Notes from the BBVA Rising Stars Challenge Draft on NBA TV – Thursday, Feb. 16, 2012
TNT will have exclusive live coverage of the BBVA Rising Stars Challenge on Friday, Feb. 24, at 9 p.m. (ET). Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal will serve as team general managers. Kenny Smith will serve as the honorary commissioner of the game, while Steve Kerr and Mike Fratello serve as team coaches.
TNT will once again air exclusive live coverage of the 2012 NBA All-Star Weekend from Orlando, Feb. 23-26.
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Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith
Team Shaq:
Blake Griffin – Los Angeles Clippers (Sophomore)
Jeremy Lin – New York Knicks (Sophomore)
Ricky Rubio – Minnesota Timberwolves (Rookie)
Greg Monroe – Detroit Pistons (Sophomore)
Markieff Morris – Phoenix Suns (Rookie)
Kemba Walker – Charlotte Bobcats (Rookie)
Landry Fields – New York Knicks (Sophomore)
Norris Cole – Miami Heat (Sophomore)
Brandon Knight – Detroit Pistons (Rookie)
Tristan Thompson – Cleveland Cavaliers (Rookie)
Team Chuck:
Kyrie Irving – Cleveland Cavaliers (Rookie)
DeMarcus Cousins – Sacramento Kings (Sophomore)
Paul George – Indiana Pacers (Sophomore)
Derrick Williams – Minnesota Timberwolves (Rookie)
MarShon Brooks – New Jersey Nets (Rookie)
John Wall – Washington Wizards (Sophomore)
Gordon Hayward – Utah Jazz (Sophomore)
Tiago Splitter – San Antonio Spurs (Sophomore)
Kawhi Leonard – San Antonio Spurs (Rookie)
Evan Turner – Philadelphia 76ers (Sophomore)
Barkley on two of his draft picks, New Jersey Nets rookie MarShon Brooks and Indiana Pacers sophomore Paul George: “MarShon Brooks and Paul George are fantastic players. Get used to them America.”
Barkley on passing up on drafting New York Knicks sophomore Jeremy Lin to select Cleveland Cavaliers rookie Kyrie Irving: “It wasn’t very difficult [to pass on Jeremy Lin] to be honest because [Lin’s] only been playing for a week and it’s been a fantastic week. But Kyrie Irving is terrific and he’s going to hand it to [Lin] and if Ricky Rubio wants some…he can come get some too.”
NBA TV’s Matt Winer and Dennis Scott analyzed Team Shaq and Team Chuck
Scott on Charlotte Bobcats rookie and Team Chuck guard Kemba Walker: “[Walker] has proven he can score, he can set people up and hit big shots at the end of quarters. This is a perfect game for him.”
Scott on who he favors in the BBVA Rising Stars Challenge, Team Shaq or Team Chuck: “As I go through the [rosters], at first I thought Shaq had the upper hand but he has too many point guards. Shaq has more playmakers but Charles has more finishers…I think Charles may have the upper hand.”
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