The 2020 NBA Rising Stars Challenge featured high profile names such as All-Stars Luka Doncic and Trae Young as well as rookie sensations Ja Morant and Zion Williamson. Given the plethora of talent, not many would have picked Charlotte Hornets guard Miles Bridges as the man to steal the show. Bridges secured 20 crucial points and displayed his knack for acrobatic dunks as he helped lift Team USA to a 151-131 win over Team World.
MILES
EMMANUEL
BRIDGES#NBARisingStars pic.twitter.com/vddg494Wne— Def Pen Hoops (@DefPenHoops) February 15, 2020
While Bridges put on a show, another unexpected name that was in contention for MVP was Eric Paschall of the Golden State Warriors, who added 23 points to Team USA’s tally.
Among the star attractions in the field of Rising Stars, highlights included a miraculous beyond-half-court heave from Luka Doncic that found its way in, a ferocious dunk by Zion Williamson that literally bent the rim, and Zion displaying the chemistry he developed in South Carolina’s AAU system by catching lobs from former teammate Ja Morant.
That half court heave from Luka had Trae geeked ?? #NBARisingStars pic.twitter.com/z1K0Nz82Gm
— Def Pen Hoops (@DefPenHoops) February 15, 2020
ZION!!! ??????#NBARisingStars pic.twitter.com/bLaGHllbSt
— Def Pen Hoops (@DefPenHoops) February 15, 2020
Zion bent the rim ??#NBARisingStars pic.twitter.com/YtAs2GLuLN
— Def Pen Hoops (@DefPenHoops) February 15, 2020
With the Celebrity Game and Rising Stars Challenge down, All-Star Weekend still has the Skills Challenge, Three-Point Shootout and Dunk Contest to offer on Saturday night, with the All-Star Game taking place on Sunday under a new format to honor Kobe Bryant. All events are being aired live on TNT.
