Rising Stars Challenge
The Rising Stars Challenge is a basketball exhibition game held by the National Basketball Association on the Friday before the annual All-Star Game as part of the All-Star Weekend. The players are first- and second-year players selected by the NBA's assistant coaches. Two people designated as "general managers" draft players for the two opposing teams.
receiving an alley-oop during the :en:2003–04 NBA season|2004 Rookie Challenge game.
The Rookie Challenge, established in 1994, was originally competed by two randomly selected teams composed entirely of first-year players. This format was continued until 1996, when it was changed to pit rookie teams of both the Eastern and the Western Conference against each other. In 1999, the game was cancelled as a result of the NBA lockout. Since the 1998 rookie class did not compete that year, the game was revamped and featured a team of standout first-year players against a team of standout second-year players. For 2012 and 2013, the format was changed to having two teams drafted by Basketball Hall of Famers Charles Barkley and Shaquille O'Neal. In 2014, the two teams were drafted by Chris Webber and Grant Hill. The format of the game and name was changed to the Rising Stars Challenge in 2012. The game format changed in 2015 to Team USA vs Team World, where each team should choose at least three Rookies and three Sophomores, and the squad of each team should have four back courts, four front courts and two swingmen.
Unlike regular NBA games, the game was divided into two twenty-minute halves plus multiple five-minute overtime periods, similar to men's college basketball. The participating players were chosen by voting among the league's assistant coaches. In the game, players wear their respective regular team uniforms, except for 2009, in which players wore fan-designed jerseys. The head coaches of the two teams are the lead assistant coaches of the NBA All-Star Game coach. Starting in 2009, two active NBA players were added to the game coaching staffs.
The game is currently sponsored by Mtn Dew Kickstart. Before 2012, the event was known as the Rookie Challenge, officially named the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge and Youth Jam.
Past games and rosters
2020 game
Wendell Carter Jr. is unable to participate due to a right ankle injury.
Zion Williamson was selected as Wendell Carter Jr.'s replacement.
Tyler Herro is unable to participate due to a sore right ankle.
Collin Sexton was selected as Tyler Herro's replacement.
Deandre Ayton is unable to participate due to a sore left ankle.
Nicolò Melli was selected as Deandre Ayton's replacement.
2019 game
Lonzo Ball is unable to participate due to a left ankle injury.
Kevin Knox was selected as Lonzo Ball's replacement.
2018 game
Malcolm Brogdon is unable to participate due to a leg injury.
Taurean Prince was selected as Malcolm Brogdon's replacement.
Lonzo Ball is unable to participate due to a knee injury.
De'Aaron Fox was selected as Lonzo Ball's replacement.
2017 game
Embiid was unable to participate due to a knee injury.
Abrines was named as Embiid's replacement.
Mudiay was unable to participate due to a back injury.
Hernangómez was named as Mudiay's replacement.
2016 game
To celebrate the first time the NBA holds the All-Star game outside of the US, the game makes the World Team the home team instead of Team USA.Nerlens Noel was unable to participate due to injury.
Devin Booker was named as Noel's replacement.
Nikola Mirotić was unable to participate due to injury.
Trey Lyles was named as Mirotić's replacement.
Team USA won 157–154 in the highest scoring game in Rising Stars Challenge history. Zach LaVine was named MVP, leading all of the USA team with 30 points while also recording 7 rebounds and 4 assists. Jordan Clarkson, D'Angelo Russell, and Devin Booker all scored over 20 points, with Russell also recording 7 assists. Kristaps Porziņģis and Emmanuel Mudiay led the way for Team World with 30 points each, with Andrew Wiggins also scoring 29 points.
2015 game
Adams was unable to participate due to injury.
Nurkić was named as Adams' replacement.
Carter-Williams was unable to participate due to injuries.
Covington was named as Carter-Williams' replacement.
Olynyk was unable to participate due to injury.
Dellavedova was named as Olynyk's replacement.
Nurkić decided to not participate for personal reasons.
Papanikolaou was named as Nurkić's replacement.
The World team won against the U.S. 121-112 at the Rising Stars Challenge at All-Star weekend. Canada's Andrew Wiggins scored 22 points, and Rudy Gobert added 18 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks. Brooklyn's Bojan Bogdanovic of Croatia, and Chicago's Nikola Mirotić of Montenegro added 16 points each for the World team. Victor Oladipo of the Orlando Magic and Zach LaVine of the Minnesota Timberwolves led the U.S. team with 22 points each. Andrew Wiggins, the 2014 NBA draft 1st overall pick, won the game's MVP award.
2014 game
Pero Antić was unable to participate due to injury.Miles Plumlee was named Pero Antić's replacement.
2013 game
Andre Drummond was unable to participate due to injury.Andrew Nicholson was named Andre Drummond's replacement.
2012 game
Shortly before the draft for the rosters, Norris Cole and Jeremy Lin were added to the original player pool. A few days before the game, Tiago Splitter was injured and was replaced by Derrick Favors. Lin played only nine minutes in the game, at his request, due to exhaustion from his rise to stardom that month.Tiago Splitter was unable to participate due to injury.
Kawhi Leonard did not play due to a strained right calf.
Derrick Favors was named Tiago Splitter's replacement.
2011 game
Tyreke Evans was unable to participate due to injury.James Harden was named Tyreke Evans' replacement.
2010 game
Derrick Rose was excused from the Rookie Challenge in consideration of being named to the All-Star Game and his participation in the Skills Challenge.Anthony Morrow was named as a replacement for Derrick Rose.
2009 game
Greg Oden was unable to participate due to injury.2008 game
2007 game
The 2007 Rookie Challenge took place on Friday, February 16 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.Final Score: East:150 West: 167
2006 game
The 2006 Rookie Challenge took place February 17 at the Toyota Center in Houston.Rookie Roster:
Head Coach: Sidney Lowe
Assistant Coach: Elvin Hayes
Sophomore Roster:
Head Coach: Del Harris
Assistant Coach: Moses Malone
- Did not play due to injury
2005 game
Rookie Roster:
Head Coach: P. J. Carlesimo
Assistant Coach: Alex English
Sophomore Roster:
Head Coach: Bob McAdoo
Assistant Coach: Doug Moe
- *Did not play due to injury
2004 game
Rookie Roster:
Head Coach: Doug Collins
Assistant Coach: A. C. Green
Sophomore Roster:
Head Coach: Michael Cooper
Assistant Coach: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Said to be the most exciting Rookie Challenge in history due to all the highlight-reel dunks. Much of the hype centered on rookie phenoms LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony, who had 33 and 17 points respectively. Amar'e Stoudemire set a Rookie Challenge record with 36 points.
2003 game
The 2003 Rookie Challenge took place February 8 at the Philips Arena in Atlanta.This was the last time the game was played on a Saturday.
Rookie Roster:
Head Coach: Cotton Fitzsimmons
Assistant Coach: Lou Hudson
Sophomore Roster:
Head Coach: Mike Fratello
Assistant Coach: Bob Pettit
2002 game
The 2002 Rookie Challenge took place February 9 at the First Union Center in Philadelphia.Rookie Roster:
Head Coach: Chuck Daly
Assistant Coach: Darryl Dawkins
Sophomore Roster:
Head Coach: Billy Cunningham
Assistant Coach: Bobby Jones
2001 game
The 2001 Rookie Challenge took place February 10 at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C..Rookie Roster:
Head Coach: Kevin Loughery
Assistant Coach: Jack Marin
Sophomore Roster:
Head Coach: Elvin Hayes
Assistant Coach: Phil Chenier
2000 game
The 2000 Rookie Challenge took place February 11 at the Oakland Arena in Oakland.Rookie Roster:
Head Coach: Al Attles
Assistant Coach: Nate Thurmond
Sophomore Roster:
Head Coach: Bill Russell
Assistant Coach: K. C. Jones
**Did not play due to injury
1998 game
The 1998 Rookie Challenge took place February 8 at the Madison Square Garden in New York.East Roster:
Head Coach: Willis Reed
West Roster:
Head Coach: Dave DeBusschere
1997 game
The 1997 Rookie Challenge took place February 8 at the Gund Arena in Cleveland.East Roster:
Head Coach: Red Auerbach
West Roster:
Head Coach: Red Holzman
**Did not play due to injury
1996 game
The 1996 Rookie Challenge took place February 10 at the Alamodome in San Antonio.East Roster:
Head Coach: Bob Lanier
West Roster:
Head Coach: Doug Moe
1995 game
The 1995 Rookie Challenge took place February 11 at the America West Arena in Phoenix.Green Team Roster:
Head Coach: Al Attles
White Team Roster:
Head Coach: Cotton Fitzsimmons
1994 game
The 1994 Rookie Challenge took place February 12 at the Target Center in Minneapolis. MVP – Anfernee HardawaySensations Roster:
Head Coach: K. C. Jones
Phenoms Roster:
Head Coach: Doug Collins
Game records
Points- Kevin Durant, 46
- Kenneth Faried, 40
- Russell Westbrook, 40
- Tim Hardaway Jr., 36
- Amar'e Stoudemire, 36
- Jamal Murray, 36
- Kyle Kuzma, 35
- Jaylen Brown, 35
- Kyrie Irving, 34
- Andre Drummond, 25
- DeJuan Blair, 23
- Elton Brand, 21
- DeJuan Blair, 15
- DeMarcus Cousins, 14
- Chris Bosh, 14
- Marcus Fizer, 14
- Quentin Richardson, 14
- John Wall, 22
- Chris Paul, 17
- De'Aaron Fox, 16
- Ben Simmons, 13
- Jordan Farmar, 12
- Jamal Murray, 11
- Chris Paul, 11
- Jamaal Tinsley, 11
- Mike Miller, 11
- Steve Francis, 11
- Damon Stoudamire, 11
- Khalid Reeves, 11
- Trae Young, 10
- Emmanuel Mudiay, 10
- Ricky Rubio, 10
- Isaiah Thomas, 10
- Kemba Walker, 10
- O. J. Mayo, 10
- Ronald Murray, 10
- Jamaal Tinsley, 10
- Chris Paul, 9
- Eddie Jones, 6
- De'Aaron Fox, 5
- Donovan Mitchell, 5
- Jason Richardson, 5
- Kenyon Martin, 5
- Steven Adams, 4
- Brook Lopez, 3
- Dwight Howard, 3
- Daniel Gibson, 11
- Jamal Murray, 9
- Frank Kaminsky, 9
- Kyrie Irving, 8
- David Lee, 100%
MVPs
| Year | MVP Winner | Team Played |
| 2020 |  Miles Bridges | Charlotte Hornets |
| 2019 | Kyle Kuzma | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 2018 |  Bogdan Bogdanović | Sacramento Kings |
| 2017 |  Jamal Murray | Denver Nuggets |
| 2016 | Zach LaVine | Minnesota Timberwolves |
| 2015 | Andrew Wiggins | Minnesota Timberwolves |
| 2014 | Andre Drummond | Detroit Pistons |
| 2013 | Kenneth Faried | Denver Nuggets |
| 2012 | Kyrie Irving | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 2011 | John Wall | Washington Wizards |
| 2010 | Tyreke Evans | Sacramento Kings |
| 2010 | DeJuan Blair | San Antonio Spurs |
| 2009 | Kevin Durant | Oklahoma City Thunder |
| 2008 | Daniel Gibson | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 2007 | David Lee | New York Knicks |
| 2006 | Andre Iguodala | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 2005 | Carmelo Anthony | Denver Nuggets |
| 2004 | Amar'e Stoudemire | Phoenix Suns |
| 2003 | Gilbert Arenas | Golden State Warriors |
| 2002 | Jason Richardson | Golden State Warriors |
| 2001 | Wally Szczerbiak | Minnesota Timberwolves |
| 2000 | Elton Brand | Chicago Bulls |
| 1998 |  Žydrūnas Ilgauskas | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 1997 | Allen Iverson* | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 1996 | Damon Stoudamire | Toronto Raptors |
| 1995 | Eddie Jones | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 1994 | Penny Hardaway | Orlando Magic |
Participant players by team
| Number | Team |
| 23 | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 20 | Los Angeles Clippers |
| 18 | Vancouver Grizzlies / Memphis Grizzlies |
| 17 | Chicago Bulls |
| 17 | Golden State Warriors |
| 16 | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 15 | New Jersey Nets / Brooklyn Nets |
| 15 | Minnesota Timberwolves |
| 14 | Boston Celtics |
| 14 | Denver Nuggets |
| 14 | Houston Rockets |
| 14 | Seattle SuperSonics / Oklahoma City Thunder |
| 13 | Toronto Raptors |
| 13 | Utah Jazz |
| 12 | Detroit Pistons |
| 12 | Phoenix Suns |
| 12 | Sacramento Kings |
| 11 | Charlotte Bobcats / Charlotte Hornets |
| 11 | New York Knicks |
| 11 | Portland Trail Blazers |
| 11 | San Antonio Spurs |
| 11 | Washington Bullets / Washington Wizards |
| 10 | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 10 | Miami Heat |
| 10 | Milwaukee Bucks |
| 10 | Orlando Magic |
| 9 | Dallas Mavericks |
| 9 | Indiana Pacers |
| 6 | Atlanta Hawks |
| 5 | New Orleans Hornets / New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets / New Orleans Pelicans |