Sophomores' Reign Stops at Six

Since the NBA changed the format of the Rookie Challenge Game seen during the annual All-Star Weekend in 2000, the Sophomores have won seven times, including the last six.

This year will be different.

The Rookie team, lead by guards O.J. Mayo (pictured above), Derrick Rose, and Russell Westbrook has some good players who can put up good numbers.

Mayo is averaging 19.3 ppg (leads Grizzlies), 4.3 rpg, 2.8 apg, and is shooting 38.5 percent from three-point range (leads Grizzlies).

Rose is averaging 16.9 ppg (second on Bulls behind Ben Gordon) and 6.3 apg (leads Bulls).

Westbrook is averaging 15.0 ppg (third on Thunder), 4.9 apg, and 1.4 spg (leads Thunder).

The Sophomores will be lead by Kevin Durant and Rodney Stuckey. Both players have shown much improvement in the second year in the NBA.

In my opinion, Durant should have been an All Star as he leads his team in scoring (25.5 ppg) and three-point percentage (42.9%).

Stuckey has been a solid starting point guard in Detroit with the departure of All Star Chauncey Billups and has put up some decent numbers as well, averaging 13.7 ppg and  shooting 34.6 percentage from the three-point line.

This year's Rookie Challenge will be a pretty interesting game, and I believe it will be a lot more competitive down the stretch than in previous years.

Both squads have household names and the match-ups will definitely be intriguing to watch: Mayo vs. Durant, Rose vs. Stuckey, Westbrook vs. Stuckey, and the much anticipated Oden vs. Durant.

If the Sophomores do come out victorious, it will be no shock to see Durant holding up the MVP trophy after the game.

However, I think the Rookies have something to prove this year and don't want to go out without a fight. And don't forget about second overall pick Michael Beasley who will also provide the Rookies with size and help with the scoring load.

But my vote for MVP will go to O.J. Mayo because I see him having a double-double with 19 points and 12 assists to lead the Rookies to victory. If Mayo can play the game everyone knows he's capable of, I don't see him struggling to get the MVP award and the win when it's all said and done.