“What a competitive game with high stakes!” said no one about the 2019 Rising Stars Challenge. Even with no real fire in the stove, the players had a lot of fun. De’Aaron Fox described an instagram conversation between himself, Trae Young, and Donovan Mitchell . A few days before the exhibition, they schemed to secure the win. Fox made his plans known to the others.
“I was trying to break his (John Wall) assist record.” Fox admitted after the contest. Fox finished with 16 assists – just 5 shy of Wall’s 22 assists, set in the 2010 Rising Stars Challenge. Lannister sophomore Kyle Kuzma seemed relieved to play with a star point guard, scoring 35 points and winning the coveted Rising Stars MVP award.

Kings rookie Marvin Bagley made his All-Star weekend debut with 14 points in 17 minutes, including a 360 dunk off a pass/turnover from one of the star players on the other team – Bogdan Bogdanović. Bagley was the only player greeted with boos by the Queen City crowd – likely from his relation to Durham. He didn’t notice them though, saying he was too tuned into the game before him to notice.
Bogdanović took all 11 shots from three-point-range, sinking 5 of them. One of those shots was made right in the face of De’Aaron Fox, which prompted a smile from Fox after the game, adding “I was just hoping he didn’t get hot.” Bogdanovic and stand-out Mavericks rookie Luka Doncić appeared to be great friends, constantly bringing laughs and smiles our of the other.

Charlotte fans seemed to have a lot of fun at the event – the NBA and the Hornets entertainment staff kept them engaged all night. Children were gushing in the concourse over all of the athleticism on display during the game. Buzz City is buzzing this All-Star Weekend!
The NBA cut together a 9-minute recap:

Make sure to tune in tonight to catch De’Aaron Fox in the Skills competition and Buddy Hield in the 2019 Three-Point Shootout!