Rising Stars Challenge: NBA All Star Weekend
Photo above: The author in Times Square
— From New York City, NY
One of the best parts of the NBA All Star Weekend is the Rising Stars Challenge. Held on the Friday before the All Star Game, it features the newest players from around the league on two teams: Players from the United States versus players from around the world.
These are rookies and second year players, like Zack LaVine of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Trey Burke of the Utah Jazz for the U.S. team versus Andrew Wiggins of the T-Wolves and Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz.
This is a game that has launched the careers of many NBA stars over the years, like Penny Hardaway and Allen Iverson. We can expect this year to the sameThese young players will really get after it and play. Everyone will be watching, fans, scouts and coaches and that will be very important for their careers. Plus, one player will go home with an MVP trophy from the game.
Sunday’s All Star game will be great entertainment, but the real NBA fans will be watching today as well for the Rising Stars Challenge, here at the Barclay Center in Brooklyn.
Here are the rosters for today’s game:
U.S. Team:
Nerlens Noel – Philadelphia, Zach LaVine – Minnesota, Victor Oladipo – Orlando Magic, Cody Zeller – Charlotte, Mason Plumlee – Brooklyn, Michael Carter-Williams – Philadelphia, Trey Burke – Utah, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope – Detroit, Shabazz Muhammad – Minnesota, and Elfrid Payton – Orlando
World Team:
Giannis Antetokounmpo – Milwaukee, Gorgui Dieng – Minnesota, Andrew Wiggins – Minnesota, Bojan Bogdanovic – Brooklyn, Kelly Olynyk – Boston, Dante Exum – Utah, Rudy Gobert – Utah, Nikola Mirotic – Chicago, Jusuf Nurkic – Denver and Dennis Schroder – Atlanta.
Steven Adams of the Oklahoma City Thunder had been selected, but couldn’t play due to injury.
(All photos by Claudia Gestro)
Claudia is of Peruvian and Italian descent, having been born in a small town, in the North of Peru, South America. She was raised by her grandmother from an early age, living in poverty until Claudia’s mother brought her to America. She landed in Miami, FL and started her new life, playing high school basketball and eventually becoming a United States citizen. Claudia completed her education at Florida International University with a BA in Broadcast Journalism and became a model to supplement her income. Since graduating from FIU Claudia has worked with many of the Spanish Language broadcasting companies, including Telemundo, Univision and most recently Spanish Language channels on SiriusXM satellite radio and 93.9 FM Exitos in Los Angeles. Just so you know where her loyalty lies: Go Lakers!