Not every participant in the NBA's 2016 Rising Star Challenge is actually an All-Star in the making.
Some of them are, sure. But the concept isn't supposed to be taken literally. Friday night's exhibition is a showcase for young, talented, up-and-coming contributors, many of whom won't ever come closer to the All-Star tilt itself.
For others, though, this is just a stepping stone to stardom. Certain NBA kiddies have already distinguished themselves enough for us to buy into their All-Star potential. For them, Friday night is just the beginning.
Honorable Mention: Nerlens Noel, Philadelphia 76ers
Nerlens Noel won't be gracing the Rising Stars Challenge with his presence as he tends to a knee injury. But because he's so good—and since this section was written before The Vertical's Adrian Wojnarowski confirmed his absence—he gets an honorable mention.
Of the 435 players throughout NBA history who have totaled at least 3,500 minutes over their first two seasons, the 21-year-old Noel has the third-highest defensive box plus-minus (DBPM)—a measurem ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NBA
Article written by Dan Favale
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February 11th, 2016 by Dan Favale Leave a reply »
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