Team Pau defeats Team Joakim to win Rising Stars, Pelicans’ Alvarado named MVP

Team Pau defeated Team Joakim 25-20 to claim this year’s Rising Stars title.

Team Pau clinched the championship on a fadeaway triple from New Orleans Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado.

Alvarado was named MVP after posting five points, one rebound, and one assist in the final. He received six of seven votes from the panel of media members.

Alvarado had a game-high 13 points in Team Pau’s 40-25 semifinal victory over Team Deron.

“I’m not 6-5. I’m not athletic. I don’t got the crazy wingspan, but I got heart that you can’t measure,” Alvarado said postgame on the NBA on TNT. “If you bring that, and you be yourself at all times, I think a lot of things will just come your way.”

New York Knicks guard Quentin Grimes led Team Joakim with 14 points on 5-of-8 shooting – including 4-of-7 from deep.

Team Joakim booked their spot in the championship match with a 40-32 win over Team Jason in the other semifinal matchup.

Ex-NBAers Pau Gasol, Deron Williams, and Joakim Noah served as honorary coaches and selected their squads in a player draft prior to the Rising Stars game.

Former NBA champion Jason Terry was the bench boss for the G League squad headlined by top prospect Scoot Henderson.

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