DENVER, Jan. 27, 2016 – The NBA announced today that Denver Nugget rookies Emmanuel Mudiay (DR Congo) and Nikola Jokić (Serbia) have both been selected for the World Team in the BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge on Friday, Feb. 12 at Air Canada Centre in Toronto during NBA All-Star 2016.
Mudiay, 19, has appeared in 31 games (29 starts) for Denver, averaging 11.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 1.00 steals in 29.6 minutes per game. He currently ranks first among rookies in assists, fifth in scoring, fourth in steals, second in minutes, seventh in blocks, 10th in three-point percentage and 18th in rebounds. Mudiay was selected by Denver with the 7th overall pick of the 2015 NBA Draft.
Jokić, 20, has appeared in 43 games (18 starts) for Denver, averaging 9.0 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 19.0 minutes per game. Among rookies he currently ranks first in field goal percentage (.552), seventh in scoring, sixth in rebounds, eighth in assists, fourth in free throw percentage (.808), fifth in steals and seventh in blocks. Jokic was selected by the Nuggets with the 41st overall pick of the 2014 NBA Draft.
For the second consecutive year, the league’s annual showcase of premier young talent will pit 10 first- and second-year NBA players from the United States against 10 first- and second-year NBA players from around the world. TNT will televise the game live at 9 p.m. ET, part of Turner Sports’ 31st year of All-Star coverage. BBVA Compass is the Official Bank of the NBA in the U.S. and maintains its role as title partner for the BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge.
Mudiay and Jokic are joined on the World Team by Andrew Wiggins of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Dwight Powell of the Dallas Mavericks, Bojan Bogdanovic of the Brooklyn Nets, Clint Capela of the Houston Rockets, Mario Hezonja of the Orlando Magic, Nikola Mirotic of the Chicago Bulls and Raul Neto of the Utah Jazz.
The U.S. Team consists of Karl-Anthony Towns and Zach LaVine of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Jahlil Okafor and Nerlens Noel of the Philadelphia 76ers, Jordan Clarkson and D’Angelo Russell of the Los Angeles Lakers, Rodney Hood of the Jazz, Jabari Parker of the Milwaukee Bucks, Elfrid Payton of the Magic and Marcus Smart of the Boston Celtics.
The NBA’s assistant coaches chose the rosters for the BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge, selecting four guards, four frontcourt players and two players at either position for each team. The coaches also picked a minimum of three first-year players and three second-year players for each team.
NBA All-Star 2016 in Toronto will bring together some of the most talented and passionate players in the league’s history for a global celebration of the game. Along with the BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge, Air Canada Centre will also host State Farm All-Star Saturday Night on Saturday, Feb. 13 and the 65th NBA All-Star Game on Sunday, Feb. 14. Other events at NBA All-Star 2016 include the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game and the NBA Development League All-Star Game presented by Kumho Tire. This will be the first NBA All-Star held outside the U.S.