Cade Cunningham of the Detroit Pistons and Evan Mobley of the Cleveland Cavaliers are two of the top NBA rookies this season, but for All-Star weekend they will be teammates.
The Cade vs. Mobley debate has heated up in recent weeks, as Cunningham strung together some great games and even joined Michael Jordan on an elite list.
Cade recently took over the number one spot on the Rookie Ladder, and the momentum for the Rookie of the Year had shifted prior to the hip pointer that has kept him out for two games.
Both players were selected to the Rising Stars game, which wasn’t a surprise, but what was surprising was the new format that added some interesting wrinkles to the event.
The Rising Stars Challenge used to be one game between the best rookies and sophomores in the NBA, but the new format has four seven-player teams battling it out in a single elimination tournament which should be far more entertaining.
Fans who wondered what Cade Cunningham and Evan Mobley might look like on the same team will get their answer.
Cade Cunningham and Evan Mobley lead Team Barry in the Rising Stars Challenge
The Rising Stars teams were named and there are some interesting squads for this one that should provide a much more entertaining event.
The 2022 Rising Stars rosters pic.twitter.com/ch4tKibWBD
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) February 4, 2022
Cade will be joined by Mobley and Franz Wagner, giving Team Barry three of the top five rookies from this class.
Former Piston Isiah Thomas selected both Saddiq Bey and Isaiah Stewart, though I was hoping all three Pistons would end up on his team.
Isiah’s team might have the best mixture of offense and defense, Team Payton has the best potential alley-oop combination with LaMelo and Scottie Barnes and Team Barry might have the most skill overall with Cade, Mobley, Sengun and Wagner leading the way.
Team Worthy is the one most fans are unsure about, which means they will probably play with a chip on their shoulders and win the whole thing.
After the first set of games that will be to 25, the two winners will play in a game to 50, so this new format should be pretty exciting and will actually get me to watch, which I haven’t in years.
I think the Detroit Pistons’ fan in me has to cheer for Team Isiah but I can’t wait to see Cade and Mobley team up for a game or two.