4 Rising Stars selections Toumani Camara is easily outplaying

Camara isn't playing in the NBA Rising Stars event, but he should be.

Miami Heat v Portland Trail Blazers
Miami Heat v Portland Trail Blazers | Soobum Im/GettyImages

This season, the NBA All-Star weekend takes place from February 14-16 at the Chase Center, home of the Golden State Warriors. We are gaining more clarity about who will be part of the festivities.

While it's safe to say the Portland Trail Blazers won't have any All-Stars, they will still be represented in the Rising Stars event, with Scoot Henderson making the sophomore roster. However, one noticeable omission from the team is Scoot's teammate, Toumani Camara. Here are the rosters:

It's All-Star weekend. We're not tuning in to watch tenacious defense and charges being drawn. We get it. But we'd also like to see some defense. And outside of the entertainment factor, Camara deserves a spot.

Despite being in his second season, he's been one of the few consistent Blazers in a season filled with ups and downs, with both player and coaching inconsistencies. Camara averages 10.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.4 steals on 44/35/73 this year. He's also leading the entire league in charges drawn.

With Camara's impact as a reliable 3-and-D wing, you could also make a case for him outplaying a few sophomores who didn't make the list. But these are the four that Camara is easily outplaying:

1. Jaime Jaquez Jr., Miami Heat

2024-25 stats: 9.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.2 steals on 44/31/75 shooting splits

After a promising rookie season, Jaime Jaquez has regressed in his second year. His efficiency is down, and he has struggled with inconsistent play, primarily tied to his shot.

The Heat still landed a draft day steal, selecting Jaquez as the No. 18 overall pick in 2023. But part of the reason he fell was concerns over his ceiling, as he's already 23 years old. Jaquez may have already plateaued more so than the other players in this class.

2. Trayce Jackson-Davis, Golden State Warriors

2024-25 stats: 8.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 0.8 blocks on 57/0/60 shooting splits

Another draft day steal was Trayce Jackson-Davis, the No. 57 overall selection in 2023. He's carving out a nice role in the NBA, making up for his lack of size with his versatility and passing.

But there's a reason the Warriors still are looking to upgrade their frontcourt. Ideally, TJD is someone that Golden State brings off the bench in a limited role, not someone who has started 37 games this season.

Camara's contributions as a two-way wing are far more valuable than Jackson-Davis' impact in Golden State. The Warriors would likely swap the two in a heartbeat.

3. Bilal Coulibaly, Washington Wizards

2024-25 stats: 12.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.3 steals on 42/27/77 shooting splits

Bilal Coulibaly had a stretch this season where it looked like he was reaching the All-Star level ceiling that made him a top-ten selection. But he's cooled off, in large part due to his lack of shooting.

Coulibaly is only 20 years old and an excellent prospect for Washington. But Camara is four years older and a much more NBA-ready player than him.

Both can get it done on the defensive end, but looking at Camara's three-point shooting compared to Coulibaly, the answer of who is having a more productive season is clear.

4. Scoot Henderson, Portland Trail Blazers

2024-25 stats: 12.3 points, 5.2 assists, 3.0 rebounds, 1.1 steals on 43/36/76 shooting splits

We love that Scoot Henderson is getting recognition for his promising stretch as of late. In some games, he looks like a better player than Camara, and arguably, he still has a higher upside.

Scoot has him beat in terms of scoring and playmaking numbers. But Camara is the type of player whose impact on winning goes way beyond the box score.

When considering the 2024-25 season as a whole, the nod goes to Camara. He's been the much more consistent player by far, and unlike Scoot, he makes his impact on both ends of the floor.

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