Rookie/Sophomore Game Rosters

Dec 31 2011

Tyreke Evans led the rookies to a rare win in the 2010 Rookie Challenge. This year, he'll try to win a second straight.

Evans, the Sacramento Kings' guard, is the headliner on a guard-heavy sophomore team roster that will also include the Warriors' Stephen Curry, San Antonio's DeJuan Blair and Milwaukee's Brandon Jennings.

We should expect to see some impressive dunks from that squad, which also includes Dunk Contest contestants Serge Ibaka of the Thunder and Toronto's DeMar DeRozan. DeRozan replaced Jennings on the dunk contest slate when Jennings pulled out due to an injury.

Of course, the rookies will also have some players who can throw down, led by heavy dunk contest favorite Blake Griffin and Landry Fields of the Knicks, who has elevated the put-back slam off an offensive rebound to an art form.

Griffin, of course, was selected first overall in the same draft class a the players on this year's sophomore team. The league considers him a rookie because he missed all of last season while recovering from a knee injury. San Antonio's Gary Neal, who will join Griffin on the rookie team roster, was actually part of the 2007 draft class. He went undrafted, spent three seasons honing his craft in Europe, and has become a key bench scorer for Gregg Popovic's Spurs.

The rookie team shouldn't lack for cohesiveness, as Griffin will be playing with Los Angeles Clippers teammate Eric Bledsoe, and Bledsoe will be playing with Kentucky Wildcats teammates John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins.

The Rookie Challenge teams will be coached by top assistants to the coaches of the Eastern and Western Conference All-Star squads. The rookies will be led by Spurs assistant Mike Budenholzer, the sophomores by Celtics assistant - and former Nets head coach - Lawrence Frank.

Amar'e Stoudemire and TNT analyst Kevin McHale will serve as assistants for the rookie team; Carmelo Anthony and Steve Kerr for the sophomores.

Sophomore Team Roster

• Tyreke Evans - Guard, Sacramento Kings
• DeJuan Blair - Forward/Center, San Antonio Spurs
• Stephen Curry - Guard, Golden State Warriors
• DeMar DeRozan - Guard, Toronto Raptors
• Taj Gibson - Forward/Center, Chicago Bulls
• Jrue Holiday - Guard, Philadelphia 76ers
• Serge Ibaka - Forward/Center, Oklahoma City Thunder
• Brandon Jennings - Guard, Milwaukee Bucks
• Wesley Matthews - Guard, Portland Trail Blazers

Rookie Team Roster

• John Wall - Guard, Washington Wizards
• Blake Griffin - Forward, Los Angeles Clippers
• Eric Bledsoe - Guard, Los Angeles Clippers
• DeMarcus Cousins - Forward/Center, Sacramento Kings
• Derrick Favors - Forward, New Jersey Nets
• Landry Fields - Guard, New York Knicks
• Wesley Johnson - Guard, Minnesota Timberwolves
• Greg Monroe - Center, Detroit Pistons
• Gary Neal - Guard, San Antonio Spurs

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