The NBA announced the list of 20 players that will compete for the All-Star Rising Stars Game on Friday, Feb. 16, with Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid and Chicago Bulls forward Lauri Markkanen leading the way.
This will be the fourth year of the USA vs. World format, originally crafted for the 2015 NBA All-Star Game in New York City. The World Team has 10 players from nine different countries participating in this year's festivities.
TEAM WORLD:
- Jamal Murray (Nuggets)
- Frank Ntilikina (Knicks)
- Buddy Hield (Kings)
- Bogdan Bogdanovic (Kings)
- Dillon Brooks (Grizzlies)
- Dario Saric (76ers)
- Ben Simmons (76ers)
- Joel Embiid (76ers)
- Lauri Markkanen (Bulls)
- Domantas Sabonis (Pacers)
Meet the 2018 Mtn Dew Kickstart Rising Stars competing for the World Team! #NBAAllStar pic.twitter.com/L9KBKaLbXy
— NBA TV (@NBATV) January 24, 2018
The Sixers have three of their young players participating in the Rising Stars game, with Embiid having locked his place as a starter in the All-Star Game last week.
TEAM USA:
Article Continues Below- Lonzo Ball (Lakers)
- Kris Dunn (Bulls)
- Dennis Smith Jr. (Mavericks)
- Donovan Mitchell (Jazz)
- Malcolm Brogdon (Bucks)
- Jaylen Brown (Celtics)
- Jayson Tatum (Celtics)
- Brandon Ingram (Lakers)
- Kyle Kuzma (Lakers)
- John Collins (Hawks)
Meet the 2018 Mtn Dew Kickstart Rising Stars competing for the U.S. Team! #NBAAllStar pic.twitter.com/W8YAqpcEXw
— NBA TV (@NBATV) January 24, 2018
The Lakers have three of their own players playing for the United States team, as Ball, Kuzma, and Ingram will put their own twist to Showtime to this year's competition.
During last year's festivities, Jamal Murray of the Denver Nuggets snatched MVP honors after a 36-point, 11-assist performance in a mere 20-minute stint on the court, as the World Team came from behind to grab a 150-141 win over Team USA.
Murray sank a game-record 9-of-14 from beyond the arc, lighting up the crowd at the Smoothie King Center while his team completed an impressive comeback late in the game.
The sponsor for the event, Mtn Dew Kickstart, is evolving Rising Stars into a yearlong platform that gives fans access into the off-the-court lives of players – including fan-friendly content coming soon during the season and after the season during moments such as the Draft and Summer League.