Pau and Team Joakim. Grimes led all players with 14 points, including four made three-pointers, and helped Team Joakim remain competitive throughout the game.
Team Pau received seven points from Mathurin, six from Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes and five from Alvarado. Banchero contributed four points, while Detroit Pistons guard Jaden Ivey added three. Team Pau shot 10-for-17 from the field and distributed four assists.
With Team Pau leading 22-20, Alvarado caught the ball on the right wing and made the three-pointer that ended the game. The shot secured the 25-20 championship victory and earned him tournament MVP honors.
The tournament showcased several young players who would become important figures in the NBA, including Paolo Banchero, Scottie Barnes, Evan Mobley, Jalen Williams, Alperen Sengun, Franz Wagner, Bennedict Mathurin and Walker Kessler.
The 2023 event was also notable for its NBA G League representation. Team Jason featured Scoot Henderson, Sidy Cissoko, Mojave King, Kenneth Lofton Jr., Mac McClung, Leonard Miller and Scotty Pippen Jr. Their inclusion continued the NBA's effort to highlight prospects outside traditional NBA rosters.
For the second consecutive season, the Rising Stars championship was decided by a target-score finish. The 2023 tournament produced three games that ended with made three-pointers, providing a dramatic conclusion to each matchup.
2023 NBA Rising Stars Game Information
Date: February 17, 2023
Arena: Vivint Arena
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
Format: Four-team tournament
Semifinal Target Score: 40
Championship Target Score: 25
Champion: Team Pau
Runner-Up: Team Joakim
Championship Score: 25-20
MVP: Jose Alvarado, New Orleans Pelicans
Team Pau Coach: Pau Gasol
Team Deron Coach: Deron Williams
Team Joakim Coach: Joakim Noah
Team Jason Coach: Jason Terry
Participants: 28
2023 NBA Rising Stars Tournament Results
| Round | Winner | Score | Loser | Score | Winning Shot |
|---|
| Semifinal 1 | Team Pau | 40 | Team Deron | 25 | Keegan Murray three-pointer |
| Semifinal 2 | Team Joakim | 40 | Team Jason | 32 | Quentin Grimes three-pointer |
| Championship | Team Pau | 25 | Team Joakim | 20 | Jose Alvarado three-pointer |
Semifinal 1 - Team Pau 40, Team Deron 25
Team Pau defeated Team Deron 40-25 behind Jose Alvarado's 13 points. Keegan Murray ended the contest with a three-pointer.
Team Pau Box Score - Semifinal 1
| Player | MIN | FG | 3PT | FT | OR | DR | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | PTS |
|---|
| Jose Alvarado | 9:53 | 6-10 | 1-3 | 0-0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 13 |
| Paolo Banchero | 11:47 | 4-6 | 1-2 | 0-0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Scottie Barnes | 9:53 | 1-3 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Jaden Ivey | 6:58 | 2-3 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Bennedict Mathurin | 6:58 | 2-6 | 1-3 | 2-4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 |
| Keegan Murray | 6:43 | 1-4 | 1-3 | 0-0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Andrew Nembhard | 6:43 | 0-1 | 0-1 | 2-2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| TEAM TOTAL | — | 16-33 | 4-13 | 4-6 | 8 | 14 | 22 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 40 |
Team Deron Box Score - Semifinal 1
| Player | MIN | FG | 3PT | FT | OR | DR | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | PTS |
|---|
| AJ Griffin | 6:58 | 1-4 | 1-4 | 0-0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Bones Hyland | 9:53 | 3-7 | 1-4 | 0-0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 7 |
| Walker Kessler | 6:58 | 1-2 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Trey Murphy III | 11:47 | 4-6 | 1-2 | 0-0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Franz Wagner | 9:53 | 0-3 | 0-3 | 0-0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ayo Dosunmu | 6:43 | 2-3 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| Alperen Sengun | 6:43 | 0-2 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| TEAM TOTAL | — | 11-27 | 3-16 | 0-0 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 25 |
Semifinal 2 - Team Joakim 40, Team Jason 32
Team Joakim defeated Team Jason 40-32. Quentin Grimes led the winners with 13 points and hit the deciding three-pointer. Mac McClung scored 10 points for Team Jason.
The full individual shooting, rebounding and assist statistics for this semifinal are available in the linked NBA game record. Only independently confirmed individual scoring figures appear below.
Team Joakim Box Score - Semifinal 2
| Player | NBA Team | PTS | Notes |
|---|
| Quentin Grimes | New York Knicks | 13 | Game-high scoring; winning three-pointer |
| Evan Mobley | Cleveland Cavaliers | 8 | Key frontcourt contribution |
| Jeremy Sochan | San Antonio Spurs | 6 | Scored six points |
| Josh Giddey | Oklahoma City Thunder | 3 | Six assists |
| Jalen Williams | Oklahoma City Thunder | — | Individual statistics pending verification |
| Jabari Smith Jr. | Houston Rockets | — | Individual statistics pending verification |
| Tari Eason | Houston Rockets | — | Individual statistics pending verification |
| TEAM TOTAL | | 40 | Advanced to championship |
Team Jason Box Score - Semifinal 2
| Player | G League Team | PTS | Notes |
|---|
| Mac McClung | Delaware Blue Coats | 10 | Team-leading scorer |
| Scoot Henderson | G League Ignite | 3 | 1-for-5 shooting |
| Sidy Cissoko | G League Ignite | — | Individual statistics pending verification |
| Mojave King | G League Ignite | — | Individual statistics pending verification |
| Kenneth Lofton Jr. | Memphis Hustle | — | Individual statistics pending verification |
| Leonard Miller | G League Ignite | — | Individual statistics pending verification |
| Scotty Pippen Jr. | South Bay Lakers | — | Individual statistics pending verification |
| TEAM TOTAL | | 32 | Eliminated in semifinal |
Championship - Team Pau 25, Team Joakim 20
Team Pau won the 2023 Rising Stars championship when Jose Alvarado made a three-pointer to reach the 25-point target. Quentin Grimes led the championship with 14 points for Team Joakim.
Team Pau Box Score - Championship
| Player | FG | 3PT | FT | OR | DR | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | PTS |
|---|
| Bennedict Mathurin | 3-5 | 1-2 | 0-2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Scottie Barnes | 3-4 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 6 |
| Paolo Banchero | 1-3 | 0-2 | 2-2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Jaden Ivey | 1-1 | 1-1 | 0-0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Jose Alvarado (MVP) | 2-4 | 1-2 | 0-0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| Andrew Nembhard | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Keegan Murray | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| TEAM TOTAL | 10-17 | 3-8 | 2-4 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 25 |
Team Joakim Box Score - Championship
| Player | FG | 3PT | FT | OR | DR | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | PTS |
|---|
| Quentin Grimes | 5-8 | 4-7 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| Josh Giddey | 1-1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Jalen Williams | 0-3 | 0-1 | 2-2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Jabari Smith Jr. | 0-3 | 0-1 | 1-2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Jeremy Sochan | 0-0 | 0-0 | 1-2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Evan Mobley | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tari Eason | Did not play in championship |
| TEAM TOTAL | 6-15 | 4-9 | 4-6 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 20 |
Championship Team Statistics
| Statistic | Team Pau | Team Joakim |
|---|
| Final Score | 25 | 20 |
| Field Goals | 10-17 | 6-15 |
| Field Goal Percentage | 58.8% | 40.0% |
| Three-Pointers | 3-8 | 4-9 |
| Three-Point Percentage | 37.5% | 44.4% |
| Free Throws | 2-4 | 4-6 |
| Free Throw Percentage | 50.0% | 66.7% |
| Player Rebounds | 7 | 8 |
| Team Rebounds | 3 | 2 |
| Assists | 4 | 4 |
| Steals | 1 | 2 |
| Blocks | 1 | 2 |
| Player Turnovers | 2 | 3 |
2023 NBA Rising Stars Rosters
| Team Pau | NBA Team | Team Deron | NBA Team |
|---|
| Jose Alvarado | New Orleans Pelicans | AJ Griffin | Atlanta Hawks |
| Paolo Banchero | Orlando Magic | Bones Hyland | LA Clippers |
| Scottie Barnes | Toronto Raptors | Walker Kessler | Utah Jazz |
| Jaden Ivey | Detroit Pistons | Trey Murphy III | New Orleans Pelicans |
| Bennedict Mathurin | Indiana Pacers | Franz Wagner | Orlando Magic |
| Keegan Murray | Sacramento Kings | Ayo Dosunmu | Chicago Bulls |
| Andrew Nembhard | Indiana Pacers | Alperen Sengun | Houston Rockets |
| Team Joakim | NBA Team | Team Jason | G League Team |
|---|
| Quentin Grimes | New York Knicks | Sidy Cissoko | G League Ignite |
| Josh Giddey | Oklahoma City Thunder | Scoot Henderson | G League Ignite |
| Jalen Williams | Oklahoma City Thunder | Mojave King | G League Ignite |
| Jabari Smith Jr. | Houston Rockets | Kenneth Lofton Jr. | Memphis Hustle |
| Jeremy Sochan | San Antonio Spurs | Mac McClung | Delaware Blue Coats |
| Evan Mobley | Cleveland Cavaliers | Leonard Miller | G League Ignite |
| Tari Eason | Houston Rockets | Scotty Pippen Jr. | South Bay Lakers |
Injury replacements: Ayo Dosunmu replaced Jalen Green on Team Deron. Tari Eason replaced Jalen Duren on Team Joakim. Both original selections were unable to participate because of injuries.
2023 NBA Rising Stars Historical Notes
Jose Alvarado Wins MVP
New Orleans Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado scored 18 points across two games, including 13 in the semifinal and five in the championship. His three-pointer ended the championship and secured Team Pau's victory.
Quentin Grimes Scores 14 in Championship
New York Knicks guard Quentin Grimes led all championship scorers with 14 points and four three-pointers. He also scored 13 points in the semifinal victory over Team Jason.
Keegan Murray Ends the First Semifinal
Sacramento Kings rookie Keegan Murray made the winning three-pointer as Team Pau defeated Team Deron 40-25.
Walker Kessler Represents the Host Utah Jazz
Utah Jazz rookie Walker Kessler participated for Team Deron in front of the home crowd in Salt Lake City. Kessler scored two points, grabbed one rebound and blocked two shots.
Team Jason Features NBA G League Players
For the second consecutive year, NBA G League players participated in Rising Stars. Team Jason was composed entirely of G League players, including Scoot Henderson and Mac McClung.
Three Games End on Three-Pointers
All three tournament games ended with made three-point shots. Keegan Murray won the first semifinal, Quentin Grimes won the second, and Jose Alvarado won the championship.
2023 NBA All-Star Weekend
Salt Lake City hosted NBA All-Star Weekend for the first time since 1993. Team Giannis defeated Team LeBron 184-175 in the main All-Star Game on February 19, with Jayson Tatum winning MVP after scoring 55 points. Mac McClung won the Slam Dunk Contest, Damian Lillard won the Three-Point Contest, and the Utah Jazz won the Skills Challenge.
Official 2023 NBA Rising Stars Box Scores
2023 NBA Rising Stars Challenge FAQ
Who won the 2023 NBA Rising Stars Challenge?
Team Pau won the tournament, defeating Team Joakim 25-20 in the championship.
Who was the 2023 Rising Stars MVP?
Jose Alvarado of the New Orleans Pelicans won MVP after scoring 18 points across two games and making the championship-winning three-pointer.
Where was the 2023 Rising Stars Challenge played?
The tournament was held at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah, on February 17, 2023.
What were the semifinal scores?
Team Pau defeated Team Deron 40-25, and Team Joakim defeated Team Jason 40-32.
Who scored the most points in the championship?
Quentin Grimes of Team Joakim scored 14 points, making four three-pointers.
Who scored the winning basket?
Jose Alvarado made the three-pointer that gave Team Pau 25 points and ended the championship.
Who coached the four teams?
Pau Gasol, Deron Williams, Joakim Noah and Jason Terry served as honorary coaches.
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