NEW USA VS. WORLD FORMAT BRINGS ADDED DIMENSION TO BBVA COMPASS RISING STARS CHALLENGE
-Feb. 13 Game Includes 10 Players Each from U.S. and International Ranks-
NEW YORK, Jan. 21, 2015 – The BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge at NBA All-Star 2015 in New York City will feature a new format that pits first- and second-year NBA players from the United States against first- and second-year NBA players from around the world, the NBA announced today.
The NBA’s annual showcase of premier first- and second-year players is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 13, at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. TNT will televise the 21st BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge at 9 p.m. ET as part of Turner Sports’ 30th year of NBA All-Star coverage. BBVA Compass is the official bank of the NBA in the United States and maintains its role as title partner for the BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge.
The league’s assistant coaches will select 10 U.S. players and 10 international players for the game, with one ballot for each of the NBA’s 30 teams. Both 10-man rosters will include four guards, four frontcourt players and two players regardless of position. Each team will also feature a minimum of three first-year players and three second-year players among its 10 spots.
The head coaches for each team will be an assistant from the 2015 NBA All-Star Game coaching staffs. The Eastern Conference and Western Conference All-Star Game coaches will be determined by the best record in the conference through games played on Sunday, Feb. 1.
A record 101 international players from 37 countries and territories were on opening-night rosters for the 2014-15 season, more than double the amount from 2000-01 (45 international players) and nearly five times as many as in 1990-91 (21). Canada boasts a league-high total of six international first- and second-year players, half of the record 12 Canadians in the NBA this season, including the No. 1 overall picks in each of the last two NBA Drafts. Australia has a combined four international first- and second-year players, half of the record eight Australians in the NBA this season.
NBA All-Star 2015 will bring together some of the most talented and passionate players in the league’s history for a global celebration of the game. In addition to the BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge, TNT will also air State Farm All-Star Saturday Night on Saturday, Feb. 14, at Barclays Center and the 64th NBA All-Star Game on Sunday, Feb. 15, at Madison Square Garden. Other events at Barclays Center include the NBA Development League All-Star Game presented by Kumho Tire and the NBA Development League Dream Factory presented by Boost Mobile, both airing Sunday on NBA TV. Madison Square Garden will host Friday night’s ESPN-televised Sprint NBA All-Star Celebrity Game.
PREVIOUS BBVA COMPASS RISING STARS CHALLENGE RESULTS
1994 – Phenoms 74, Sensations 68
1995 – White 83, Green 79 (OT)
1996 – East 94, West 92
1997 – East 96, West 91
1998 – East 85, West 80
2000 – Rookies 92, Sophomores 83 (OT)
2001 – Sophomores 121, Rookies 113
2002 – Rookies 103, Sophomores 97
2003 – Sophomores 132, Rookies 112
2004 – Sophomores 142, Rookies 118
2005 – Sophomores 133, Rookies 106
2006 – Sophomores 106, Rookies 96
2007 – Sophomores 155, Rookies 114
2008 – Sophomores 136, Rookies 109
2009 – Sophomores 122, Rookies 116
2010 – Rookies 140, Sophomores 128
2011 – Rookies 148, Sophomores 140
2012 – Team Chuck 146, Team Shaq 133
2013 – Team Chuck 163, Team Shaq 135
2014 – Team Hill 142, Team Webber 136
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