+4
Steve Nash of the Phoenix Suns will be going back to the All-Star Game once again.
The NBA is looking to spruce up their All-Star weekend and they are are hoping a Rising Stars Challenge will do just that. The first-ever event will take place in a few weeks and the rosters were selected by TNT analysts Charles Barkley and Shaquille O'Neil. The two former players had their pick of any nine rookies or sophomores currently playing in the league.
For those of you with ties to Arizona basketball, you will recognize two players immediately. The first is Markieff Morris, who is currently coming off the bench as a rookie with the Phoenix Suns. The other is Derrick Williams of the Minnesota Timberwolves, who was the No. 2 overall pick last summer after a stellar tenure with the Arizona Wildcats.
Here are the complete rosters for both teams:
Team Chuck: John Wall, Kyrie Irving, DeMarcus Cousins, Paul George, Derrick Williams, Marshon Brooks, Gordon Hayward, Tiago Splitter, Kawhi Leonard, Evan Turner.
Team Shaq: Blake Griffin, Jeremy Lin, Ricky Rubio, Greg Monroe, Markieff Morris, Kemba Walker, Landry Fields, Norris Cole, Brandon Knight, Tristian Thompson.
First glance gives the impression that Team Shaq has more talent, but, hey, it's all in good fun. A big congratulations to both players representing the state of Arizona.
The Arizona Wildcats will be very well represented during this year's Sprite Slam Dunk Contest during All-Star weekend in Orlando, as current Minnesota Timberwolves forward Derrick Williams and Houston Rockets forward Chase Budinger will both take part in this year's Dunk-off, joining the likes of a number of NBA high-flyers.
Make the jump for more.
Steve Nash has been on so many All-Star teams. What's another one to him?
Nash was named as an All-Star game reserve for the Western Confernce team a few minutes ago. It's his eighth All-Star appearance in seven years. Nash gets the call after averaging a double-double with 15 points and 10 assists per game. His 10 assists per game lead the NBA and even though the Suns are 11-14, his production and ability still can't be denied.
Nash will join Tony Parker of the San Antonio Spurs and Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder as the backup guards for the West, and will probably be the primary backup point to Chris Paul of the Los Angeles Clippers while Parker and Westbrook play more at the two. The All-Star Game will be played on Sunday February 26 on TNT.
To talk about Nash being picked once more for the Suns, hit up Bright Side of the Sun.
The All-Star Game is probably not going to feature any Phoenix Suns this year, but there will still be representatives throughout All-Star Weekend. One such representative will be rookie Markieff Morris as one of the members of the BBVA Rising Stars Chellenge. Morris has been doing well the past few games, averaging about seven points, five rebounds and one assist the past 25 games, as he's come on strong.
Derrick Williams was also a shoo-in to be a participant as a rookie. The Minnesota Timberwolves power forward who exploded onto the scene at Arizona last year, as he's been averaging just over seven points and around four rebounds per game. Both should figure a bit more prominently in a contest known for its high-scoring.
Chase Budinger, Derrick Williams Are Slam Dunk Contest Underdogs
by Jess Root
With the NBA All-Star Weekend approaching, we now know that the Slam Dunk Contest will feature a pair of former Arizona Wildcats. Chase Budinger and rookie Derrick Williams are set to participate with Iman Shumpert and Paul George. However, while they are in, they are not expected to win.
They both are pegged as the least likely to win the contest.
According to Bovada, the favorite is Shumpert, the most recognizable name in the group as he plays for the New York Knicks. Shumpert is a 3/2 favorite, followed by George at 2/1.
Williams is listed at 3/1 odds of winning and Budinger is the underdog at 5/1.
Being the shortest of the group, Shumpert will likely have an advantage in the fact that shorter players get better buzz with their dunks than do big men.
If I were to play the wagers, having seen Williams play some in college and his crazy athleticism, I would put money on Williams. Not bad odds, and he's going to put on a show.
Feb 17 8:01a