Knicks' Fields Honored; Shumpert Excluded | Zagsblog
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Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
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Friday / November 22.
  • Knicks’ Fields Honored; Shumpert Excluded

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    Knicks guard Landry Fields was selected to the Rising Stars Challenge over All-Star Weekend, but Knicks head coach Mike D’Antoni can’t believe that rookie Iman Shumpert was not.

    “I was shocked [Shumpert] didn’t make it,’’ D’Antoni told reporters before the Knicks’ 107-93 victory over the Wizards. “Not taking anything away from other guys.”

    According to the New York Post, D’Antoni was informed that assistant coaches did the voting.

    “Could be a reason why they’re assistants,” D’Antoni said. “Because he plays as well as anybody. Iman deserved to be on it. It’s too bad.”

    “I can guarantee there’s no rookie better defensively. That’s half the game. The other half he played well after being put in a spot where he had to be the point guard. And he’s not naturally a point guard. His best position is 2 and he can play 3. I’m shocked. That’s wild.’’

    Fields is averaging 9.7 points and 3.8 rebounds

    Shumpert, out of Georgia Tech, is averaging 9.9 points and 3.7 boards.

    Also chosen in the game were former UConn star Kemba Walker of the Charlotte Bobcats, who played at Rice High School, and former Duke standout Kyrie Irving of the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Elizabeth (N.J.) St. Patrick star who was the No. 1 overall pick in the draft.

    Tristan Thompson, Irving’s teammate and a former St. Benedict’s Prep standout, was also chosen.

    Below is the roster for the 2012 BBVA Rising Stars Challenge:

    2012 BBVA Rising Stars Challenge Player Pool

                                                            Prior to NBA/
    Player        Team        Pos.        Ht.                Wt.        Home Country        Exp
    MarShon Brooks        New Jersey        G-F        6-5                200        Providence/USA        R
    DeMarcus Cousins        Sacramento        C        6-11        270        Kentucky/USA        1
    Landry Fields        New York        G        6-7                210        Stanford/USA        1
    Paul George        Indiana        G-F        6-8                215        Fresno State/USA        1
    Blake Griffin        L.A. Clippers        F        6-10        251        Oklahoma/USA        1
    Gordon Hayward        Utah        F        6-8                210        Butler/USA        1
    Kyrie Irving        Cleveland        G        6-3                191        Duke/USA        R
    Brandon Knight        Detroit        G        6-3                189        Kentucky/USA        R
    Kawhi Leonard        San Antonio        G-F        6-7                225        San Diego State/USA        R
    Greg Monroe        Detroit        C        6-11        250        Georgetown/USA        1
    Markieff Morris        Phoenix        F        6-10        245        Kansas/USA        R
    Ricky Rubio        Minnesota        G        6-4                180        FC Barcelona/Spain        R
    Tiago Splitter        San Antonio        F-C        6-11        240        Saski Baskonia/Brazil        1
    Tristan Thompson        Cleveland        F        6-9                227        Texas/USA        R
    Evan Turner        Philadelphia        G-F        6-7                205        Ohio State/USA        1
    John Wall        Washington        G        6-4                195        Kentucky/USA        1
    Kemba Walker        Charlotte        G        6-1                172        Connecticut/USA        R
    Derrick Williams        Minnesota        F        6-8                241        Arizona State/USA        R

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    Adam Zagoria is a Basketball Insider who covers basketball at all levels. A contributor to The New York Times and SportsNet New York (SNY), he is also the author of two books and is an award-winning journalist and filmmaker. His articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide. He also won an Emmy award for his work on the SNY mini-documentary on Syracuse guard Tyus Battle. A veteran Ultimate Frisbee player, he has competed in numerous National and World Championships and, perhaps more importantly, his teams won the Westchester Summer League (WSL) championships in 2011 and 2013. He lives in Manhattan with his wife and children.

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