NEW YORK, Jan. 29, 2019 – Reigning Kia NBA Rookie of the Year Ben Simmons of the
Philadelphia 76ers, 2017-18 Rookie of the Year runner-up Donovan Mitchell of the
Utah Jazz and two-time reigning Kia NBA Western Conference Rookie of the Month
Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks lead the list of 20 players selected by NBA
assistant coaches to play in the 2019 MTN DEW ICE Rising Stars on Friday, Feb.
15 at 9 p.m. ET at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C.
The 25th Rising Stars will pit 10 first- and second-year NBA players from the
United States against 10 first- and second-year NBA players from around the
world in the league’s annual showcase of premier young talent during NBA
All-Star. MTN DEW ICE will serve as the title partner, expanding on its
continued commitment to supporting up-and-coming stars throughout the sport. MTN
DEW ICE Rising Stars will air live in the U.S. on TNT and ESPN Radio. Tickets
are available at NBAEvents.com.
In addition to Mitchell, the U.S. Team features Brooklyn Nets center Jarrett
Allen, Sacramento Kings forward Marvin Bagley III and guard De’Aaron Fox, Los
Angeles Lakers guard Lonzo Ball and forward Kyle Kuzma, Atlanta Hawks
forward/center John Collins and guard Trae Young, Memphis Grizzlies
forward/center Jaren Jackson Jr. and Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum.
Simmons (Australia) and Doncic (Slovenia) are joined on the World Team by
Toronto Raptors forward OG Anunoby (United Kingdom), Phoenix Suns center Deandre
Ayton (Bahamas), Kings guard Bogdan Bogdanovic (Serbia), LA Clippers guard Shai
Gilgeous-Alexander (Canada), Nets forward Rodions Kurucs (Latvia), Chicago Bulls
forward Lauri Markkanen (Finland), Minnesota Timberwolves guard Josh Okogie
(Nigeria) and Cleveland Cavaliers forward Cedi Osman (Turkey).
Over 42 games in his rookie season, Okogie holds averages of 7.3 points, 3.0
rebounds, 1.2 assists and 0.9 steals in 22.1 minutes per contest. Minnesota
drafted the 6’4 guard with the 20th overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft.
Each participant on the World Team’s 10-player roster hails from a different
country, with four continents represented (North America, Africa, Europe and
Australia). The World Team also includes three players who participated as
campers in Basketball Without Borders (BWB), the NBA and FIBA’s global
basketball development and community outreach program: Ayton (BWB Global 2016),
Gilgeous-Alexander (BWB Global 2016) and Markkanen (BWB Europe 2014; BWB Global
2015).
Boston’s Kyrie Irving (U.S. Team) and Dallas’ Dirk Nowitzki (World Team) will
serve as honorary coaches in MTN DEW ICE Rising Stars. The official Rising Stars
head coaches will be an assistant coach from each 2019 NBA All-Star Game
coaching staff. The All-Star Game coaching staffs are determined by the best
record in each conference through games played on Sunday, Feb. 3.
Irving, a six-time NBA All-Star selection who will start this year’s All-Star
Game, was the 2012 Rising Stars MVP. Nowitzki, a 13-time All-Star from Germany,
ranks seventh on the NBA’s all-time points list (31,254) and is the career
scoring leader among international players. He played in the 2000 Rising Stars.
Inspired by Charlotte’s basketball origins, the Nike-designed Rising Stars
uniforms put a modern twist on the jerseys worn by the American Basketball
Association’s Carolina Cougars in the 1960s and 1970s. The U.S. Team’s light
blue uniform and the World Team’s charcoal uniform both feature a MTN DEW ICE
jersey patch. MTN DEW ICE Rising Stars uniform images are attached and available
here.
NBA assistant coaches selected the Rising Stars rosters, with each of the
league’s 30 teams submitting one ballot per coaching staff. A ballot consisted
of four frontcourt players, four guards and two additional players at either
position group for each team. Voters also had to choose a minimum of three
first-year NBA players and three second-year NBA players for each team. Coaches
were not permitted to vote for any player on their team.
MTN DEW ICE Rising Stars will showcase a U.S. vs. World format for the fifth
straight year. In last year’s event, the World Team defeated the U.S. Team
155-124. Sacramento’s Bogdanovic was named the 2018 Rising Stars MVP after
making seven three-pointers and finishing with 26 points, six assists and four
rebounds.
NBA opening-night rosters for the 2018-19 season featured 108 international
players from a record-tying 42 countries and territories. This marked the fifth
consecutive season that opening-night rosters included at least 100
international players and that all 30 teams had at least one international
player.
Media Content:
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mtn-dew-ice-rising-stars-part-2019-nba-all-star
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mtn-dew-ice-rising-stars-part-2019-nba-all-star
