HOUSTON - Houston Rockets forward Chandler Parsons was one of 18 players selected for the 2013 BBVA Rising Stars Challenge to be held on Friday, Feb. 15, in Houston during 2013 NBA All-Star Weekend. Parsons, who was part of Team Texas for the Shooting Stars contest last year on All-Star Saturday Night in Orlando (2/25/12), becomes the first player to represent the Rockets in this contest since Aaron Brooks and Luis Scola participated with the Sophomore Team in the then-Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam during 2009 NBA All-Star Weekend.
BBVA Rising Stars Challenge – televised live nationally on TNT at 8:00 p.m. (CT) and broadcast live on ESPN Radio with live audio also available on NBA.com in multiple languages – features two teams each consisting of nine rookies and sophomores mixed together, drafted from a pool selected by the NBA’s assistant coaches.
Parsons (6-9, 227, Florida) is in the midst of a breakout sophomore season with Houston, averaging career bests of 14.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.15 steals in 46 starts in 2012-13. He has already recorded a career-high streak of 10 straight double-digit scoring games (11/12/12-12/4/12) and made at least one 3-pointer in a career-best 22 consecutive games played (4/15/12-12/4/12).
Parsons, who earned 2011-12 NBA All-Rookie Second Team accolades, also registered at least one blocked shot in a career-best six consecutive games (1/18/13-1/26/13). He finished with a career-high 31 points (13-17 FG, 4-7 3FG) and four steals in a 131-103 win vs. New York (11/23/12), surpassing his previous high in scoring (25 points) with 26 points (11-13 FG, 3-4 3FG) in the first half alone.
A second-round pick of the Rockets in 2011, Parsons also posted a career-best 13 rebounds vs. Chicago (11/21/12) and dished a career-high 11 assists vs. Brooklyn (1/26/13). Parsons, who came into this season with just two career double-doubles, actually had four double-doubles over a five-game stretch (11/14/12-11/21/12). Overall, Parsons has seven double-doubles on the season.
For the second consecutive year, rookies and sophomores will be mixed together on teams. TNT analysts Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal will serve as the general managers of the two opposing teams – TEAM CHUCK and TEAM SHAQ – each with nine-man rosters, drafted from the 18 players announced in today’s pool. The draft for the teams in the 2013 BBVA Rising Stars Challenge will take place on Thursday, Feb. 7, televised exclusively on TNT at 6 p.m. (CT).
Following the announcement of each team on Feb. 7, for the first time ever fans will be able to 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 the night of the game.