Okafor Representing Sixers in Rising Stars Challenge

By Sean Kennedy (@PhillyFastBreak)

NBA All-Star weekend kicks off tonight and the highlight of Friday’s action is undoubtedly the Rising Stars Challenge (sorry Celebrity Game, although go Muggsy Bogues and Team Hart!). It is the second year the NBA has used the USA vs. the World format. Last year, the World team won 121-112. In that game, Nerlens Noel recorded 4 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 blocks in 17 minutes of action. Robert Covington also took the court for the Sixers, shooting just 1-6 for 2 points, but collecting 4 steals.

Unfortunately, although Nerlens Noel was selected back to this year’s team as a sophomore, he will not participate to the his right knee tendonitis. The team has indicated it’s just a precaution, so expect Nerlens back on the floor when the Sixers resume regular season play next week.

https://twitter.com/preston76/status/697904759911555072

While it’s a shame for Noel that he doesn’t get to play in what’s a fun event for the young guys, let’s not make anything more out of this game. People like to act as though it’s an opportunity to see how players “stack up” against the other best, young players in the league. I really doubt 17 minutes in a glorified exhibition game shows fans and evaluators anything of value. The fact that he already had the chance to play last year makes it an easy decision to sit him if Noel isn’t 100% healthy.

Even without Noel, the Sixers will still be represented in the game by rookie Jahlil Okafor. Per Sixers beat writer Tom Moore, Brett Brown spoke to the media about Okafor experiencing All-Star weekend:

“I think any time you can go into a gym and see the mannerisms and demeanor of how other elite players and NBA all-stars — how they interact with fans, how they carry themselves. I think there’s a disposition those great players present with. I think they carry themselves, by and large, with an element of class. I think for him to get up there and watch KD and some of those great players navigate that whole scene is a good thing.”

I know I just kind of downplayed participation in the game, but it is a bit of validation for guys to be recognized among the best players in his class. As Brown mentioned, it’s always good to be around elite players and pick up a pointer here or there about the game, or just NBA life in general. Okafor has been playing well in recent games; hopefully, this experience will help him build off that and come out of the gate strong in the second half of the season.

The Sixers have had a player earn MVP honors twice in the 21-year history of this game: Allen Iverson in 1997 and Andre Iguodala in 2006. Maybe Jahlil Okafor will be the third to claim the award Friday night. Either way, it should be fun to see him out there with the other great first and second-year players of today’s game.