How the rookie class fares at the All-Star break

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NBA All-Star Weekend gave the current rookie class a tremendous opportunity to showcase themselves on a national platform and the group largely performed exceptionally.

The basketball world saw 12 rookie players compete in the Rising Stars game on Friday. Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham was named the Most Valuable Player of the festivities after leading Team Barry to the championship.

On Saturday, Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green performed in the Slam Dunk Contest. While it didn’t go the way Green had hoped, the second pick still dazzled with his athleticism and leaping ability in Cleveland. He even vowed to return next year and redeem himself.

With the final stretch of the season upon us, Rookie Wire took a look at some of the best recent performances of these first-year players. The rankings are not for Rookie of the Year purposes but, rather, to illustrate the best players week to week.

Tre Mann, Oklahoma City Thunder

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Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Last Rank: 9

Stats: 8.7 points, 2.2 rebounds, 1.0 assist

Mann entered the break having started each of the past 11 contests for the Thunder with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander out of the lineup. He scored a career-high 30 points on Feb. 14 and 24 points two nights later, respectively. With his 30-point performance, Mann joined Josh Giddey (28 points) as the only pair of rookie teammates in the past decade to each score at least 28 points in a game. After playing sparingly to begin the season, Mann has seen a larger role as of late and looks to be building strong momentum over the final stretch of his rookie campaign.

For more coverage on the Thunder, visit Thunder Wire

Jalen Suggs, Orlando Magic

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Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Last Rank: N/A

Stats: 12.6 points, 4.4 assists, 3.7 rebounds, 1.3 steals

Suggs was among the rookies in the NBA Rising Stars game as the fifth pick had 16 points for Team Worthy in their loss to Team Isiah. He entered the break having scored at least 16 points in each of his last three games and will look to continue that momentum starting Friday versus the Houston Rockets.

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Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons

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Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports

Last Rank: N/A

Stats: 15.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 1.3 steals

Cunningham missed some time recently due to a hip injury but scored at least 12 points in three games prior to the break. Despite the injury, Cunningham has very much looked like the No. 1 pick: He currently leads the rookie class in scoring average and is second in assists and steals. He also joined Michael Jordan on Jan. 25 as the only two rookies in NBA history to record at least 30 points, eight rebounds, eight assists and four blocks in a single game. Despite the down year in Detroit, Cunningham is showcasing why he has his name firmly in the mix as a Rookie of the Year front-runner

Jonathan Kuminga, Golden State Warriors

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Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports

Last Rank: N/A

Stats: 8.0 points and 2.8 rebounds

Kuminga was named as an injury replacement for Indiana Pacers guard Chris Duarte in the Rising Stars game and was among the 12 rookies that competed. He recorded two points for Team Payton in a loss to Team Barry, who went on to win the event. Kuminga was in the midst of his best stretch of the season entering the break, averaging 15.3 points and 4.4 rebounds over his last eight games for the Warriors. He saw a smaller role to begin the season but appears to be becoming a mainstay in the rotation, which will only help his development.

For more coverage on the Warriors, visit Warriors Wire

Jalen Green, Houston Rockets

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Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports

Last Rank: N/A

Stats: 14.6 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists

Green will be looking to put the Slam Dunk Contest behind him over the Rockets‘ final 24 games of the season. He entered the break on a great run after scoring in double figures in 10 straight games, averaging 15.9 points, 2.9 assists and 2.7 assists on 37.7% shooting from 3-point range over that span. He may be out of the Rookie of the Year race at this point but the second pick will be looking to end the season on a high note for the Rockets.

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For more coverage on the Rockets, visit Rockets Wire

Davion Mitchell, Sacramento Kings

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Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Last Rank: 5

Stats: 10.4 points, 3.5 assists, 2.4 rebounds

Mitchell is averaging 16.1 points, 4.6 assists and 2.8 rebounds on 39.1% shooting from 3-point range in 10 games since Jan. 26. He earned the start in seven of those contests and scored in double figures in six straight games, his longest streak of the season. He suffered a right-hand injury that forced him to miss the Rising Stars game but it is not considered to be serious.

Franz Wagner, Orlando Magic

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Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Last Rank: 1

Stats: 15.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.0 assists

Wagner was among those rookie players that competed in the Rising Stars game and hit the game-winning free throw to send Team Barry to the title. The fifth pick used the festivities to get to know some of his peers and to also gain valuable knowledge from some of the legends that were on hand.

Sitting at the All-Star break, Wagner leads the rookie class in total scoring and has emerged as a candidate for Rookie of the Year. He has appeared in every game for the Magic this season and will be looking to finish out the season strong.

Cam Thomas, Brooklyn Nets

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Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Last Rank: 6

Stats: 9.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.3 assists

Thomas is in the midst of his best stretch of the season. With the Nets short-handed, Thomas has scored in double figures in eight straight games, averaging 21.4 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.8 assists on 47.8% shooting from the field in that stretch. He recently sent the Nets to a win over the Knicks after hitting a dagger 3-pointer in the closing seconds to complete the 28-point comeback, which matched the largest in team history. Thomas has 10 20-point games this season and they have all come since Jan. 1. The 27th pick is starting to get into a groove on the court and that should be a welcomed sight for the team.

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For more coverage on the Nets, visit Nets Wire

Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers

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Mitchell Leff-USA TODAY Sports

Last Rank: 2

Stats: 14.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.6 blocks

Mobley recently turned in a strong performance over All-Star Weekend and impressed in front of the home crowd. First, he helped Team Barry win the Rising Stars game after recording 13 points and eight rebounds in their semifinal win over Team Payton. Then, he hit the half-court shot needed for the Cavs to win the Skills Challenge on Saturday.

The third pick entered the All-Star break ranked third in scoring among all first-year players and first in rebounding and blocks. He ranks seventh in the NBA in blocks and has shown the ability to defend nearly every position on the court with his athleticism and size. Mobley is the odds-on favorite for Rookie of the Year and it is easy to see why.

Josh Giddey, Oklahoma City Thunder

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Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports

Last Rank: 3

Stats: 12.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, 6.4 assists

Giddey takes the top spot after an incredible stretch of play for the Thunder. He entered the All-Star break having recorded three consecutive triple-doubles to become just the second rookie in history (Oscar Robertson) to accomplish that feat. Giddey also had a solid showing over All-Star Weekend in the Rising Stars game and Skills Challenge, while he also earned high praise from LeBron James. Giddey has won Western Conference Rookie of the Month three times this season and looks to be a lock to make it four in a row.

For more coverage on the Thunder, visit Thunder Wire

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