The NBA Rising Stars Challenge is an exhibition game that is played between the NBA’s top rising stars. What denotes a rising star? A player that has not only gained the favor of the media, coaches, and players across the league but one that shows the potential to be a lasting presence in the NBA.
Some of the NBA’s greatest stars debuted on the national stage via the Rising Stars Challenge. Its inaugural match held in 1994, we’ve seen the likes of Chris Webber, Penny Hardaway, Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson, LeBron James, and Kevin Durant make their way from the Friday night showcase to the Sunday night main event at the NBA All-Star Game.
Comprised of the top players in the rookie and sophomore classes of the NBA, this is a high-flying, high scoring, and throughout enjoyable affair. While not every player to compete has lived up to the billing of star, almost all have put together a splendid NBA career.
How is the Rising Stars Challenge Played?
Unlike the typical NBA game or the All-Star game that it precedes, the Rising Stars Challenge is more akin to a men’s college basketball match. Teams are still divided into rosters comprised of the best first and second-year players, but they compete in two twenty-minute halves, with five-minute overtime periods if necessary.
The style of the game makes for a unique experience for NBA viewers. Longer halves mean more prolonged action and an up-and-down pace that encourages scoring. The exhibition nature of the game tends to discourage defense, allowing competitors to enjoy a freer, more creative style of game.
Don’t be surprised to enjoy feelings of your own youth playing basketball while viewing the Rising Stars Challenge. Creativity is paramount in this match, as players employ spin moves, crossovers, and flashy passes that most NBA teams would discourage in competitive matches.
The Early Days of “The Rookie Challenge”
Established in 1994 as The Rookie Challenge, the competition was initially between two randomly selected teams of first-year players. The first-ever match was between teams dubbed “Sensations” and “Phenoms”. Rookies Chris Webber, Dino Rada, and Toni Kukoc were the headlining names, while Penny Hardaway went home with the MVP Award.
That format was followed for the next two years, as fans grew into the idea of seeing the NBA’s next coming star. MVP’s Penny Hardaway, Eddie Jones, and Damon Stoudamire staked their claim as the next big thing in the NBA, until a change in 1996.
The NBA chose to change the style of the game to be more akin to the NBA All-Star Game, making it more of an All-Star Game-Lite. From 1996 to 1998, the NBA saw the Rookie Challenge turned into an East versus West format. Despite the change, Rookies like Allen Iverson and Zydrunas Ilgauskas starred.
Advent of the Rookie-Sophomore Challenge
When the NBA experienced a lockout during the 1998-1999 regular season, a number of compromises were made. Part of those compromises was the removal of the NBA All-Star Weekend during that year. While it was disappointing, it leads to a new experience the next season.
In the case of the 2000 Rising Stars Challenge, it introduced the inclusion of sophomores into the weekend. In order to make it up to the rookies who could not compete the year prior, the inclusion of second-year players added new life to the competition. Showing not only the growth of last year’s players but the difference in quality and style. The Rookie-Sophomore format has maintained to this day!
Here Comes the World!
The NBA has always branded itself as an international league. However, it has only been in recent times that the global talent that has joined the NBA has met the quality of the domestic talent. Today 108 players identify as non-American in the NBA, from countries ranging from Angola to the United Kingdom. With that growth, came the Team USA versus Team World format of the Rising Stars Challenge.
The 2014 All-Star game in Brooklyn saw the introduction of the Team World versus Team USA style of competition to the Rising Stars Challenge. Showcasing talent fostered abroad against domestic talent, a new dimension to the game was brought to the proceedings.
Despite first impressions, Team World has shown great success since the change in format to the game. Team World has won three of the last five Rising Stars Challenges, while they’ve also had a representative win the Rising Stars Challenge MVP honors three times – Andrew Wiggins (Canada), Jamal Murray (Canada), Bogdan Bogdanović (Serbia).
Rising Stars Challenge Records
Scoring: (F) Kevin Durant – Oklahoma City Thunder – (46 Points, 7 Rebounds, 4 Assists, 17-25 FG-FGA)
Rebounding: (C) Andre Drummond – Detroit Pistons – (30 Points, 25 Rebounds, 1 Block, 12-21 FG-FGA)
Assists: (G) John Wall – Washington Wizards – (12 Points, 22 Assists, 2 Steals, 5-9 FG-FGA)
Steals: (G) Chris Paul – New Orleans/Oklahoma Hornets – (16 Points, 17 Assists, 9 Steals, 7-10 FG-FGA)
Blocks: (C) Steven Adams – Oklahoma City Thunder – (6 Points, 2 Rebounds, 4 Blocks, 3-3 FG-FGA)
Three-Pointers Made: (G) Daniel “Boobie” Gibson – Cleveland Cavaliers – (33 Points, 4 Rebounds, 2 Steals, 11-20 3 PM-3PA)
Shooting Percentage: (C) David Lee – New York Knicks – (30 Points, 11 Rebounds, 14-14 FG-FGA)
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