Monroe and Knight on same team as Rubio and Lin for Rising Stars Challenge

by Sean_Corp on Feb 16, 2012 8:55 PM EST in Detroit Pistons News

With the new format of the rookie-sophomore game, there was no telling if Detroit Piston teammates Greg Monroe and Brandon Knight would be competitors or teammates. Instead of just pitting rookies against sophomores, the NBA took a page out of the NHL playbook and held a draft for the two squads.

As it turns out Monroe and Knight will still be teammates as they both landed on Team Shaq of the first annual BBVA Rising Stars Challenge. Shaquille O'Neal drafted Monroe seventh overall while Knight was one of four players who went undrafted and was randomly assigned to the team. Also drafting a team was co-TNT analyst Charles Barkley.

Before the draft was held, there was a surprise in store as sudden NBA sensation Jeremy Lin of the New York Knicks was added to the eligibility pool even though he was originally not selected for the event. Also added was Miami Heat rookie point guard Norris Cole.

The good news is that taking a glance at the rosters, it seems that Monroe and Knight found themselves on the much stronger team and might win the game by 30 points. The bad news, for Knight at least, is he might play less than anyone on either roster as he is on the same team as Lin, Ricky Rubio, Cole and Kemba Walker.

Full rosters after the jump.

Team Shaq

Blake Griffin, LA Clippers
Jeremy Lin, NY Knicks
Ricky Rubio, Minnesota Timberwolves
Markieff Morris, Phoenix Suns
Kemba Walker, Charlotte Bobcats
Landry Fields, NY Knicks
Norris Cole, Miami Heat
Brandon Knight, Detroit Pistons
Tristan Thompson, Cleveland Cavaliers
Greg Monroe, Detroit Pistons

Team Chuck

Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers
DeMarcus Cousins, Sacramento Kings
Derrick Williams, Minnesota Timberwolves
Paul George, Indiana Pacers
MarShon Brooks, NJ Nets
John Wall, Washington Wizards
Tiago Splitter, San Antonio Spurs
Evan Turner, Philadelphia 76ers
Gordon Hayward, Utah Jazz
Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs

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Comments

The teams can trade players this year

Not sure if they’ll go the celebrity game route of trading players during the game, but at some point I expect Kemba Walker of Brandon Knight to be switched,

by Not a Gunslinger on Feb 16, 2012 9:19 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

Rec'd for "of"

My federal building is way cooler than your federal building.

by bugman222 on Feb 17, 2012 7:59 AM EST up reply actions

TEAM SHAQ

That goddamn Okra and beans got you Oprah in jeans. Seems to me a little lean cuisine, wouldn't hurt much- Agh don't touch! -Obie Trice

Discount Double Choke, 2011 Packers.

by Skylar on Feb 16, 2012 9:51 PM EST reply actions

Shaq could be Dumar's replacement

They seem to put a team together the same way. Half of the roster are point guards.

www.twitter.com/frikshun

by Sean W on Feb 16, 2012 10:06 PM EST reply actions

At least Shaq

wants point guards and not combo guards…

by Taiwanese Tora on Feb 17, 2012 12:55 AM EST up reply actions 3 recs

I want a GM...

who doesn’t want to many multiples of any position.

The Distorted Waltz-NEW SONGS
@madpoopz

by madpoopz on Feb 17, 2012 10:29 AM EST up reply actions

Looks they're on Griffin's team

I guess the NBA will make sure a choir sings while they win.

Welcome... to the Wallace-hood

by tads on Feb 16, 2012 10:16 PM EST reply actions

The only thing that could make me hate Comcast more is if they added Tim Tebow to their stable of spokespeople.

Good. Bad. I'm the guy with the gun.

by sauce1977 on Feb 16, 2012 10:32 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

I think Shaq just wants 4 point guards and Blake Griffin on the floor so they can all throw lobs to him and he can dunk all the points.

by garrettelliott on Feb 16, 2012 11:17 PM EST reply actions

I got

Extremely excited to see Monroe go on Griffins team (exciting little 1-2 punch) and that Knight would be on his team as well. Both Knicks as well; interesting.

As for the trades, they can trade until after the game on right now.

by blubomber17 on Feb 16, 2012 11:50 PM EST via Android app reply actions

so im out of the loop what are the best jeremy lin nicknames

First time caller longtime listener should be banned from the radio

by Brad Wesley James Hines on Feb 17, 2012 1:49 AM EST reply actions

i'm partial

to Jeremy Lin.

by Mike Payne on Feb 17, 2012 1:55 AM EST up reply actions 3 recs

I like "Lintimacy Problems"

or “Lintimate Apparel”

Also, RitaLin

Jonas Jerebko once killed a charging female rhinoceros in heat protecting its young with nothing more than a hook shot.

by The Boourns on Feb 17, 2012 7:03 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs

all of them rool its so hard to choose one

im just having a good chuckle cus asians everywhere can dream of being Lincredible

First time caller longtime listener should be banned from the radio

by Brad Wesley James Hines on Feb 19, 2012 3:15 AM EST up reply actions

Brad Wesley James Hines < brianbigcrotch

by -PS- on Feb 19, 2012 11:01 AM EST up reply actions

My personal preference is Big Pun, since everyone feels the need to turn every headline about him into a stupid pun.

by Colin M on Feb 17, 2012 10:56 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs

I’ve been calling him Brad Wesley James Hines.

by garrettelliott on Feb 17, 2012 1:57 AM EST up reply actions 3 recs

I keep wanting to call him Chinese Frankenstein, but he looks nothing like Yao Ming.

That goddamn Okra and beans got you Oprah in jeans. Seems to me a little lean cuisine, wouldn't hurt much- Agh don't touch! -Obie Trice

Discount Double Choke, 2011 Packers.

by Skylar on Feb 17, 2012 11:52 AM EST up reply actions

thats always a good choice

i like a few:
Lin and Juice
Lindefinantly
The Yellow Mamba

First time caller longtime listener should be banned from the radio

by Brad Wesley James Hines on Feb 17, 2012 2:01 AM EST reply actions

im like the ultimate wonderyears name kevin arnold eat my fudge

First time caller longtime listener should be banned from the radio

by Brad Wesley James Hines on Feb 17, 2012 2:02 AM EST reply actions

looking at these teams

Tough call. Barkley has more talent on his team, but he lacks big men. Still, I think I’m choosing team Barkley to win.

by mcflies on Feb 17, 2012 2:22 AM EST reply actions

both teams lack big men...

3 bigs a piece really and the rest are guards/combo-guards. Jonas Jerebko will destroy the world after being slighted. I hope he shows up mysteriously in nothing but a animal skin loin cloth and a viking helmet while carrying a large goblet filled with Mead. Appearing from the rafters in a cloud of smoke and sound of Thunder, he’ll de-flower all the women in the arena with the gaze of a God.

Jonas Jerebko once killed a charging female rhinoceros in heat protecting its young with nothing more than a hook shot.

by The Boourns on Feb 17, 2012 7:05 AM EST up reply actions 3 recs

I'm actually really excited to see Knight in this game

Landry Fields is the only legit 2 on their team, but they also don’t have a SF – they may be obliged to play Knight some decent minutes, but at shooting guard. With a couple of point guards who do weird things like passing the ball, Knight could wind up being a pleasant surprise.

by Shinons* on Feb 17, 2012 8:18 AM EST reply actions

Knight being a PG as we all know is a long shot.

Knight being a really good SG isn’t such a long shot. He’s got a decent jumper and has ok control around the basket right now. It’s his passing that continues to be suspect. Paired with a good PG he could start to really shine.

The Distorted Waltz-NEW SONGS
@madpoopz

by madpoopz on Feb 17, 2012 10:36 AM EST up reply actions

pleasantly surprised how?

Honest question. All I can think of is that maybe he gets some spot up 3’s that he wouldn’t otherwise get. But I fully expect him to play like the player he is at either position.

"With logic he attacks. With statistics he defends."

@brgulker

by brgulker on Feb 17, 2012 11:57 AM EST up reply actions