In the land of Drake, it only seemed appropriate that someone (or in this case, some team) went back to back.
That team, of course was the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday night in Toronto. Last season, Andrew Wiggins stole the show in Brooklyn on his way to the Rising Stars MVP.
This season, it went to Wiggins’s teammate and good friend, Zach LaVine (despite their minor trash talking going into the game).
“He got it last year, I got it this year,” LaVine said after the game. “We won this year, so I think it came down to whatever team won. So we got the W, and that’s the main thing. It got really competitive toward the last five minutes, so we started really playing.”
The Wolves became the first team to have back-to-back Rising Star MVPs since 2002 and 2003 when Jason Richardson and Gilbert Arenas, respectively, won as members of the Golden State Warriors.
How did LaVine win it?
Well first, off, his USA Team beat the World Team, 157-154 (a real defensive battle).
When it comes to awards like the MVP, even in the Rising Stars Game, winning matters.
His statline didn’t hurt either. LaVine finished with a team-high 30 points while shooting 13-for-20 from the field, 2-for-3 from the 3-point line and 2-for-2 from the free-throw line. He also added a team-high seven rebounds to go with four assists and a steal.
LaVine was joined by Karl-Anthony Towns on the USA Team. Towns started off slow (just four points in the first half), but heated up in the second half. For the game, Towns finished with 18 points, seven rebounds and four assists.
“It was awesome,” Towns said when asked about LaVine’s performance. “I am so happy for him and he deserves it.”
Wiggins was no slouch either. In fact, had Team World won, Wiggins probably would have won his second straight MVP award. Wiggins was second on Team World with 29 points (Kristaps Porzingis had 30). He shot 13-for-15 from the field and 3-for-4 from the free-throw line while adding five assists and two rebounds.
He was just fine that LaVine is taking the hardware home this time, though.
“I got it last year. He got it this year. KAT’s going to get it next year… That’s the plan,” Wiggins said.
That all depends if Towns is in the All-Star Game as well, which seems entirely possible.
LaVine’s night concluded with pictures, interviews, a TV spot with NBATV and more.
There’s a good chance he’ll be doing the same thing in about 24 hours.
