Jan. 28--Bulls rookie forward Nikola Mirotic was named Wednesday as one of 20 players who will compete in the Rising Stars Challenge during the NBA All-Star weekend in February.
For the first time, the game featuring first- and second-year players will pit the United States vs. the World. The game is set for 8 p.m. CT on Feb. 13 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn and will be televised by TNT.
Mirotic (Real Madrid/Montenegro) is averaging 7.8 points and 4.6 rebounds for the Bulls and was named the NBA Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for December. He will be joined on the World team by the Timberwolves' Andrew Wiggins, one of two Canadians on the roster along with the Celtics' Kelly Olynyk. Other World Team players are Rudy Gobert and Dante Exum of the Jazz, Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Bucks, Steven Adams of the Thunder, Bojan Bogdanovic of the Nets, Gorgui Dieng of the Timberwolves and Dennis Schroder of the Atlanta Hawks.
The 76ers' Michael Carter-Williams, last season's NBA Rookie of the Year, will be joined on the U.S. team by Zach LaVine and Shabazz Muhammad of the Timberwolves, Victor Oladipo and Elfrid Payton of the Magic, Mason Plumlee of the Nets, Nerlens Noel of the 76ers, Trey Burke of the Jazz, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope of the Pistons and Cody Zeller of the Hornets.
