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.
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
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