Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (MKG) and Kemba Walker to Play for Team Shaq

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Kemba, MKG Named Rising Stars | NBA Rising Stars Event Page

Charlotte, NC Feb. 7, 2013 – Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Kemba Walker will team up in Houston as NBA All-Star 2013 will play host to the BBVA Rising Stars Challenge, which will feature two teams drafted by TNT Analysts Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal who will serve as the opposing general managers. MKG and Kemba will both be playing for Team Shaq.

MKG and Kemba to Play for Team Shaq

Each team will have nine man rosters, consisting of both NBA rookies and sophomores drafted from a pool that was previously selected by the NBA’s assistant coaches. Fans will have the opportunity to vote online for who should be in the starting lineup for each team.

Joining Walker and Kidd-Gilchrist on TEAM SHAQ are Damian Lillard (Portland TrailBlazers), Kyrie Irving (Cleveland Cavaliers), Andre Drummond (Detroit Pistons), Klay Thompson and Harrison Barnes (Golden State Warriors), Chandler Parsons (Houston Rockets), Dion Waiters (Cleveland Cavaliers) and Tyler Zeller (Cleveland).

In addition to rookie Anthony Davis, TEAM CHUCK is comprised of Ricky Rubio (Minnesota Timberwolves), Isaiah Thomas (Sacramento Kings), Kenneth Faried (Denver Nuggets), Kawhi Leonard (San Antonio Spurs), Bradley Beal (Washington Wizards), Tristan Thompson (Cleveland), Nikola Vucevic (Orlando Magic), Brandon Knight (Detroit), Isaiah Thomas (Sacramento Kings), and Alexey Shved (Minnesota Timberwolves).

The 2013 BBVA Rising Stars Challenge will be played Friday, Feb. 15, in Houston as part of NBA All-Star 2013. During the game, fans will be able to vote for the MVP via Twitter, online and on mobile devices at NBA.com, through the NBA Game Time and NBA Game Time from Sprint apps, and SMS texting. This is the first time that fans will be able to vote via social media for the BBVA Rising Stars Challenge MVP.

This marks the second straight year rookies and sophomores will be mixed together on teams. Last year in Orlando, Irving netted a game-high 34 points and MVP honors as he led TEAM CHUCK over TEAM SHAQ 146-133.

The head coaches for both teams are the lead assistant coaches from the 2013 NBA All-Star Game coaching staffs. The Miami Heat’s David Fizdale will lead TEAM SHAQ and the San Antonio Spurs’ Mike Budenholzer will man the sidelines for TEAM CHUCK.

The BBVA Rising Stars Challenge will be televised live nationally on TNT at 9 p.m. ET and also will be broadcast live on ESPN Radio, while NBA.com will make live audio available to fans in multiple languages.

Below are the rosters for the 2013 BBVA Rising Stars Challenge:

TEAM CHUCK

Player	Team	Pos.	Ht.	Wt.	Prior to NBA / Home Country	Exp
Bradley Beal	Washington	G	6-5	207	Florida/USA	R
Anthony Davis	New Orleans	F	6-10	220	Kentucky/USA	R
Kenneth Faried	Denver	F	6-8	228	Morehead State/USA	1
Brandon Knight	Detroit	G	6-3	189	Kentucky/USA	1
Kawhi Leonard	San Antonio	F	6-7	225	San Diego State/USA	1
Ricky Rubio	Minnesota	G	6-4	180	FC Barcelona/Spain	1
Alexey Shved	Minnesota	G	6-6	182	CSKA/Russia	R
Isaiah Thomas	Sacramento	G	5-9	185	Washington/USA	1
Tristan Thompson	Cleveland	F	6-9	227	Texas/Canada	1
Nikola Vucevic	Orlando	C	7-0	240	USC/USA	1


TEAM SHAQ

Player	Team	Pos.	Ht.	Wt.	Prior to NBA / Home Country	Exp
Harrison Barnes	Golden State	F	6-8	210	North Carolina/USA	R
Andre Drummond	Detroit	C	6-10	270	Connecticut/USA	R
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist	Charlotte	G-F	6-7	232	Kentucky/USA	R
Kyrie Irving	Cleveland	G	6-3	191	Duke/USA	1
Damian Lillard	Portland	G	6-3	195	Weber State/USA	R
Chandler Parsons	Houston	F	6-9	207	Florida/USA	1
Klay Thompson	Golden State	G	6-7	205	Washington State/USA	1
Dion Waiters	Cleveland	G	6-4	215	Syracuse/USA	R
Kemba Walker	Charlotte	G	6-1	185	Connecticut/USA	1
Tyler Zeller	Cleveland	F/C	7-0	250	North Carolina/USA	R

PREVIOUS BBVA RISING STARS CHALLENGE RESULTS

1994 – Phenoms 74, Sensations 68
1995 – White 83, Green 79 (OT)
1996 – East 94, West 92
1997 – East 96, West 91
1998 – East 85, West 80
2000 – Rookies 92, Sophomores 81 (OT)
2001 – Sophomores 121, Rookies 113
2002 – Rookies 103, Sophomores 97
2003 – Sophomores 132, Rookies 112
2004 – Sophomores 142, Rookies 118
2005 – Sophomores 133, Rookies 106
2006 – Sophomores 106, Rookies 96
2007 – Sophomores 155, Rookies 114
2008 – Sophomores 136, Rookies 109
2009 – Sophomores 122, Rookies 116
2010 – Rookies 140, Sophomores 128
2011 – Rookies 148, Sophomores 140
2012 – TEAM CHUCK 146, TEAM SHAQ 133