NBA Rookie-Sophomore Game to be played in USA vs. World format
The NBA is always looking for ways to spice up its All-Star Weekend, since nobody has seemed satisfied with the festivities since Vince Carter's legendary showing in the 2000 dunk contest.
Last year, the league altered the format of that contest, switching from an individual showcase to a team competition divided along conference lines. The reaction was lukewarm at best.
Now the league is looking to shake up its annual Rising Stars Challenge, a game that's historically been contested by a team of rookies and sophomores. This time around, rather than the teams being delineated based on NBA service time, the rookies and sophomores will be split based on geography.
The NBA outlined its new USA versus World format for the game in a release on Wednesday:
The BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge at NBA All-Star 2015 in New York City will feature a new format that pits first- and second-year NBA players from the United States against first- and second-year NBA players from around the world, the NBA announced today.
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The league's assistant coaches will select 10 U.S. players and 10 international players for the game, with one ballot for each of the NBA's 30 teams. Both 10-man rosters will include four guards, four frontcourt players and two players regardless of position. Each team will also feature a minimum of three first-year players and three second-year players among its 10 spots.
The game will be played on Friday, Feb. 13 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY.