Kristaps Porzingis, Karl-Anthony Towns lead Rising Stars rosters
Rookies Kristaps Porzingis and Karl-Anthony Towns will lead the World and U.S. teams at the 2016 NBA Rising Stars Challenge at All-Star weekend in Toronto.
The NBA announced the full rosters for the annual exhibition featuring the league’s top rookies and sophomores. The game will feature a U.S. vs. World format for the second straight year, tipping off Friday, Feb. 12 at the Air Canada Centre to kick off the weekend. Rosters were selected by the NBA’s assistant coaches and include eight rookies and 12 sophomores.
Knicks sensation Porzingis is joined on the world team by 2015 Rookie of the Year and Timberwolves wing Andrew Wiggins, Bulls forward Nikola Mirotic, and Nuggets rookie guard Emmanuel Mudiay, among others.
Wolves forward Towns, the midseason front-runner for Rookie of the Year honors, teams with fellow rookies Jahlil Okafor of the Sixers, D’Angelo Russell of the Lakers, and sophomore Bucks forward Jabari Parker, among others.
The World Team defeated the U.S. 121–112 last season.
Full rosters are below.
U.S.:Jordan Clarkson (Lakers), Rodney Hood (Jazz), Zach LaVine (Timberwolves), Nerlens Noel (76ers), Okafor (76ers), Parker (Bucks), Elfrid Payton (Magic), Russell (Lakers), Marcus Smart (Celtics), Towns (Timberwolves)
World: Bojan Bogdanovic (Nets), Clint Capela (Rockets), Mario Hezonja (Magic), Nikola Jokic (Nuggets), Mirotic (Bulls), Mudiay (Nuggets), Raul Neto (Jazz), Porzingis (Knicks), Dwight Powell (Mavericks), Wiggins (Timberwolves)
