NBA All-Star grades: The best and worst from every event during All-Star Weekend in Utah

It's NBA All-Star Weekend, but not all the stars will shine equally. To highlight the best and worst performances all weekend long in Salt Lake City, we're grading the participants in every event from the Rising Stars on Friday through Sunday's All-Star Game.

The NBA All-Star Game featured a twist on the draft format used since 2018, having captains LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers and Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks draft their teammates live on stage moments before the game.

While that created some humorous moments, including Nikola Jokic drafting himself to Team LeBron -- he later explained he didn't realize Lauri Markkanen was still available to be picked -- the change plus the target-score format in use since 2020 didn't do much to create competition in an All-Star Game that will be remembered partially for the lack of defense.

That shouldn't take away from the accomplishment of Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, who earned MVP honors with a historic performance in Team Giannis' 184-175 win, breaking the All-Star Game record with 55 points to lead Team Giannis to a long-awaited victory.

Tatum obviously earned an A grade. What about the rest of the players in Sunday's showcase event?

Jump to grades: All-Star Game | Dunks, 3s and skills | Rising Stars

ALL-STAR GAME

Team Giannis

Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
Grade: Incomplete

Stats
2 PTS | 1-1 FG

Analysis
Dealing with an injury to his right wrist, team captain Giannis took the court for the opening tipoff and dunked gingerly for the fans before taking a foul and heading to the bench. As a GM, Antetokounmpo earned an A, putting together a team capable of overcoming the hardship of his own absence and still spoiling Team LeBron's perfect 5-0 record during the drafted teams era.

Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics
Grade: A

Stats
55 PTS | 22-31 FG | 10-18 3PT | 10 REB | 6 AST

Analysis
Granted that the level of competition in the All-Star Game is several notches lower than it was most of the league's history, Tatum put together the most impressive statistical performance ever in this setting. Not only did Tatum's 55 points break Anthony Davis' record of 52 in 2017, he also surpassed Davis (40.3) for the highest game score (46.0) in an All-Star Game, according to Basketball-Reference.

After dueling with James and scoring a team-high 17 points in the first half, Tatum came out of halftime in dominant fashion. His 27 points on 10-of-14 shooting (7-of-11 from 3) during the third quarter were six more than any other player has ever scored in an All-Star quarter, per ESPN Stats & Information research. Tatum then stayed on the court the entire fourth quarter, adding 11 more points to eclipse Davis' mark.

The most memorable part of Tatum's night was his one-on-one battle with teammate Jaylen Brown late in the third quarter. Brown had the advantage early, but Tatum rallied by making a 3 on his second head-to-head possession and then prevented Brown from getting off a shot at the other end before the buzzer sounded.

Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies
Grade: B

Stats
6 PTS | 3-4 FG | 3 REB | 3 AST

Analysis
Antetokounmpo couldn't wait to draft Morant, attempting to take him in the reserve section before finally making the pick when it was time for the starters. Morant had a couple of dazzling dunks, pulling way back on a high-flying reverse and later going 360. Those accounted for two of his three field goals in 20 minutes of action.

Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers
Grade: A

Stats
40 PTS | 15-25 FG | 8-17 3PT | 10 AST | 3 STL

Analysis
If it weren't for Tatum's historic night, Mitchell could have easily won MVP playing in his old stomping grounds. He became the first player ever to go for 40 points and 10 assists in the All-Star Game, with none of the previous double-digit assisters having scored more than 31 points. Like Lillard, Mitchell missed a pair of half-court shots trying to reach the target score in style.

Lauri Markkanen, Utah Jazz
Grade: B

Stats
13 PTS | 6-13 FG | 1-6 3PT | 7 REB

Analysis
"The Finnisher" went above the rim to finish multiple times for the home fans in Salt Lake City, dunking home a lob from Tatum in the early going and adding a powerful finish after catching the ball on the move in transition later among five total flushes. Markkanen also pulled down seven rebounds but missed five of his six 3-point attempts, including a chance to reach the target score.

Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers
Grade: A-

Stats
26 PTS | 9-21 FG | 8-20 3PT | 3 REB | 4 AST

Analysis
Although it didn't come from midcourt as he was hoping, Lillard fittingly knocked down a 3 to secure Team Giannis' victory -- which looked shaky for a brief moment -- a night after winning the 3-point contest. Lillard took a game-high 20 3-pointers, accounting for all but one of his shots, and started with a deep one before missing his next seven attempts.

From there, Lillard heated up, making eight 3s in total. His pair of makes late in the second quarter helped assure Team Giannis a win in that period. Later, Lillard did hit a pull-up 3 just beyond the half-court stripe, showing off his trademark range.

Jrue Holiday, Milwaukee Bucks
Grade: B-

Stats
3 PTS | 1-3 3PT | 2 AST

Analysis
Despite being drafted by his teammate with the third pick among the reserves, Holiday saw the least action of any healthy player on Team Giannis. His only field goal was a catch-and-shoot 3 in transition that helped give the team a 2-for-1 opportunity at the end of the first quarter.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
Grade: A-

Stats
9 PTS | 4-5 FG | 1-1 3PT | 7 AST | 2 REB

Analysis
On a per-minute basis, Gilgeous-Alexander was as productive as almost anyone, recording nine points and an incredible seven assists in his 10 minutes of action. One of those dimes saw Gilgeous-Alexander go off the backboard to Pascal Siakam for a dunk.

DeMar DeRozan, Chicago Bulls
Grade: B+

Stats
8 PTS | 4-6 FG | 6 REB | 5 AST

Analysis
Fittingly, DeRozan made as many 2-pointers outside the paint (three in five attempts) as all the other All-Stars combined. Even in an exhibition setting, DeRozan knows his game. One of DeRozan's misses came at the end of the first quarter, when he isolated against Paul George with a chance to win the quarter and money for charity.

Pascal Siakam, Toronto Raptors
Grade: A-

Stats
12 PTS | 6-8 FG | 0-1 3PT | 7 REB | 4 AST

Analysis
During his 15 minutes off the bench, Siakam stuffed the stat sheet with 12 points on 6-of-8 shooting, seven rebounds and four assists. He set up Markkanen with a lob and later passed up a chance to score around the basket in favor of kicking out to Mitchell for a 3-pointer.

Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat
Grade: B-

Stats
4 PTS | 2-2 FG | 1 AST

Analysis
Effectively a starter because he replaced Giannis after the opening possession, Adebayo had a quiet 24 minutes, attempting just two shots but making both of them. He went end to end for a two-handed dunk, but Adebayo's most memorable play was throwing the ball inbounds off Nikola Jokic's back -- only to then turn it over himself.

Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento Kings
Grade: B

Stats
6 PTS | 3-4 FG | 4 REB | 1 AST

Analysis
The All-Star Game has never been an ideal setting for Sabonis' skills, so remarkably his six points off the bench topped his previous total of four combined points in two appearances. Sabonis also pulled down four boards and threw a lob to Tatum for his only assist.

Team LeBron

LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers
Grade: B+

Stats
13 PTS | 6-11 FG | 1-5 3PT | 4 AST | 1 REB

Analysis
Playing only the first half, James wasn't able to make his usual MVP push but did have 13 points and four assists in 14 minutes of action. James seemed to be the only player willing to contest shots at the rim while he was on the court, seemingly blocking Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. (Officially, he was not credited with a block.) James' only blemish was being unable to bank in a 3, trying to do so multiple times, including while on the run.

Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers
Grade: A

Stats
32 PTS | 14-19 FG | 4-8 3PT | 6 REB | 4 AST

Analysis
Enjoying a size advantage on Team Giannis as part of a double-center starting lineup, Embiid used that to score 32 points on 14-of-19 shooting. In addition to finishing against smaller defenders, Embiid stepped outside to knock down four 3-pointers, tied for a team high. The first came from the corner after a series of jab steps. Embiid also played some (gasp!) defense around the basket, coming up with one of the night's three blocks and later fouling Tatum at the rim.

Kyrie Irving, Dallas Mavericks
Grade: A

Stats
32 PTS | 14-21 FG | 4-8 3PT | 15 AST | 7 REB

Analysis
During the third quarter, Embiid and Irving combined to keep Team LeBron from getting blown out with their performances. Irving handed out a game-high 15 assists, joining Chris Paul (who has done it four times) as the only players with at least 15 assists since Gary Payton in 1995. Per ESPN Stats & Information research, eight of those went for dunks.

Also effective as a scorer, Irving inaugurated the 30-15 club in the All-Star Game by putting up 32 points on 14-of-21 shooting. Irving made four 3-pointers but far more shots at the rim, using his dazzling dribbling moves to get to the rack repeatedly.

Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks
Grade: B-

Stats
4 PTS | 2-5 FG | 0-3 3PT | 5 AST | 2 REB

Analysis
GM LeBron might have picked Doncic too early given his track record of limited production in All-Star Games. Luka did play well while talking to the TNT broadcast crew on the court, including a drive for a dunk he punctuated by saying, "that never happens." That was one of just two field goals for Doncic, though he did hand out five assists.

Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
Grade: C+

Stats
4 PTS | 2-4 FG | 0-1 3PT | 6 AST | 5 REB

Analysis
The reigning two-time MVP wasn't bothered by being one of the last two starters chosen, telling reporters afterward, "I wouldn't pick me, either. This game isn't for me." Of course, part of the issue might be Jokic's unwillingness to break past a light jog at any point, because Jokic's passing is tailor-made for the All-Star setting. He lobbed the ball high above the rim to James early on, then tossed a lob to Irving from half court before contributing just two points and two rebounds in eight second-half minutes.

Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves
Grade: B+

Stats
12 PTS | 6-8 FG | 0-2 3PT | 4 REB | 1 AST

Analysis
Taken early among the reserves in his All-Star debut, Edwards rewarded James with 12 points on 6-of-8 shooting. Four of his six scores came on dunks, including a two-hander that saw him swing on the rim afterward.

Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics
Grade: A

Stats
35 PTS | 16-27 FG | 3-12 3PT | 14 REB | 5 AST

Analysis
Making his return from a facial fracture suffered on Feb. 8 when he was accidentally elbowed by Tatum and wearing a black facemask Sunday night to protect his injury, Brown was one of the few players capable of going toe to toe with his teammate and the All-Star Game MVP. When they first began isolating against each other, Brown started with a step-back jumper and a step-back 3, jokingly giving the "too small" signal to Tatum, who is listed two inches taller. In between, Brown forced a turnover when Tatum coughed the ball up on a dribble move.

Brown led Team LeBron with 35 points and 14 rebounds, the latter figure matching Kobe Bryant (2011) for the most in an All-Star Game since Tim Duncan had 15 in 2003. Brown's six dunks on the night were second only to Tatum, highlighted by a windmill he followed with a deep 3 to keep pressure on Team Giannis to hit the target score.

Paul George, LA Clippers
Grade: D+

Stats
8 PTS | 4-13 FG | 0-9 3PT | 2 REB | 2 AST

Analysis
Historically a strong performer in the All-Star Game, George failed to reach double figures for the first time in his eight appearances because he could not find the range from downtown. George missed all nine of his 3-point attempts. Better inside the arc, George blocked Holiday and then paid it off with a dunk at the opposite end.

Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers
Grade: A

Stats
18 PTS | 7-9 FG | 4-6 3PT | 3 AST | 1 REB

Analysis
If the All-Star Game were a more serious competition, we'd question Team LeBron coach Michael Malone's decision to play Haliburton just 14 minutes off the bench. Haliburton's unselfish game looked ideal for an All-Star setting, and Team LeBron outscored Team Giannis by nine points with him on the court. Though Haliburton drove and dished to set up a Julius Randle dunk, the team's success was mostly because of his shooting. Haliburton went 4-of-6 from 3-point range, with three of those makes coming in a four-possession span.

Julius Randle, New York Knicks
Grade: B

Stats
11 PTS | 5-10 FG | 1-5 3PT | 2 REB | 2 AST

Analysis
A night after participating in the 3-point contest as an injury replacement, Randle took half his 10 shots from long distance, making just one of them. Randle was more accurate closer to the hoop, making four of five 2-point attempts, and had a nice feed to Brown for a dunk on one of his two assists.

De'Aaron Fox, Sacramento Kings
Grade: C-

Stats
0 PTS | 0-1 FG | 2 AST

Analysis
Fox's All-Star debut surely did not go as he planned. Shortly after TNT broadcaster Brian Anderson mentioned that Fox was the only player not to score in the game, he missed a dunk attempt that was his only shot of the evening. A pair of assists were Fox's lone statistical contribution in nine minutes of action.

Jaren Jackson Jr., Memphis Grizzlies
Grade: B

Stats
6 PTS | 3-4 FG | 0-1 3PT | 1 REB

Analysis
Among healthy players, Jackson saw the least action (eight minutes) in his All-Star debut. Jackson had three dunks for his six points but missed when he tried to explore the studio space with a deep pull-up 3-pointer.

ALL-STAR SATURDAY NIGHT

All-Star Saturday Night featured a series of events, starting with the skills challenge, continuing with the 3-point contest and culminating with the slam dunk competition.

Under a format introduced last year, the skills challenge pitted three teams against each other: Team Antetokounmpo with brothers Thanasis and Alex joined by Jrue Holiday as a replacement for injured Giannis Antetokounmpo, Team Jazz as the hometown favorites and Team Rookies with top-five picks Paolo Banchero, Jaden Ivey and Jabari Smith Jr.

A star-studded 3-point contest included five competitors who will be part of Sunday's All-Star Game: Tyrese Haliburton, Damian Lillard, Lauri Markkanen from the host Jazz, Julius Randle and Jayson Tatum.

By contrast, the 2023 dunk contest field was notable for a lack of big names. Trey Murphy III was the only regular starter in a group that included reserves Kenyon Martin Jr. and Jericho Sims as well as Mac McClung, recently signed to a two-way contract by the Philadelphia 76ers.

Let's break down every All-Star Saturday night participant.

Dunk contest: Mac to the rack

Kenyon Martin Jr., Houston Rockets
Grade: B-

Results
Eliminated in first round

Analysis
Although he certainly performed better than also-rans in past dunk contests, Martin couldn't find the right balance of creativity and finishing on his two attempts. Using teammate Jae'Sean Tate as a passer, Martin missed his first two attempts on his opening dunk before completing a reverse taking him from one side of the rim to the other with his head in the net. Surely docked for the misses, Martin got the night's lowest score of 46.

Bringing out his father, 15-year NBA vet Kenyon Martin, as a passer on his second dunk, Martin used a 3D-printed basketball that added little to the actual dunk. His deep pullback between his legs for a reverse finish was impressive but lacked a degree of difficulty.

Mac McClung, Philadelphia 76ers
Grade: A

Results
Champion

Analysis
The unique story of McClung's dunk contest win will resonate for years to come, not least because he pledged to return and defend his crown in 2024 if invited. Not on an NBA roster until the Sixers signed him to a two-way contract on Tuesday, McClung had already been scheduled to compete as a representative of the G League. Now you know why the NBA wanted him involved despite not being in the league.

Three of McClung's four dunks were scored a perfect 50, with only one voter awarding him a nine all night: Lisa Leslie, for his second dunk in the first round. As compared to other competitors who have tried audacious dunks only to leave the crowd sitting through repeated attempts, McClung managed to find inventive ways to showcase his ability to get up at 6-foot-2 while making every dunk on the first try.

To start, McClung dunked over two people, with a younger one representing his alma mater (Gate City High School in Virginia) carried on the back of an adult. After jumping over them, McClung also had time in midair to tap the ball off the backboard before a reverse finish. Already safely in the finals minus a series of misses, McClung didn't dial it back on his second dunk of the first round, a two-hand windmill 360.

In the finals, McClung again cleared an adult holding the ball and double-pumped for a hesi, reverse two-hand finish that showed a high degree of difficulty on replay. Capping off the night, McClung donned his own Gate City jersey and went at least 540 degrees along the baseline for a windmill finish.

Appropriately, McClung celebrated with his version of Vince Carter's famous "It's over" gesture from the iconic 2000 dunk contest. There was little doubt judges would award him another 50 and the dunk contest win.

Trey Murphy III, New Orleans Pelicans
Grade: B+

Results
Lost in finals

Analysis
As TNT's Kenny Smith noted on the broadcast, consistency was Murphy's greatest strength. He repeatedly nailed his dunks on the first try and three of the four scored 48.8 or better, which might have been enough for Murphy to win in some past dunk contest fields.

Murphy's first dunk was his only one to utilize a passer, as he had Pelicans teammate Jose Alvarado "steal" the ball from him using Alvarado's patented Grand Theft Alvarado move and then lob it off the backboard for a simple 360.

That earned Murphy's lowest score (46.6). He reached the finals by going up on his second dunk with a two-hand power finish, then windmilling into a reverse 180 for his best score (49.4).

Both of Murphy's dunks in the finals were right around a 49. On the first, he lobbed the ball to himself between his legs -- no easy fit -- and caught it in midair for a 360 finish. Murphy got a slightly higher score for his second dunk of the finals, which he finished with a 360 going away from the basket. Still, Murphy wasn't in the same league as McClung.

Jericho Sims, New York Knicks
Grade: B-

Results
Eliminated in first round

Analysis
Relying heavily on his ability to see eye to eye with the rim at 6-foot-10, Sims showcased putting an arm in the basket, Vince-Carter style, on both of his dunks. The first, off the backboard to himself, looked more impressive in slow motion when it revealed that his full right arm was in the rim along with the left wrist. On the second dunk, Sims cuffed the ball for a one-hand dunk with his right arm in the rim while his left hand grabbed an envelope clipped to the net that read "50." Judges disagreed, giving Sims a score of 47.8 that ended his night.

3-point contest: Dame Time in SLC

Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers
Grade: A-

Results
Eliminated in finals (31 points in round 1, 17 in finals)

Analysis
Given the question marks about Haliburton's unorthodox shooting form when he slipped to 12th in the 2020 draft, it was remarkable to see him record the night's top score with a 31-point first round. Haliburton hit both deep shots, adding six points to his total, and at least three of five on all five racks. His set-shot motion gave Haliburton plenty of time to slow down during his final moneyball rack, where he made four of five shots. Haliburton couldn't quite maintain that pace after a long wait for the finals. He started slowly by making just two of his first 10 shots and was all but eliminated after missing both deep attempts.

Tyler Herro, Miami Heat
Grade: C

Results
Eliminated in first round (18)

Analysis
It was a slow night for Herro on two counts. He started cold, missing his first seven attempts before warming up by making all five shots from the top of the key. Additionally, Herro was rushed for time on the final moneyball rack, getting up just four shots and making only one.

Buddy Hield, Indiana Pacers
Grade: A-

Results
Eliminated in finals (23 points in round 1, 25 points in finals)

Analysis
One shot was all that separated Hield from his second 3-point contest victory, having previously won in 2020 in Chicago. Hield had a pair of perfect racks in the first round, advancing to the finals with the third-highest score. That allowed him to set the pace in the finals, where he made all four of his moneyball attempts and four of five from the moneyball rack.

Kevin Huerter, Sacramento Kings
Grade: D-

Results
Eliminated in first round (8)

Analysis
Relative to shooting ability, Huerter had the most disappointing contest appearance in recent memory. He looked nervous early, missing his first six shots, and seemed to struggle with the timing and pace of getting the ball off the rack. Also pressed for time on his moneyball rack, Huerter missed all four attempts to finish with the first single-digit score by any competitor since the addition of deep 3s added six more potential points.

Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers
Grade: A

Results
Champion (26 points in round 1, 26 in finals)

Analysis
Wearing his Weber State jersey to represent his alma mater in nearby Ogden, Utah, Lillard more than did the Wildcats proud as the most consistent competitor and rightful champion. He scored 26 points in both rounds, using a late run to surge past Hield in the finals to become the first Blazers player to win the 3-point contest. After slumping through his money rack, going just two of five, Lillard made his final four attempts to finish one point ahead of Hield. He was aided significantly by making both of the deep attempts, fitting for the longball specialist sometimes known as "Logo Lillard."

Lauri Markkanen, Utah Jazz
Grade: B

Results
Eliminated in first round (20)

Analysis
Markkanen gave the hometown fans something to appreciate during his round, scoring enough points to avoid immediate elimination before subsequently being knocked out. Markkanen was particularly strong from the left wing, making all five of his attempts, before struggling with his moneyball rack in the right corner. Markkanen hit just one of those five shots.

Julius Randle, New York Knicks
Grade: C

Results
Eliminated in first round (13)

Analysis
It's hard to be too harsh on Randle, especially after seeing his son Kyden so disappointed his dad didn't perform better. A last-minute replacement for injured Anfernee Simons, Randle had little time to prepare and isn't known as a 3-point shooter (he's hit 34% of his 3s this season and 33% in his career). So the four of five he hit from the right wing, including the moneyball, was impressive before Randle tired and slumped to the finish line.

Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics
Grade: B

Results
Eliminated in first round (20)

Analysis
Tatum set the bar reasonably high as the opening competitor and wasn't eliminated from the competition until the end of the first round. His biggest apparent mistake was putting the moneyball rack in the left corner, his starting point. Still warming up, Tatum made just two of five attempts before acing the right corner with a perfect five-for-five.

Skills contest: Home cooking for Jazz trio

Team Antetokounmpo (Alex Antetokounmpo, Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Jrue Holiday)
Grade: C+

Results
Third place

Analysis
Although the healthy Antetokounmpo brothers (plus honorary fill-in Holiday) did not score any points and finished third, they were more consistent than the rookies, taking second place in all three phases of the skills challenge: team relay, team passing and team shooting. As expected from an All-Star guard, Holiday particularly excelled passing the ball into (mostly) moving targets, scoring the most points (42) of any player. He was less successful as a shooter, netting just three points, and none of the team members seemed particularly locked in on the obstacle course.

Team Jazz (Jordan Clarkson, Walker Kessler, Collin Sexton)
Grade: B+

Results
Champions

Analysis
It wasn't exactly a dominant performance, but the hometown favorites overcame a tough night from Clarkson to win the last two competitions and the overall skills challenge. Clarkson's slow turn through the relay all but ended Team Jazz's hopes, while he ended up with the lowest score of any player in the passing challenge because he didn't throw bounce passes to the broken middle target. Rookie Kessler, known more for defensive prowess than his offensive skills, actually led Team Jazz with 40 points in the passing challenge and knocked down the winning score to end the shooting challenge with plenty of time left on the clock. Sexton was also a key factor in the passing challenge and his seven points shooting the ball were most of any player.

Team Rooks (Paolo Banchero, Jaden Ivey, Jabari Smith Jr.)
Grade: C-

Results
Second place

Analysis
A strong start to the night faded as the first-year standouts finished third in the last two challenges, including a shocking shutout in the shooting competition. With three players from different teams, Team Rookies struggled to find the chemistry the other two teams enjoyed in those challenges that required coordinated teamwork. Even with that caveat, the inability of Team Rookies to make shots was shocking, especially after they made enough to win the relay. Ivey powered that victory, recording the fastest round of any player by moving through the obstacles at his trademark high speed.

RISING STARS CHALLENGE

For a second consecutive year, the Rising Stars event featured four teams competing in a three-game mini-tournament utilizing Elam ending target scores. The 21 NBA players in the competition were drafted by honorary coaches Pau Gasol, Joakim Noah and Deron Williams, with No. 1 overall pick Paolo Banchero of the Orlando Magic as the first selection.

The fourth team was made up of NBA prospects from G League Ignite -- including Scoot Henderson, currently No. 2 in ESPN's top 100 for the 2023 draft -- and other top young G League players, coached by Grand Rapids Gold head coach Jason Terry.

In the first semifinal, Team Pau defeated Team Deron, while Team Joakim advanced to the final by beating Team Jason in the other semifinal. In a tight final matchup, Team Pau led 22-20 before Jose Alvarado's 3-pointer got them to the target score of 25. Let's grade all the participants.

Team Pau (beat Team Joakim in the finals)

Jose Alvarado, New Orleans Pelicans
Grade: A

Can we put Alvarado in every Rising Stars and All-Star Game going forward? I never award an A+ because A is already a perfect grade, but Alvarado had me rethinking this policy after winning MVP. He delivered nonstop entertainment, scoring repeatedly in the semifinal while live on the air with TNT's broadcast team.

Amazingly, Alvarado predicted a 3-pointer in the semifinal in real time, then was recorded telling Donovan Mitchell he would make the winning shot to reach the target score just before he did it, winning a dinner bet with Mitchell in the process.

Alvarado's effort set the tone for Team Pau taking this competition seriously, as he picked up full court at times and switched on to a hot Quentin Grimes late in the finals, forcing a miss. More than just effort, the undrafted Alvarado brought skill too, scoring a game-high 13 points in the semifinals and knocking down a difficult shot to win it.

Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic
Grade: A

For a second consecutive year, the No. 1 overall pick of the previous draft led his team to a Rising Stars title, as Banchero followed in the footsteps of Cade Cunningham. Banchero was relatively quiet in the final after scoring nine points and grabbing five boards in the semifinals, but did deliver a highlight moment when he blocked Jalen Williams at the summit to prevent a score. Banchero's only make of the finals, a high-arcing stepback, was memorable, too.

Scottie Barnes, Toronto Raptors
Grade: A

Playing center for the undersized Team Pau as he frequently did for the Raptors prior to the midseason addition of Jakob Poeltl, Barnes did a little bit of everything in helping Team Pau to victory. Barnes had eight rebounds and four assists in the semifinals, leading the team in both categories, and then put his arms to good use in the final. Barnes had a huge windup on a sweeping dunk off the dribble and later used his left arm to tip in an errant lob from Bennedict Mathurin.

Jaden Ivey, Detroit Pistons
Grade: B+

The lowest-scoring starter on Team Pau took a back seat to the other stars but stepped up for a couple of key plays. In the semifinals, he showcased burst in transition to get to run past the defense for a layup. Ivey's only shot of the finals was a pull-up 3 that came after limited touches.

Bennedict Mathurin, Indiana Pacers
Grade: A

The other leading contender for MVP, Mathurin was probably Team Pau's best player in the finals. He scored a team-high seven points on 3-of-5 shooting, starting the game by leaking out for a layup off the opening tip. Mathurin also dunked in transition and knocked down a pull-up 3 in isolation. He was the passer on Alvarado's winning 3.

Keegan Murray, Sacramento Kings
Grade: A-

Murray only made one shot all night, but it was a big one: a deep step-back 3 to reach the target score in the semifinals. Murray also pulled down four rebounds in the semifinals and handed out two assists, including a hit-ahead pass that led to a dunk.

Andrew Nembhard, Indiana Pacers
Grade: B

Across the two games, Nembhard took only one shot and missed it. The second-round pick was more than content to set up Team Pau's other stars, highlighted by a behind-the-back pass that set up a cutting Alvarado for a layup.

Team Joakim (lost to Team Pau in the finals)

Tari Eason, F, Houston Rockets
Grade: B-

The semifinals were an adventure for Eason, who overdribbled his way into a turnover shortly after checking in and nearly banked in what was supposed to be a lob attempt in transition. Eason contributed at the defensive end, guarding Scoot Henderson, and managed to convert a layup after the dunk he was loading up for was contested. Still, coach Noah apparently didn't trust Eason enough to play in the finals.

Josh Giddey, Oklahoma City Thunder
Grade: A-

Giddey's penchant for finding passing lanes makes him a perfect fit for the exhibition setting, where he played pass-first point guard. Giddey attempted just two shots across the two games, but handed out a game-high six assists in the semifinals, most of them setting up dunks or layups. He also had an impressive lefty pass through traffic in the finals to set up Oklahoma City teammate Jalen Williams, who was fouled in the act, and played free safety to intercept an outlet pass.

Quentin Grimes, New York Knicks
Grade: A

Had Team Joakim emerged victorious, Grimes would have been an easy MVP pick after scoring 27 points between the two games, including 14 of his team's 20 in the finals. Already, Grimes led Team Joakim in scoring in the semifinals with 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting, including a pull-up 3 in transition to reach the target score after stealing the ball from Scoot Henderson.

That was just an appetizer for the finals, when Grimes knocked down four 3-pointers and was the only player on his team to score multiple baskets. He also used the gravity created by his hot shooting to set up a lob to Giddey and a layup. Never one to ignore defense, Grimes switched on Banchero and forced him to miss a heavily contested 3 and later blocked him going up for another attempt.

Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers
Grade: B+

In the semifinals, Mobley's length shined, as he twice blocked Kenneth Lofton Jr. on drives, taking physical contact from the stouter Lofton. Mobley also showcased his skill to rise over Lofton for a jumper in traffic and had an impressive give and go with Giddey that resulted in a dunk. In the finals, Mobley was quieter, with a rebound and a steal as his only contributions in the box score.

Jeremy Sochan, San Antonio Spurs
Grade: B-

A powerful dunk in transition by Sochan was one of the night's highlights, and he scored six points on 3-of-4 shooting in the semifinals thanks in part to finishing through contact for an and-one just after securing a steal in the backcourt. With the game largely in hand, Sochan attempted to win a bet with Smith by making a shot from half court and came surprisingly close. Sochan was not as impactful in the finals, committing a pair of turnovers, including a wild one when he tried to do too much off the dribble.

Jabari Smith Jr., Houston Rockets
Grade: C-

Smith was 2-of-9 from the field, including missing all four of his 3-point attempts across the two games, and his night was marked by a series of almosts. He couldn't finish a shot at the rim. He blocked Mathurin but was called for a foul, and he was unable to save a loose ball despite good hustle.

Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder
Grade: B+

Like many of his teammates, Williams was at his best in the semifinals, filling up the box score with four points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals. He handed out another two assists in the finals, a team high, but missed all three of his shot attempts from the field.

Team Deron (lost to Team Pau in first round)

AJ Griffin, Atlanta Hawks
Grade: C

All four of Griffin's shot attempts came from beyond the arc, with his only make coming on a stepback for his team's second score.

Ayo Dosunmu, Chicago Bulls
Grade: B+

Dosunmu scored a pair of baskets off the bench, but his outing was highlighted by an alley-oop lob finished by Trey Murphy III.

Bones Hyland, LA Clippers
Grade: C+

Hyland was active as his team's starting point guard, attempting a team-high seven shots and scoring seven points, highlighted by a drive that resulted in a dunk. Hyland had a pair of assists but also a pair of turnovers.

Walker Kessler, Utah Jazz
Grade: B+

Even in an exhibition setting, Kessler focused on protecting the rim. He swatted a pair of shots, including returning a Scottie Barnes fadeaway to sender. On offense, Kessler did more to explore the studio space, attempting a 3 after taking none in 57 games this season (he missed). Shortly afterward, Kessler drove and finished with a reverse layup.

Trey Murphy III, New Orleans Pelicans
Grade: A-

Playing the entire game, Murphy was his team's leading scorer with nine points on 4-of-6 shooting. Murphy opened the scoring with a 3 and threw down multiple dunks, pulling way back on one in transition that might have previewed his participation in Saturday's slam dunk contest.

Alperen Sengun, Houston Rockets
Grade: C

It was a forgettable game for Sengun, who wasn't able to bust out any of the highlight-reel fakes and passes we often see during Rockets games. Sengun missed both of his shot attempts, including a 3.

Franz Wagner, Orlando Magic
Grade: C+

Wagner pulled down a team-high three rebounds but missed his three shot attempts, all of them coming from long distance.

Team Jason (G League) (lost to Team Joakim in first round)

Sidy Cissoko, Ignite
Grade: C

A quiet night for Cissoko, a native of France ranked 34th in ESPN's top 100, saw him attempt to come up with a monster block on Grimes only to foul him hard in the process.

Scoot Henderson, Ignite
Grade: B-