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History of the Rising Stars Challenge

Nuggets rookies Emmanuel Mudiay and Nikola Jokić were selected to play for the World Team during the Rising Stars Challenge at Air Canada Centre on Friday, Feb. 12 at 9-11p.m. EST. They will be the 9th and 10th Nuggets players to participate in the event since the inauguration in 1994.

The last time two Nuggets players were selected to play during the Rising Stars Challenge was in 1998 when Danny Fortson and Bobby Jackson both played for the U.S. Team.

Kenneth Faried was the most recent Nuggets player to participate in the Rising Stars Challenge in 2013. He registered 40 points and 10 rebounds, leading Team Chuck to a 163-135 over Team Shaq. Faried was also awarded the Most Valuable Player for his inarguable contribution to the victory.

The last time two Nuggets players were selected to play during the Rising Stars Challenge was in 1998 when Danny Fortson and Booby Jackson both played for the U.S. Team.

The Rising Stars Challenge, originally known as the Rookie Challenge, is an exhibition game set to lineup rookie NBA players from the United States and internationally to face one another. The selected players are split between the World Team, which is composed of foreign players and the U.S. team for natives of the United States.

The game takes place during All-Star 2016 Weekend as the main event on Saturday evening and gives the players an opportunity to be matched up against players in their first or second year in the NBA.

Past Nuggets in the Rising Stars Challenge
2013: Kenneth Faried (MVP)
2005: Carmelo Anthony (MVP)
2004: Carmelo Anthony
2004: Nene
2003: Nene
2000: Raef LaFrentz, James Posey
1998: Danny Fortson, Bobby Jackson
1996: Antonio McDyess
1995: Jalen Rose