Kyrie Irving, the reigning NBA Rookie of the Year and a 2013 NBA All-Star, and rookies Anthony Davis of the New Orleans Hornets and Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers headline the list of 18 players selected for the 2013 Rising Stars Challenge to be played Friday, Feb. 15, in Houston during NBA All-Star 2013.
Davis, the overall No. 1 selection in the 2012 NBA Draft, is tied for the rookie lead in rebounds (7.6 rpg) and ranks first in blocks (1.8 bpg).
Lillard has won consecutive Kia NBA Western Conference Rookie of the Month awards, and is leading first-year players in scoring (18.1 ppg) and assists (6.6 apg).
The Rising Stars Challenge — televised live nationally on TNT at 9 p.m. ET — features two teams each consisting of nine rookies and sophomores mixed together, drafted from a pool selected by the NBA’s assistant coaches.
Joining Irving from the Sophomore class are: Kenneth Faried (Denver Nuggets), Brandon Knight (Detroit Pistons), Kawhi Leonard (San Antonio Spurs), Chandler Parsons (Houston Rockets), Klay Thompson (Golden State Warriors), Tristan Thompson (Cleveland Cavaliers), Nikola Vucevic (Orlando Magic), and Kemba Walker (Charlotte Bobcats).
Davis and Lillard lead a group of rookies that includes Harrison Barnes (Warriors),
Bradley Beal (Washington Wizards), Andre Drummond (Detroit Pistons), Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (Bobcats), Alexey Shved (Minnesota Timberwolves), Dion Waiters (Cavaliers), and Tyler Zeller (Cavaliers).
Below is the roster for the 2013 BBVA Rising Stars Challenge:
2013 BBVA Rising Stars Challenge Player Pool
Prior to NBA/Player Team Pos. Ht. Wt. Home Exp
Harrison Barnes Golden State F 6-8 210 North Carolina/USA R Bradley Beal Washington G 6-5 207 Florida/USA R Anthony Davis New Orleans F 6-10 220 Kentucky/USA R Andre Drummond Detroit C 6-10 270 Connecticut/USA R Kenneth Faried Denver F 6-8 228 Morehead State/USA 1 Michael Kidd-Gilchrist Charlotte G-F 6-7 232 Kentucky/USA R Kyrie Irving Cleveland G 6-3 191 Duke/USA 1 Brandon Knight Detroit G 6-3 189 Kentucky/USA 1 Kawhi Leonard San Antonio F 6-7 225 San Diego State/USA 1 Damian Lillard Portland G 6-3 195 Weber State/USA R Chandler Parsons Houston F 6-9 207 Florida/USA 1 Alexey Shved Minnesota G 6-6 182 CSKA/Russia R Klay Thompson Golden State G 6-7 205 Washington State/USA 1 Tristan Thompson Cleveland F 6-9 227 Texas/USA 1 Nikola Vucevic Orlando C 7-0 240 USC/USA 1 Dion Waiters Cleveland G 6-4 215 Syracuse/USA R Kemba Walker Charlotte G 6-1 185 Connecticut/USA 1 Tyler Zeller Cleveland F/C 7-0 250 North Carolina/USA RPREVIOUS BBVA RISING STARS CHALLENGE RESULTS
1994 – Phenoms 74, Sensations 68 1995 – White 83, Green 79 (OT) 1996 – East 94, West 92 1997 – East 96, West 91 1998 – East 85, West 80 2000 – Rookies 92, Sophomores 81 (OT) 2001 – Sophomores 121, Rookies 113 2002 – Rookies 103, Sophomores 97 2003 – Sophomores 132, Rookies 112 2004 – Sophomores 142, Rookies 118 2005 – Sophomores 133, Rookies 106 2006 – Sophomores 106, Rookies 96 2007 – Sophomores 155, Rookies 114 2008 – Sophomores 136, Rookies 109 2009 – Sophomores 122, Rookies 116 2010 – Rookies 140, Sophomores 128 2011 – Rookies 148, Sophomores 140 2012 – TEAM CHUCK 146, TEAM SHAQ 133