NBA BASKETBALL
ROOKIES v SOPHOMORES / WORLD v USA
2003/04
NBA Sophomores (142) v (118) NBA Rookies - In the highest-scoring Rookies/Sophomores game ever, a strong Rookie team dominated the Sophomores at The Staples Center in Los Angeles. In retrospect, the game also featured the most future NBA All-Stars in a game of this kind, with a total of 10 players from both teams (6 Rookies and 4 Sophomores). The Rookies featured LeBron James (33 points, 6 assists), Dwayne Wade (22 points), Carmelo Anthony (17 points), Josh Howard (13 points) and Chris Bosh (8 points). The Sophomores featured Amare Stoudemire (36 points), Carlos Boozer (25 points), Yao Ming (6 points) and Manu Ginobli (4 points). LeBron and Carmelo ham it up with dunks and dishes galore (8, 2 Discs, TNT, PAL)
2008/09
NBA Sophomores (122) v (116) NBA Rookies - The Sophomores continued their win streak against the Rookies with Kevin Durant scoring a record 46 points. The Rookies featured Michael Beasley, OJ Mayo and Derrick Rose. The Sophomores also featured Jeff Green, Al Horford and Aaron Brooks. Disc also includes Shooting Stars competition, 3 Point shootout, Skills Challenge and the Slam Dunk competition (10, 1 Disc, TNT - Harlan/Smith/James/Sager, PAL)
2009/10
NBA Rookies (140) v (128) NBA Sophomores - For the first time since 2002, the Rookies beat the Sophomores in a high scoring game. The MVP was Tyreke Evans (26 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists) and he was supported by DeJuan Blair (22 points, 23 rebounds) who also scored a spectacular dunk with an off-the-backboard-to-himself dunk. The Rookies also featured Brandon Jennings (22 points, 8 assists, 6 rebounds), Stephen Curry (14 points) and Jonny Flynn (9 points, 7 assists). The Sophomores were led by Russell Westbrook (40 points) and also featured Michael Beasley (26 points), Kevin Love (12 points, 6 rebounds) and OJ Mayo (8 points, 10 assists) (10, 2 Discs, TNT - Harlan/Howard/McHale, PAL)
2010/11
NBA Rookies (148) v (140) NBA Sophomores - The Rookies contiuned their win streak against the Sophomores with a big win at the Staples Center. The Rookies were led by MVP John Wall (12 points, 22 assists), Blake Griffin (14 points) and DeMarcus Cousins (33 points, 14 rebounds), with Wall setting a new game record for assists as both teams combined for the usual array of dunks and slams. The Sophomores featured James Harden (30 points), DeJuan Blair (28 points, 15 rebounds) and Stephen Curry (13 points, 8 assists) (10, 1 Disc, TNT - Harlan/Webber/Sager, PAL)
2011/12
Team Chuck (145) v (133) Team Shaq - In teams comprising of NBA Rookies and Sophomores, it was Team Chuck (coached by Charles Barkley) that won out over Team Shaq, coached by Shaquille O'Neal. The MVP went to Kyrie Irving (Cavaliers) who top scored with 34 points including 8 three-pointers. Team Chuck also featured Paul George (Pacers, 23 points), DeMarcus Cousins (Kings, 18 points, 11 rebounds) and Evan Turner (76ers, 16 points, 11 rebounds). Team Shaq were led by Blake Griffin (Clippers, 10 points), Greg Monroe (Pistons, 19 points, 10 rebounds), Ricky Rubio (Timberwolves, 12 points, 7 assists) and Jeremy Lin (Knicks, 2 points) (10, 2 Discs, TNT - Harlan/Smith/Sager, PAL)
2012/13
Team Chuck (163) v (135) Team Shaq - In teams comprising of NBA Rookies and Sophomores, it was Team Chuck, coached by Charles Barkley, that won out over Team Shaq, coached by Shaquille O'Neal. The MVP went to Kenneth Faried (Nuggets) who top scored with 40 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Team Chuck also featured Anthony Davis (Hornets, 11 points, 9 rebounds), Ricky Rubio (Timberwolves, 5 points, 10 assists) and Kawhi Leonard (Spurs, 20 points, 7 rebounds). Team Shaq were led by Kyrie Irving (Cavaliers, 32 points, 6 assists), Dion Waiters (Cavaliers, 23 points) and Tyler Zeller (Cavaliers, 4 points, 4 rebounds) (10, 2 Discs, TNT - Harlan/Smith/Sager, PAL)
2013/14
Team Webber (136) v (142) Team Hill - In teams comprising of NBA Rookies and Sophomores, it was Team Hill, coached by Grant Hill, that won out over Team Webber, coached by Chris Webber. The MVP went to Andre Drummond (Pistons) who top scored with 30 points and grabbed a game-record 25 rebounds. Team Hill also featured Dion Waiters (Cavaliers - 31 points, 7 assists). Team Webber featured Anthony Davis (Pelicans - 16 points, 8 rebounds), Michael Carter-Williams (76ers - 17 points, 9 assists), Tim Hardaway Jr (Knicks - 36 points), Trey Burke (Jazz - 6 points, 6 assists) and Jared Sullinger (Celtics - 13 points, 4 assists) (10, 1 Disc, TNT - Winer/Hill/Webber/Sager, PAL)
2014/15
World (121) v (112) USA - In a re-jigged format to the Sophomores/Rookies game, the World Team picked Sophs and Rookies that were born outside the USA, while the USA Team comprised of Sophs and Rookies born in the USA. The World team had the better of the 1st half and led 69-67 at the half, and used a little Defense in the 2nd half to protect their lead and run out winners. The MVP of the game was Andrew Wiggins (Timberwolves - 22 points, 6 rebounds) and he was supported on the World Team by Rudy Gobert (Jazz - 18 points, 12 rebounds), Nikola Mirotic (Bulls - 16 points) and Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks - 12 points, 10 rebounds). The USA Team featured Victor Oladipo (Magic - 22 points), Zach LaVine (Timberwolves - 22 points), Trey Burke (Jazz - 17 points) and Mason Plumlee (Nets - 13 points, 9 rebounds) (10, 1 Disc, TNT - Winer/Hill/Webber, PAL)
2015/16
USA (157) v (154) World - In the highest scoring game in "Rising Stars" history, the USA team withstood a World team fight-back in the 2nd half to take the trophy. USA featured MVP Zach LaVine (30 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists), Jordan Clarkson (25 points, 5 assists, 4 steals), Devin Booker (23 points) and D'Angelo Russell (22 points, 7 assists). The World team featured Kristaps Porzingis (30 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists), Emmanuel Mudiay (30 points, 10 assists) and Andrew Wiggins (29 points, 5 assists) (10, 1 Disc, TNT - Winer/Hill/Webber, PAL)
2016/17
World (150) v (141) USA - The World team secured their 2nd win in the current format with a big win in New Orleans. Led by an MVP performance from Jamal Murray (Nuggets - 36 points, 11 assists), the World team raced out to a 77-66 lead at the half and held on to the lead to the end. Murray also had help from Buddy Hield (Pelicans - 26 points), Kristaps Porzingis (Knicks - 22 points, 9 rebounds) and Nikola Jokic (Nuggets - 8 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists). The USA team featured Frank Kaminsky (Hornets - 33 points), Karl-Anthony Towns (Timberwolves - 24 points, 11 rebounds), Jonathon Simmons (Spurs - 19 points) and D'Angelo Russell (Lakers - 12 points) (10, 1 Disc, TNT - Winer/Hill/Webber, PAL)