Brooklyn Nets: History of Nets in Rising Stars Challenge
By Phil Watson
2001: Stephen Jackson, Kenyon Martin
The 2001 Rookie Challenge marked the first time the New Jersey Nets had two players selected for the game, as rookie forwards Stephen Jackson and Kenyon Martin both earned nods.
The choices couldn’t have been more divergent.
Martin was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2000 NBA Draft, while Jackson was a second-round pick of the Phoenix Suns in 1997 who played three seasons in the Continental Basketball Association, Australia, Venezuela and the Dominican Republic before winning a spot on the Nets’ roster in training camp in the fall of 2000.
Martin played 18 minutes, scoring nine points with six rebounds and two steals on 4-of-9 shooting, including 1-of-2 from deep. Jackson dropped in eight points in 17 minutes to go with five boards, four assists and three steals, hitting 3-of-9 overall and 2-of-5 from long range.
The Sophomores beat the Rookies, however, 121-113 at MCI Center in Washington. MVP Wally Szczerbiak of the Minnesota Timberwolves paced the Sophomores with 27 points and eight rebounds.
1998: Keith Van Horn
In what would be the last year of the East vs. West format in the Rookie Challenge, New Jersey Nets rookie forward Keith Van Horn was picked for the East squad and had a strong performance.
Van Horn posted a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds on 6-of-12 shooting in the East’s 85-80 victory, when the game was still played with two 15-minute halves.
But it was rookie center Zydrunas Ilgauskas of the Cleveland Cavaliers who copped MVP honors, scoring 18 points on 8-of-10 shooting with seven rebounds and two blocks.