The 2024 NBA All-Star Weekend is off to a hot start. After a highlight-filled All-Star Celebrity Game, fans witnessed a thrilling tournament between young players in the Panini Rising Stars Challenge. The event had 4 teams competing in a knock-out tournament filled with the best NBA rookies, sophomores, and G League players. Many expected Lakers legend Pau Gasol’s team to come out with a win because it included NBA prodigy Victor Wembanyama.
However, the NBA World was in for a big shock as Victor Wembanyama and Co. got eliminated in their first game against Detlef Schrempf’s G League team. The young players from the G League were prepared to compete and dominated Team Pau to win the game 41-36. They beat a star-studded squad, including Victor Wembanyama, Brandon Miller, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and more. Team Detlef was led by 2023 Slam Dunk Champion Mac McClung, who scored 12 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists. The NBA World immediately switched sides after they witnessed Team Pau getting eliminated in the first round. Fans were impressed with the G League team’s performance and started rooting for them to win the entire event.
G-Leaguers might as well go win the whole thing lol
— Niko (@nikotaughtyou) February 17, 2024
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Victor Wembanyama, Jabari Smith, and Brandon Miller losing to the G League team has me hooting and hollering.
— tuck (@tuckclarry) February 17, 2024
I love it. Give the G Leaguers some NBA time. https://t.co/VZBz5uTfHz
— Bill Ty The Science Guy (@Icing_On_Tyson) February 17, 2024
Fans also slammed Victor Wembanyama for losing to G League players.
Wembanyama is allergic to winning lmao.
— Amadeus (@Amadeusmon) February 17, 2024
Wembanyama had 5 turnovers vs a g league team, he can’t stop turning the ball over 😂😂😂
— #1 Seed OKC (@BalakayM95) February 17, 2024
Although Victor Wembanyama’s team suffered an early elimination, he played well in his first All-Star Weekend appearance. Wemby led his team in scoring and finished with 11 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 blocks. However, that was not enough for Team Pau to advance to the final round of the tournament.
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Team Detlef could not finish what they started
After Team Detlef eliminated Victor Wembanyama and Co. in the first game, fans started believing they could do the unthinkable and win the Rising Stars Game. Unfortunately, the G League players could not carry the momentum from their first victory to the final game. Team Detlef faced Team Jalen in the Finals and got blown out by the young NBA players. Jalen Rose’s team beat the G League players 26-13 and gave them no chance to lift the Rising Stars trophy. Unlike the first game, Mac McClung went scoreless in the final game and had a disappointing performance.
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Oscar Tshiebwe tried to make it a competitive game with his 8-point performance but failed. Meanwhile, Team Jalen had a great all-around performance. All players except Jeremy Sochan put up points on the board and played a key role in the victory. Dereck Lively II led the team in scoring with 6 points. Although Team Detlef’s night ended in disappointment, they would be happy to know that they eliminated one of the biggest rising stars in the NBA from the tournament.
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