NBA All-Star Weekend 2019 is upon us. How will the Memphis Grizzlies’ Jaren Jackson Jr fare in the Rising Stars Challenge?
Friday evening tips off festivities for NBA All-Star Weekend 2019. Aside from the annual celebrity game, the highlight of the night is the Mtn Dew Rising Stars Challenge, which will feature the Memphis Grizzlies’ Jaren Jackson Jr.
The Rising Stars Challenge will feature the NBA’s top freshmen and sophomores. The trend has transitioned from showcasing rookies versus the sophomores to becoming a contest of the USA against the World. This emphasizes how strong the sport’s competition is globally. It also highlights the impressive global reach of the NBA.
Friday’s game features top second-year stars including Ben Simmons (insert Rookie of the Year joke here), Donovan Mitchell, and Jayson Tatum. For first-year studs, Rookie of the Year frontrunner Luka Doncic will be leading the way, but he will be accompanied by other top picks of from the 2018 NBA Draft, including Jaren Jackson Jr, who was selected with the fourth overall pick by the Memphis Grizzlies.
Do not get it twisted, though the Grizzlies own one of the worst records in the association this season, Jackson Jr. has turned plenty of heads. He is one of the top rookies, and even with being thrown in a batch of the top sophomores, it is no wonder he continues to be ranked as one of the best players among his age.
How will Jaren Jackson Jr. fare in the NBA All-Star Weekend spotlight? Beale Street Bears takes a stab at predicting his production line and more in Friday’s Rising Stars Challenge. He will represent the Memphis Grizzlies in the event that begins at 9:00 PM Eastern Time, which can be viewed on TNT.