– Make Rising Stars team
With the talented young core of the Lakers last season, they were well-represented in the Rising Stars Game last season at All-Star Weekend. Making this team is certainly a huge honor for young players, as a good chunk of the players who play in the Rising Stars Game eventually become NBA All-Stars.
Last season, Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma, and Brandon Ingram were all able to make the team. However, Josh Hart was not selected, as he didn’t have as big of a role in the first half of the season compared to the second half of the season.
As shown down the stretch of last season and this summer in Las Vegas, Hart is a very talented young player and could be a very good player in NBA for years to come. Even though Hart didn’t make it as a rookie on the team, he can still make it as an improved sophomore this season.
While Ingram will be ineligible for the game now, the Lakers could have a real chance of sending three players to the game for the second straight season. This would really show that the team has a talented young core of players, as having three players at the game in consecutive years would be a great accomplishment not only for the players, but the franchise.