Rookie Challenge Rosters Announced

The NBA released the final rosters for All-Star weekend's Rookie Challenge game today. No real surprises; the most interesting note has to do with the coaches: Dwyane Wade will run the rookies (led by fellow Chicagoan Derrick Rose) and Dwight Howard will coach the sophomores. One more gimmick: LeBron James will serve as a color analyst.

Kevin Durant is the only guy with a shot at duplicating Brandon Roy's 2008 double dip in the Rookie Challenge and All-Star main event. Given the way coaches typically vote for the All-Star reserves, however, it seems like it will take quite a few injuries to get KD in the Sunday game.

Rose will have O.J. Mayo, Marc Gasol, Greg Oden, Russell Westbrook, Eric Gordon, Rudy Fernandez, Michael Beasley and Brook Lopez running with him. (I can almost smell the Rose-to-Mayo alley-oops and the Gordon transition dunks.) The sophomores will have Durant, Rodney Stuckey, Al Horford, Jeff Green, Thad Young, Al Thornton, Wilson Chandler, Luis Scola and Aaron Brooks.

Does anyone (including Scola) want Scola in this game? Seems like it would have been a good opportunity to let Durant play with his best friend SPENCER HAWES!!!

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

1-28-2009 @ 3:33PM

Rufusan said...

You forgot Rudy Fernández, Mr. Ziller

1-28-2009 @ 3:35PM

Ok, you are too fast for me.

1-29-2009 @ 12:27PM

IVSPORT said...

This game will showcase some of the best young talent in the league today. Most of these guys are already trading on the new sports stock market at www.oneseason.com. ROSE, ODEN and BSLY have already been issued and are seeing lots of action and Durant and OJ Mayo will be introduced to the market as Initial Player Offerings (IPOs) very soon.

1-29-2009 @ 1:14PM

knicks chick said...

See Wilson Chandler, the Knick's Rookie Challenge participant on Monday against the Lakers in NYC!

Plus, watch the game next to a former Knick All-Star! Sit next to Allan Houston and behind the Knicks bench for the game Monday, February 2nd. This ebay experience also includes an invitation to the Knicks training facility on Monday morning where Allan Houston will instruct you and a guest on shooting techniques and play you in a game of HORSE. Search ebay item 200302346573 and Allan Houston Experience to learn more.

1-29-2009 @ 3:19PM

Jay (Houston) said...

Scola probably doesn't care one way or the other about being in this game. He plays a real game without much flash against real defenses. Rookie/Sophomore and the All-Star game is all show and no defense.

I understand that someone could get hurt if they played tough defense and the crowd just wants a high scoring flashy game.

Scola will get a few post up scores and his hustle should get him a few offensive rebounds and put backs... but he won't be caring if he gets many minutes.