NEW YORK – With the first pick of the 2014 BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge draft, TEAM WEBBER selected Anthony Davis of the New Orleans Pelicans while TEAM HILL picked Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers second overall. TNT’s Hill and NBA TV’s Webber, general managers for the 2014 BBVA Rising Stars Challenge, made their player selections live on TNT. The 2014 BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge will be played Friday, Feb. 14, in Smoothie King Center during NBA All-Star 2014.
In addition to Davis, TEAM WEBBER is comprised Kelly Olynyk (Boston), Jared Sullinger (Boston), Mason Plumlee (Brooklyn), Tim Hardaway Jr. (New York), Steven Adams (Oklahoma City), Victor Oladipo (Orlando), Michael Carter-Williams (Philadelphia), and Trey Burke (Utah).
Joining Lillard on TEAM HILL are Pero Antic (Atlanta), Dion Waiters (Cleveland Cavaliers), Harrison Barnes (Golden State), Terrence Jones (Houston), Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee), Jonas Valanciunas (Toronto) and Bradley Beal (Washington).
Following tonight’s announcement of each team, fans can now vote online from both their computer and mobile device for the starters of each team. The starting lineups will be determined by the players garnering the top votes for their respective positions, with two backcourt and three frontcourt spots for each team. The announcement of the starting lineup will be made in broadcast and in-arena on Friday, Feb. 14, the night of the game.
The head coaches for both teams are the lead assistant coaches from the 2014 NBA All-Star Game coaching staffs. The Indiana Pacers Nate McMillan will lead TEAM HILL and the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Rex Kalamian will man the sidelines for TEAM WEBBER.
NBA All-Star 2014 in New Orleans will bring together some of the most talented and passionate players in the league’s history for a global celebration of the game. TNT will televise the All-Star Game for the 12th consecutive year, marking Turner Sports' 30th year of All-Star coverage. State Farm All-Star Saturday Night will feature Sears Shooting Stars, Taco Bell Skills Challenge, Foot Locker Three-Point Contest, and Sprite Slam Dunk. Other events at NBA All-Star 2014 will include the Sprint NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, and NBA All-Star Jam Session. The 2014 game will mark the second NBA All-Star celebration in New Orleans. The city also hosted the event in 2008.
This year’s BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge features a three-phase sweepstakes for fans at www.nba.com/BBVACompassRisingStarsSweeps. During the first phase, which ended yesterday, fans could vote for their favorite rookie. In the second phase, which begins tonight, fans can vote for the players they want on each starting line-up. The final phase of the sweepstakes will be during the BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge on Feb. 14, when fans can vote for the game’s MVP. During each of the first two stages of the sweepstakes, one voting fan will be chosen at random to receive a trip to one game of the 2014 NBA Playoffs. During the final stage, one voting fan will be randomly selected for a trip to one game of the 2014 NBA Finals. Three trips in total will be awarded.
The BBVA Compass 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.