Kyle Kuzma of the Los Angeles Lakers was named MVP during the 2019 MTN DEW ICE Rising Stars game, scoring 35 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists and leading Team USA to a victory over Team World 161-144. Team USA stopped a two-game losing streak to Team World with this win.
The game, which is part of NBA All-Star Weekend, showcases the league’s best rookies and sophomores (and one almost-sophomore) with the current format (adopted in 2017) pitting US-born players against those coming from the rest of the world.
Ben Simmons (of the Philadelphia 76ers by way of Australia) led Team World with 28 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists. He characteristically did not take any three-point shots.
The winning team had a $25, 000 cash bonus, which Kuzma admitted to being one of the motivating factors for his excellent performance. The Lakers’ power forward brought his entire arsenal to the game and showed off the scoring prowess that made him a key piece in Los Angeles’ rotation. In addition, he added some fancy passing that was reminiscent of the Lake Show of old, plus a vicious windmill dunk to boot.
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