AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – The National Basketball Association announced today that Detroit Pistons center Greg Monroe has been selected to play in the 2011 T-Mobile Rookie Challenge and Youth Jam at NBA All-Star 2011 in Los Angeles, CA. The game will be played on Friday, February 18.
The participants in the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam were selected by the NBA’s assistant coaches, with each team submitting one ballot. Monroe, the seventh pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, will represent the Pistons one year after Jonas Jerebko helped the rookies to their first win over the sophomores since 2002 in Dallas last year.
“I would like to thank the assistant coaches from around the NBA for choosing me to play in this game,” said Monroe. “I would also like to thank my teammates, my coaches and the Pistons organization. It’s an honor to play in this game.”
Joining Monroe on the Rookie team will be Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin, the first pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, Washington Wizards guard John Wall, the top selection in the 2010 NBA Draft, Clippers guard Eric Bledsoe, Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins, New Jersey Nets forward Derrick Favors, New York Knicks guard Landry Fields, Minnesota Timberwolves guard Wesley Johnson and San Antonio Spurs guard Gary Neal.
Sacramento Kings guard Tyreke Evans will lead the Sophomore team along with San Antonio Spurs center DeJuan Blair, Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan, Chicago Bulls forward Taj Gibson, Philadelphia 76ers guard Jrue Holiday, Oklahoma City Thunder forward/center Serge Ibaka, Milwaukee Bucks guard Brandon Jennings, and Portland Trail Blazers guard Wesley Matthews.
The head coaches for the Rookie and Sophomore teams will be the lead assistants from the 2011 NBA All-Star Game coaching staffs. The San Antonio Spurs coaching staff earned the right to lead the West All-Stars last week; assistant coach Mike Budenholzer will lead the Rookie team. The East coaching staff will be determined by the best record in each conference through games played Feb. 6.
Assistant coaches for the Rookies are All-Star Amar’e Stoudemire of the New York Knicks and NBA TV/TNT analyst Kevin McHale. The assistant coaches for the Sophomores are All-Star Carmelo Anthony of the Denver Nuggets and TNT NBA basketball analyst Steve Kerr.
The T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam 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.
The T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam began its current format pitting the Rookies against the Sophomores in 2000 and the Sophomores hold an 8-3 advantage over the first-year players. The game will be played in two 20-minute halves. Individual foul totals will be kept, but a player cannot foul out. A team will be in the penalty situation after 10 team fouls or after the second foul in the final two minutes of each half. In the event of a tie game, there will be a two-minute overtime to determine the winner. The clock will stop after each successful field goal in the last minute of each half.
As title partner of the Rookie Challenge and overall NBA Rookie Program, T-Mobile has teamed up with the NBA and NBA Cares to create the T-Mobile All-Stars, a program offering a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Los Angeles students to experience NBA All-Star 2011. This is the fifth consecutive year that T-Mobile has partnered with the NBA to bring the T-Mobile All Stars program to the NBA All-Star host city. By successfully completing academic, school attendance, and community service requirements, nearly 3,500 students ages 11-15, from the Los Angeles Unified School District and After School All-Stars program will watch the game from the best seats in the house at the STAPLES Center.
T-Mobile also will provide basketball fans with the opportunity to have their vote count toward selecting the MVP of the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam by voting on NBA.com or via SMS on mobile phones during the second half of the game.
NBA All-Star brings together the top NBA players and performers for a week of competition, community service and world-class entertainment. Among the many other exciting All-Star events are Sprite Slam Dunk, Foot Locker Three-Point Shootout, Taco Bell Skills Challenge, Haier Shooting Stars and NBA All-Star Jam Session presented by adidas.
Building upon its already strong appeal to the nation’s youth and as Official Partner of the NBA, T-Mobile is showcasing the NBA’s youngest players -- the Rookies -- through the T-Mobile Rookie Program. Highlights include the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam, an All-Star competition between NBA rookies and second-year players, and rookie awards presentations including the T-Mobile Rookie of the Month and T-Mobile Rookie of the Year. To learn more about T-Mobile’s partnership with the NBA, visit www.t-mobile.com/nba.