BBVA Rising Stars Challenge: Draft Results and Roster Breakdown

The NBA wisely revamped the flailing rookies vs. sophomore showdown last year, pitting TNT Inside the NBA analysts and legendary players Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley against one another and challenging them to draft the best possible team and coach them to victory in one of the first events of All-Star Weekend.

This competition, known as the BBVA Rising Stars Challenge, has injected new life into All-Star Friday night.

It was extremely exciting last year, as Team Chuck took the inaugural contest, 146-133, but Diesel will be out for revenge and he has the loaded roster to even this series up.

Let’s take a look at who both Sir Charles and The Big Aristotle drafted onto their roster, point out where you can watch the action, highlight some players to keep an eye, make a prediction on the outcome and more.

 

When: Friday, Feb. 15 at 9 p.m. ET

Where: Toyota Center, Houston, Tex.

Watch: TNT

Live Stream: TNT Overtime

2013 NBA Rising Stars Challenge Draft Results

Team Shaq	Pick (Overall)	Team Chuck	Pick (Overall)
Damian Lillard (PG, Portland Trail Blazers)	1 (1)	Anthony Davis (PF, New Orleans Hornets)	1 (2)
Kyrie Irving (PG, Cleveland Cavaliers)	2 (3)	Kenneth Faried (PF, Denver Nuggets)	2 (4)
Andre Drummond (C, Detroit Pistons)	3 (5)	Kawhi Leonard (SF, San Antonio Spurs)	3 (6)
Klay Thompson (SG, Golden State Warriors)	4 (7)	Bradley Beal (SG, Washington Wizards)	4 (8)
Harrison Barnes (SF, Golden State Warriors)	5 (9)	Ricky Rubio (PG, Minnesota Timberwolves)	5 (10)
Chandler Parsons (SF, Houston Rockets)	6 (11)	Tristan Thompson (PF, Cleveland Cavaliers)	6 (12)
Dion Waiters (SG, Cleveland Cavaliers)	7 (13)	Nikola Vucevic (C, Orlando Magic)	7 (14)
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (SF, Charlotte Bobcats)	8 (15)	Brandon Knight (PG, Detroit Pistons)	8 (16)
Tyler Zeller (C, Cleveland Cavaliers)	9 (17)	Isaiah Thomas (PG, Sacramento Kings)	9 (18)
Kemba Walker (PG, Charlotte Bobcats)	10 (19)	Alexey Shved (SG, Minnesota Timberwolves)	10 (20)

Team Shaq MVP: Kyrie Irving

While there is a case to be made for Kemba Walker here (Kenny “The Jet” Smith’s selection for Shaq at No. 19), Irving is just too good to ignore.

The Cleveland Cavaliers' superstar sophomore PG is participating in three events during All-Star Weekend, but we imagine he’s going to be looking to top the out-of-this-world performance he slapped together last year.

In 2012, the former Duke standout delivered a 34-point, nine-assist performance that included 12-of-13 shooting from the field and a ludicrous 8-of-8 from beyond the arc.

The fact that the Round Mound of Rebound passed over Irving with the No. 2 overall pick is absolutely ridiculous, a mistake Diesel wisely capitalized on and pulled off a heist to nab the guard at No. 3.

Expect Irving to get revenge on Chuck for not selecting him with his top pick, especially after last year’s performance, and shoot for back-to-back MVP honors.

 

Team Chuck MVP: Kawhi Leonard

Chuck may have made some questionable decisions during the draft, but taking Kawhi Leonard off the board at No. 6 overall was not one of them.

The San Antonio Spurs' swingman is an absolute beast and continues to develop into one of the most promising young players in the league.

Through 35 games during the 2012-13 campaign, the former San Diego State star is averaging 10.5 pionts, 5.5 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.2 assists in 29.3 minutes per contest.

He can do everything, which apparently includes clutch shots to win games, as he did with a big three-pointer against the Cavs on Wednesday night.

With so many defensive-minded bigs and pass-first guards on his team, Leonard is going to have a chance to show his stuff, mostly on offense in this game.

At 6’7”, 225 pounds and possessing a ton of athleticism, the 21-year-old should have no problem shining on Friday night.

 

Predicted Outcome: Team Shaq 142 – Team Chuck 134

After getting embarrassed last year and on the receiving end of a historical night from Kyrie Irving, Shaq Fu is going to get his revenge.

He set himself up perfectly for redemption by drafting the player that absolutely destroyed him, and that will be the downfall for Chuck.

If the Big Daddy’s team wins, he will draw even with his TNT co-analyst with one win and one loss apiece in BBVA Rising Stars Challenge.

This should be a fun and intriguing game to watch, so make sure you tune in to watch some of the NBA’s brightest stars going at it on Friday evening.