Tony Allen Selected To 2005 got milk? Rookie Challenge

BOSTON, MA (January 27, 2005) - Boston Celtics guard Tony Allen, the 25th overall selection in the 2004 NBA Draft, has been selected to play in the 2005 got milk? Rookie Challenge on Friday, February 18 at the Pepsi Center in Denver.

Allen is the ninth Celtic to appear in the got milk? Rookie Challenge and the first since Joe Johnson appeared in the 2002 game. This season Allen is averaging 6.0 points, on 48.2 percent shooting from the field, to go along with 2.8 rebounds in 14.3 minutes per game. Since being added to the Celtics starting lineup January 22 at Atlanta, he's averaging 12.0 points, on 71.4 percent from the field, to go along with 3.7 rebounds in 22.0 minutes per game.

"I am honored to be considered one of the top rookies this season," said Allen. "This is a great start to my career and I know I have a lot more to accomplish. I look forward to representing the Boston Celtics, my teammates and fellow rookies Al Jefferson, Justin Reed and Delonte West."

Allen will be joined on the Rookie team by Luol Deng and Ben Gordon of the Chicago Bulls, Devin Harris of the Dallas Mavericks, Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic, Andre Iguodala of the Philadelphia 76ers, Emeka Okafor of the Charlotte Bobcats, Josh Smith of the Atlanta Hawks and Beno Udrih of the San Antonio Spurs. Deng and Udrih are among the record number of 79 active international players in the NBA.

The sophomore team is led by LeBron James, who is joined by Carmelo Anthony of the Denver Nuggets, Chris Bosh of the Toronto Raptors, Udonis Haslem of the Miami Heat, Kirk Hinrich of the Chicago Bulls, Josh Howard of the Dallas Mavericks, Kyle Korver of the Philadelphia 76ers, Luke Ridnour of the Seattle SuperSonics and Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat.

If a rookie or second-year player is selected to play in the All-Star Game on Sunday, he will also play in the got milk? Rookie Challenge on Friday evening. The participants in the got milk? Rookie Challenge were selected by the NBA's assistant coaches with each team submitting one ballot. The head coaches for the Rookie and Sophomore teams will be the lead assistant from the 2005 NBA All-Star Game coaching staffs.

The got milk? Rookie Challenge will be televised live nationally on TNT in the United States and on Rogers Sportsnet in Canada at 7 p.m. MT/ 9 p.m. ET. Live audio broadcasts are available on ESPN Radio and on NBA.com in multiple languages.