Irving, Davis, Lillard Headline Rising Stars Challenge | 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 / March 29.
  • Irving, Davis, Lillard Headline Rising Stars Challenge

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    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            R

     

    PREVIOUS 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

    Written by

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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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