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Is NBA Rising Stars Challenge Game Worth Watching? Fan's View - Yahoo! Sports

Posted on Friday, February 24, 2012 by NBA Playoff Schedule 2012

Tonight, Friday, February 24, 2012, the NBA Rising Stars Challenge will be played featuring 20 NBA players, with 10 rookies and 10 second year players. The 20 players were drafted onto two teams by Charles Barkley and Shaquille O'Neal , with the teams nicknamed Team Chuck and Team Shaq.

Jeremy Lin
Wikimedia Commons

In general, I am not a big fan of all-star games. Anybody who watched the NFL Pro Bowl in 2012 knows how big a joke all-star games can turn into. And I don't blame the players for that. Why should any of them risk getting injured in what is basically an exhibition game?

So is the NBA Rising Stars Challenge tonight worth watching? I think it is for the following two reasons.

1. Rookies and Second Year Players Still Trying to Prove Themselves

Unlike in the regular NBA All-Star Game, most of the players in the NBA Rising Stars Challenge are still trying to prove themselves. So the players in the game are more likely to try harder in the game.

2. Great Chance to See Young Players You Might Not Get to See Much

There are a lot of players in the NBA Rising Stars Challenge that many fans do not get to see play that much during the season. With the emergence of Jeremy Lin over the last few weeks, many fans outside of New York might not have seen Lin play that much. If you watched Jeremy Lin play last night on national TV vs the Miami Heat, let me assure you he is a better player than he showed as the Knicks lost, 102-88.

I am a New Jersey Nets fan, and rookie MarShon Brooks from the Nets is playing in the game. If you haven't seen MarShon Brooks play yet, the kid is a player and a scorer. He can create his own shot and has a chance to be a great scorer in the NBA.

Here are the rosters for the game. The NBA Rising Stars Challenge will be played tonight at the Amway Arena in Orlando, Florida beginning at 9 pm and televised live on TNT.

Team Shaq Drafted and Coached by Shaquille O'Neal

Norris Cole (Miami Heat) - rookie

Landry Fields (New York Knicks) - second year player

Blake Griffin (Los Angeles Clippers) - second year

Brandon Knight (Detroit Pistons) - rookie

Jeremy Lin (Knicks) - second year

Greg Monroe - (Detroit Pistons) - second year

Markieff Morris (Phoenix Suns) - rookie

Ricky Rubio (Minnesota Timberwolves) - rookie

Tristan Thompson (Cleveland Cavaliers) - rookie

Kemba Walker (Charlotte Bobcats) - rookie

Team Chuck Drafted and Coached by Charles Barkley