Jazz ‘Rising Star’ Keyonte George will play in All-Star game after game-winning bucket

SAN FRANCISCO — Keyonte George called game, and now he’ll be playing on All-Star Sunday.

George hit the game-winning bucket for “Team C” on Friday in the championship game of the Rising Stars competition, helping earn his team a spot in Sunday’s main event.

The All-Star game will be a four-team tournament this season, three of which will be filled with the league’s All-Stars. The fourth? The team that emerged from Friday’s contest.

“The format is cool having the opportunity to play in the real All-Star game,” George said before Friday’s games. “Obviously, it’s a blessing to be in the Rising Stars game, so the format is cool to me.”

And now that he gets to stick around through Sunday, it’s probably that much cooler. Geroge scored 13 points across the two games and added three assists to help push Team C to the win.

He also hit a 3-pointer from the wing to push his team to the target score in the championship game and into Sunday’s All-Star event.

“We’re young guys, so we’re coming up in the league and trying to make a name for ourselves,” he said. “So to be able to have the opportunity on national television, everybody watching it, we’re not gonna take it for granted. So just have the opportunity to participate, play those guys.”

“Team C” also features San Antonio guard Stephon Castle (who won Rising Stars MVP honors), Memphis rookie duo Zach Edey and Jaylen Wells, and Lakers rookie Dalton Knecht.

George scored a team-high 10 points in the tournament’s first game to lead his team to the title game. He had 3 points, two assists and two rebounds in the Rising Stars championship (a game that was the first to 25 points).

And now he’ll get a shot at the league’s best.

The All-Star Game will be at 6 p.m. MST on Sunday.