The T-Mobile NBA Rookie Challenge and Youth Jam, otherwise known as the 2011 rookie game, will take place at 9 p.m. Friday night on TNT. Wizards phenom John Wall and NBA phenom Blake Griffin look to give the Rookie team its second straight win when they go up against Brandon Jennings, Stephen Curry and the Sophomore squad.
Wall and Griffin are the obvious headliners, but both teams have several other rising stars as well. The rookies will be looking for another win after Tyreke Evans led the squad to a surprising win at the 2010 All-Star Game in Dallas. Evans was scheduled to play for the sophomores, but has pulled out due to an injury. He was replaced by James Harden of the Oklahoma City Thunder. Wall will have a chance to play with two of his college teammates, as Eric Bledsoe of the Clippers and DeMarcus Cousins of the Kings also made the Rookie squad.
The assistant coaches for the Celtics and Spurs will coach the respective teams. Amar'e Stoudemire will be an assistant coach for the rookies, while Carmelo Anthony will do the same for the sophomores. Here are the complete rosters:
Rookies: Wall, Griffin, Bledsoe, Cousins, Derrick Favors (Nets), Landry Fields (Knicks), Wes Johnson (Timberwolves), Greg Monroe (Pistons), Gary Neal (Spurs)
Sophomores: Jennings, Curry, Harden, DeJuan Blair (Spurs), DeMar DeRozan (Raptors), Taj Gibson (Bulls), Jrue Holiday (76ers), Serge Ibaka (Thunder), Wesley Matthews (Blazers)