NBA All-Star: Can Mobley and Okoro’s team win Rising Stars?

One of the best indicators of whether a team like the Cleveland Cavaliers has super-young talent in the pipeline is the NBA’s Clorox Rising Stars Challenge. This game showcases first and second-year players in the league at the start of NBA All-Star Weekend. That doesn’t mean they will necessarily be good in a few years, but teams who are never represented in the game likely have to stock up via trade or free agency.

The Cavs roll into the game with not just one but two players suiting up for the game. Both Evan Mobley and Isaac Okoro were drafted to the same team, coached by NBA Legend Rick Barry. They are one of four teams that will be competing for the title when All-Star Weekend kicks off on Friday night.

Evan Mobley and Isaac Okoro are on Team Barry in the NBA Rising Stars Challenge. Can they get a win to start off All-Star Weekend in Cleveland?

This game is a great way for good young players on small-market teams to get a piece of the spotlight. The eyes of the league will be watching, and ESPN’s Kevin Pelton will be grading every player. National media will speak to players like Okoro who do not normally get much recognition, especially if they can put up strong numbers or a highlight play.

Here is the roster for Team Barry, which has the second-best odds to win the three-game tournament:

Evan Mobley and Isaac Okoro, Cleveland Cavaliers

Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons

Franz Wagner, Orlando Magic

Alperen Sengun and Jae’Sean Tate, Houston Rockets

Dyson Daniels, G League Ignite

This is a team that is going to play with significant size. Cunningham is the only point guard on the roster, and he and combo guard Dyson Daniels of the G League Ignite will share ball-handling duties. Mobley, Wagner and Sengun are all great passers from the high post, and there could be some creative big-to-big passing between them.

Cunningham is the straw that stirs the drink here, and as he has come on strong lately should be comfortable wearing that burden. Mobley will be the key on defense, and a lineup of Mobley at center with Wagner, Tate, Okoro and Cunningham will be the best defensive unit any team in the competition will trot out.

There is plenty of talent to compete, buoyed by the depth and production of the 2021 NBA Draft class thus far. Scottie Barnes, Josh Giddey and Jonathan Kuminga will all play, as will sophomores such as Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball, Tyrese Maxey and Tyrese Haliburton. The opponents’ guard play will be elite, which means Okoro may get plenty of run locking them down.

In what amounts to an exhibition game it’s hard to say whether anyone will be trying their hardest to win, but with short games playing to an Elam Ending the stage is set for these players to dig in and truly try to win. If they do, Team Barry has an excellent chance to win it all.

This won’t be the end of All-Star Weekend for Mobley, as he will also suit up for the Skills Challenge alongside Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen on Saturday night. Next year Mobley could do the rare double-dip of playing in Rising Stars and the All-Star Game itself. For now, he and Okoro will stick to winning the Clorox Rising Stars Challenge.