The Rising Stars Challenge is the rookie-sophomore All-Star Game, and an underwhelming 2016 draft class could see Brooklyn Nets rookie Caris LeVert sneak in.
After a couple of rule changes, the Rising Stars Challenge got split into Team USA and Team World two years ago. Prior to that, Chris Webber, Shaquille O’Neal, Grant Hill and Charles Barkley were picked as captains and drafted their teams. And before that was when it featured a rookie team against a sophomore team.
Throughout the evolution of the format, no player beyond their second year competed, and that was the thesis of the game since its inception.
The 2016 game featured four rookies, with Devin Booker being added last minute as a replacement for Nerlens Noel. In 2015, there were just three rookies. For argument’s sake, I’ll only be accepting three rookies to this year’s team with the hopes of the Nets’ Caris LeVert being able to slide his way onto the roster.
Firstly, Joel Embiid and Dario Saric, the two best rookies so far, will be placed on the world team because they were born in Cameroon and Croatia, respectively. That leaves LeVert fighting against guys like Buddy Hield, Malcolm Brogdon, Brandon Ingram and Jamal Murray.