That Kyle Kuzma and Brandon Ingram’s team lost to Team World 155-124 in the Rising Stars Challenge Friday night is of little consequence.
That Kuzma, Ingram and the injured Lonzo Ball were on the opposite side of the court of Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons and Dario Saric? Well, that might eventually mean something.
Two teams that have been rebuilding for years have started to show signs of a bright future, and the young players involved know that the process could end with a rekindling of one of the top NBA rivalries of the early ’80s.
While none of the key participants Friday was around to see Magic Johnson — who started at center in the NBA Finals as a rookie against the 76ers — there’s a feeling that both teams’ paths could end up pointing at one another.
“As they continue to get better with their thing — ‘Trust the process’ — I think we’re going to match their intensity and the way they play the exact same way,” Lakers wing Brandon Ingram said. “It’s going to be fun to battle against those guys in the years to come.”
Friday, there wasn’t much battle from anyone.
In the exhibition pitting the top domestic and international first- and second-year players in the NBA against one another, defense and effort gave way to deep three-pointers and highlight-worthy dunks without any real roadblocks.
Sacramento rookie Bogdan Bogdanovich won the game’s MVP award after scoring 26 points in just 22 minutes. He made seven three-pointers, including a handful from near midcourt. Kuzma’s 20 points were second only to Boston’s Jaylen Brown (35 points) for the U.S. team.
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Chris Rock sits courtside at the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
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Actors Chadwick Boseman, center, and Michael B. Jordan, left, sit courtside at the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
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Chance the Rapper bites into a piece of pizza courtside at the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
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N.E.R.D perform with team mascots on the court at halftime of the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
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Fergie sings the National Anthem at the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
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LeBron James laughs as he waits to receive his MVP trophy after leading Team LeBron to a 148-145 win over Team Stephen at the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
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Comedian Tracy Morgan eats a hot dog courtside at the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
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Kevin Hart is center stage during a pregame show at the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
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LeBron James captains Team LeBron against Team Stephen (Curry) at the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
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Team Stephen center Karl Anthony-Towns pulls down a rebound over Team LeBron center Andre Drummond during second half action at the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
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Stephen Curry struggles to dribble past the defense of Victor Oladipo during second half action at the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
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DeMar DeRozan of Team Stephen gets by Kevin Durant of Team LeBron during second half action at the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
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DeMar DeRozan leads Joel Embiid to the court after the starting lineup for Team Stephen is announed at the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
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Team Stephen defender Draymond Green blocks the shot of Team LeBron center Al Horford during second half action at the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
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Stephen Curry stays warm on the sideline during a break in the action at the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
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Jerry West chats with Bill Russel and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, left, courtside at the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
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LeBron James knocks Joel Embiid to the floor after losing control of the ball during first half action at the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
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Russell Westbrook challenges Team Stephen defender DeMar DeRozan during first half action at the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
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Joel Embiid signals after hitting a three-pointer for Team Stephen in the first half at the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
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DeMar DeRozan is fouled by Paul George during the last minute of play at the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
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LeBron James is awarded the MVP trophy after leading Team LeBron to a 148-145 win over Team Stephen at the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
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Stephen Curry is trapped by Team LeBron defenders as he tries to attempt a last second shot at the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
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LeBron James, right, and Kevin Durant celebrate a close win over Team Stephen Curry at the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
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Russell Westbrook reacts after a kicked ball call prevented a fast break for Team LeBron at the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
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LeBron James yells out after hitting a three-pointer late in the second half at the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
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Russell Westrbrook fouls Giannis Antetokounmpo as LeBron James looks on during first half action in the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
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Team LeBron captain LeBron James shoots over Draymond Green to tie the score late in the game at the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
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Giannis Antetokounmpo slams the ball home for two points over Team LeBron player Paul George during second half action at the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
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Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell, sporting a Darrell Griffith jersey, jumps over three people, including comedian Kevin Hart, during the Slam Dunk Contest on Saturday night at Staples Center.
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Cavaliers forward Larry Nance Jr. flies to the basket during the Slam Dunk Contest.
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Indiana Pacers guard Victor Oldaipo puts on a “Black Panther” mask given to him by the star of the blockbuster movie, Chadwick Bosman, during the Slam Dunk Contest.
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Pacers guard Victor Oladipo wears a “Black Panther” mask while participating in the Slam Dunk contest.
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Cavaliers forward Larry Nance Jr. wears his father’s Phoenix Suns uniform during the Slam Dunk Contest.
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Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell winds up as he elevates during the Slam Dunk Contest on Saturday night at Staples Center.
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Cavaliers forward Larry Nance Jr. throws down a windmill dunk after taking a pass from his father, Larry Nance Sr., who won the first Slam Dunk contest in 1984.
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Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell is congratulated by Cavaliers forward Larry Nance Jr. after winning the Slam Dunk Contest.
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Suns guard’ Devin Booker lines up a shot during the Three-Point Shooting Contest on Saturday night at Staples Center.
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Spencer Dinwiddie poses with the Skills Challenge Trophy after winning the competition on Saturday night at Staples Center.
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Lou Williams competed in the Skills Challenge on Saturday night at Staples Center. He would lose in the first round to eventual champion Spencer Dinwiddie.
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Kings guard Bogdan Bogdanovic of Team World celebrates after receiving the Rising Stars Challenge MVP Trophy from Chris Webber on Friday night at Staples Center.
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Buddy Hield of Team World is defended by Jaylen Brown of Team USA during the Rising Stars Challenge.
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Team World’s Bogdan Bogdanovic made seven three-pointers to finish with 26 points in the Rising Stars game.
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Dennis Smith Jr., of Team USA elevates for a dunk during the Rising Stars game.
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Lauri Markkanen of Team World finishes off a dunk during the Rising Stars game at Staples Center.
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Team World’s Dillon Brooks is set to throw down a dunk during the Rising Stars game on Friday.
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Team USA forward Kyle Kuzma attempts a reverse layup against Domantas Sabonis of Team World during the Rising Stars game.
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Team World forward Ben Simmons sends a pass ahead to a teammate during the Rising Stars game on Friday night at Staples Center.
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Quavo, center, accepts the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game MVP Trophy on Friday evening.
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Michael B. Jordan and Jason Williams greet each other during the Celebrity Game at Los Angeles Convention Center on Friday.
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Nick Cannon and Justin Bieber watch the Celebrity Game from Team Lakers bench on Friday.
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Actor Jamie Foxx jokes around before the start of the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game on Friday.
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Rachel DeMita of Team Clippers attempts a shot against Stefanie Dolson of Team Lakers during the 2018 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game at Los Angeles Convention Center.
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Team Clippers’ Quavo leads a fast break against Team Lakers’ Justin Bieber during the 2018 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game on Friday at Los Angeles Convention Center.
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea / Getty Images) Ingram played 12 minutes and scored eight points. He was playing for the third time in three nights because the Lakers played back-to-back games heading into All-Star weekend.
The Lakers’ young talent wasn’t at full strength Friday, with Ball still sidelined because of a sprained ligament in his left knee. He’s on track to return to the court in a week when the Lakers play Dallas in their first game after the All-Star break.
“I’ve been working out before the games and in the weight room. It’s been cool, nothing aggravated, and I should be ready to go,” Ball said. “I can still feel (soreness) a little bit — it’s why I didn’t play the last couple of games — but I should be out there versus Dallas.”
Friday, the 76ers’ trio showed why they’re probably closer to being ready for a rivalry than the Lakers, with Embiid, Simmons and Saric all looking like they’re ready for “The Process” to be winding down.
The 76ers are on track to make their first playoff appearance since 2012 while the Lakers won 12 of 16 games before dropping three in a row before the All-Star break.
And with some luck, Embiid sees a future for both teams.
“They’re going to be great,” he said. “That’s going to be a great team. But us, we’re right there. We’re still learning and have a long way to go, but we’ve been doing pretty good this year …
“These two teams, in the future, are going to be some of the best in the league. And I can’t wait to keep going against them.”
Before that can happen, the Lakers have to continue their growth — something that won’t be on display the rest of All-Star weekend.
Their involvement in any of the events ended with Friday’s night game — a sign that the future is both bright and still a little ways away.
But having a chance to get a sniff a taste of All-Star weekend only made Ingram hungrier for a return to All-Star weekend — this time in the big game on Sunday.
“It’s my next goal,” he said. “To make it to the All-Star game would be the most exciting thing that ever happened. That’s my next goal — to go out and be an All-Star.”
Until then, largely like the 76ers, it’s about potential.
“It just shows the future is bright,” Ball said. “For them and for us.”
dan.woike@latimes.com
Follow Dan Woike on Twitter @DanWoikeSports
