Oscar Tshiebwe and Ashton Hagans team up to win G League Up Next game
The La Familia reunion, AKA NBA All-Star Weekend, continued on Sunday afternoon, and once again, former Kentucky guys showed out. This time, the unlikely duo of Oscar Tshiebwe and Ashton Hagans teamed up for Team EYL (Earn Your Leisure) and won the G League Up Next title. They bested Team Ball is Life in the finals, which was led by another former ‘Cat, Skal Labiessiere.
Ashton Hagans, G League assist leader, is fresh off a 10-day contract with the Portland Trail Blazers where he earned his first career NBA start. He led all voting to get a spot in these Up Next Games. Labissiere received the second-most votes.
As for Big O, this was the second event of the weekend where we saw Tshiebwe take center stage in an All-Star format. He played in the Rising Stars game on Friday where he produced the highlight of the night by putting former Auburn Tiger Walker Kessler on a poster.
Turns out, it was an omen for Kentucky’s matchup after all.
I have to admit, something is jarring about watching Oscar Tshiebwe and Skal Labissiere tip off against each other while Ashton mans the point. It’s like when your friends from high school meet your completely different set of friends from college for the first time. It is a mind-warping collision of eras.
Hagans, Tshiebwe, and Labissiere all win in Round 1
In their first game against Team Strictly Basketball, former Wildcats Hagans and Tshiebwe showcased defense and rebounding. Tshiebwe had four boards and two blocks (the most on the team in both categories), while Hagans led Team EYL in steals with three. He also chipped in five points including a 3-point bucket.
Meanwhile, Labiessiere scored eight points and dished out a team-high three assists for Ball Is Life in their first-round matchup against Team Giraffe, including a monstrous slam. The tape says Skal has only gained 10 points since his time at Kentucky back in 2016, but evidently, it is all in his arms. Dude got jacked.
Oscar knocks down game-winning free throw in Finals
Next up, it was a Finals matchup featuring all three former Kentucky players.
Labissiere, who had five points and four rebounds, helped Team BIL jump out to an early lead in the race to 30 points, but Ashton Hagans did not let that fly for too long. He hit two consecutive threes, including an incredible step-back jumper from behind the arc that had shades of Rob Dillingham, to put Team EYL out in front for good.
After a ferocious dunk and a sequence where he got three offensive rebounds in one possession, Oscar Tshiebwe sealed the win when he drew a foul on Labissiere on a drive to the basket. He knocked down the free throw to give EYL 30 points and the victory.
Oscar finished with four points, six rebounds, and two assists, while Hagans had six points and two boards. Congrats Oscar and Hagans on the title and yet another impressive showing for former Wildcats over All-Star Weekend.
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