Two weeks before All-Star weekend, the NBA has decided to go playground style, changing up the format of the NBA rookie-sophomore game. Instead of separating the players by NBA experience, the league announced on Tuesday that the Rising Stars Challenge will feature two teams with mixed rosters.
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But even better, TNT analysts Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal will serve as the general managers of the two opposing teams — Team Chuck and Team Shaq — and draft their nine-man rosters from a pool of players previously selected by the NBA’s assistant coaches. Mike Fratello will also join the Team Chuck coaching staff while Steve Kerr joins Team Shaq.
Last year, John Wall was named MVP of the rookie-sophomore game after setting a record with 22 assists. But there’s a chance that he could be upstaged this year by rookie point guards Kyrie Irving and Ricky Rubio, who could very likely end up on opposite teams. All three point guards will be vying to be chosen second overall if Blake Griffin, who will also start for the Western Conference in the big boys All-Star Game on Feb. 26, decides he can play in both games.
The bigger question is who gets picked last? What if it’s DeMarcus Cousins?
The full pool of players available will be announced on Wednesday, and the draft will take place on Feb. 16, with TNT’s Kenny Smith serving as the honorary commissioner. There’s no good reason not to watch.
– Craig Stouffer
