The NBA revealed Tuesday the 28 players who will compete in the Rising Stars Challenge, now being sponsored by Jordan Brand, on Feb. 17 as part of All-Star Weekend in Salt Lake City.
Orlando Magic forward and No. 1 overall draft pick Paolo Banchero, Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. and Detroit Pistons guard Jaden Ivey were among 11 rookies the NBA named to the game. The player pool also includes 10 second-year players and seven players from the NBA G League.
Following last year’s format change, four honorary coaches will draft teams of seven players for a four-team tournament. Retired NBA stars Pau Gasol, Joakim Noah, Deron Williams and Jason Terry will serve as the coaches.
The G League was incorporated into the game for the first time last season, with four members of G League Ignite getting invited. This season, in addition to four Ignite prospects who are preparing for future NBA drafts — including Scoot Henderson — the NBA also chose Kenneth Lofton Jr. of the Memphis Hustle (Memphis Grizzlies), Mac McClung of the Delaware Blue Coats (Philadelphia 76ers) and Scotty Pippen Jr. of the South Bay Lakers (Los Angeles Lakers).
McClung, a 6-foot-2 guard, will also become the first G League player to participate in the Slam Dunk Contest.
The full player pool is as follows:
Rookies Paolo Banchero, Orlando Jalen Duren, Detroit AJ Griffin, Atlanta Jaden Ivey, Detroit Walker Kessler, Utah Bennedict Mathurin, Indiana Keegan Murray, Sacramento Andrew Nembhard, Indiana Jabari Smith Jr., Houston Jeremy Sochan, San Antonio Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City
Sophomores Jose Alvarado, New Orleans Scottie Barnes, Toronto Josh Giddey, Oklahoma City Jalen Green, Houston Quentin Grimes, New York Bones Hyland, Denver Evan Mobley, Cleveland Trey Murphy III, New Orleans Alperen Sengun, Houston Franz Wagner, Orlando
G League players Sidy Cissoko, G League Ignite Scoot Henderson, G League Ignite Mojave King, G League Ignite Kenneth Lofton Jr., Memphis Hustle Mac McClung, Delaware Blue Coats Leonard Miller, G League Ignite Scotty Pippen Jr., South Bay Lakers
–Field Level Media
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