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The NBA’s Rising Stars Challenge during All-Star Weekend will feature nearly two dozen of the best first- and second-year players in the league, and also Ben Simmons. It’s bound to create tens of highlights that’ll be overlooked in favor of anything Luka Doncic does. Welcome to the internet.
Seriously though, the league is stacked with young teens and 20-somethings on the verge of becoming All-Stars. De’Aaron Fox, Donovan Mitchell, DeAndre Ayton, and more will get their chance to shine during the All-Star festivities. You bet Dell Demps and the Pelicans’ scouts will have their eyes on this one to see who they might be able to get in an Anthony Davis trade.
This year’s challenge pits 10 of the best American-born players (Team USA) against 10 of the best international players (Team World.) Each member of the world team comes from a different country: England, The Bahamas, Serbia, Slovenia, Canada, Latvia, Finland, Nigeria, Turkey, and Australia.
Here are some of the best moments from the game:
John Collins is competing in the Slam Dunk Contest on Saturday, and here’s a preview of what he’ll be bringing.
.@jcollins20_ giving us an early #ATTSlamDunk preview ... #MTNDEWICERisingStars pic.twitter.com/9I5vCR77Rq
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 16, 2019
J O H N.
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) February 16, 2019
C O I N S. pic.twitter.com/WbOwn9dEGl
LUKA TO LAURI!
"Let's see Luka do something ..."
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 16, 2019
Luka:#MTNDEWICERisingStars pic.twitter.com/STJu57q5I7
Here’s the first quarter box score:
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BEN SIMMONS WANTS THAT MVP!
BEN SIMMONS! He’s serious about this one. 18 pts already! #NBAAllStar #RisingStars #NBAAllStarGretchen pic.twitter.com/9Q8Vg5aUYb
— Gretchen Ho (@gretchenho) February 16, 2019
Back-to-back BEN HAMMERS!
— NBA (@NBA) February 16, 2019
18 PTS, 9-10 FGM for Simmons on @NBAonTNT #MTNDEWICERisingStars pic.twitter.com/7FmvrR22Rx
THERE ARE SO MANY DUNKS RIGHT NOW!
John Collins. Another One. pic.twitter.com/ayRSwkB7Zt
— DeAntae Prince (@DeAntae) February 16, 2019
Trae Young tried to embarrass Josh Okogie
You better take that foul, Josh.
If Trae Young would’ve finished the crossover sequence on Josh Okogie in the Rising Stars game.. pic.twitter.com/vlQ0TzcnQ7
— kingtisemedia (@kingtisemedia) February 16, 2019
DID TRAE YOUNG JUST DO A DOUBLE BEHIND THE BACK?!
Trae Young with the double behind the back #NBAAllStar pic.twitter.com/on16q4H8CE
— Rocket4Life (@2k19Rockets) February 16, 2019
TRAE YOUNG NUTMEG!
HE JUST NUTMEGGED 2 PEOPLE!
trae just threw some extra sauce on this game. pic.twitter.com/bDZZI2Ae7j
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) February 16, 2019
The teams will sport Charlotte-inspired jerseys, which look like this:
Inspired by Charlotte’s basketball origins, the Nike-designed #MTNDEWICERisingStars uniforms put a modern twist on the jerseys worn by the ABA’s Carolina Cougars in the 1960s & 1970s. #NBAAllStar pic.twitter.com/uvVoPUikkw
— 2019 NBA All-Star (@NBAAllStar) January 30, 2019
Here are the full rosters
Team USA
- Jarrett Allen
- Marvin Bagley III
- Lonzo Ball (injured)
- John Collins
- De’Aaron Fox
- Jaren Jackson Jr.
- Kevin Knox (replacement)
- Kyle Kuzma
- Donovan Mitchell
- Jayson Tatum
- Trae Young
Team World
- OG Anunoby
- DeAndre Ayton
- Bogdan Bogdanovic
- Luka Doncic
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
- Rodions Kurucs
- Lauri Markkanen
- Josh Okogie
- Cedi Osman
- Ben Simmons
How to Watch
When: Feb. 15
Time: 9 p.m. ET
Where: Spectrum Center
TV: TNT