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The NBA announced Wednesday that Orlando Magic guard Victor Oladipo will participate in the Rising Stars Challenge at NBA All-Star Weekend in New Orleans. The competition, scheduled for February 14th at 9 PM Eastern on TNT, pits teams of rookies and sophomores against one another. On Thursday, February 6th, TNT will televise a draft to determine the teams beginning at 7 PM Eastern.
Oladipo joins fellow rookies Steven Adams of the Oklahoma City Thunder; Pero Antić of the Atlanta Hawks; Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks; Trey Burke of the Utah Jazz; Michael Carter-Williams of the Philadelphia 76ers; Tim Hardaway Jr. of the New York Knicks; Kelly Olynyk of the Boston Celtics; and Mason Plumlee of the Brooklyn Nets in the Rising Stars field.
The second-year players in the field are Golden State Warriors swingman Harrison Barnes; Washington Wizards shooting guard Bradley Beal; New Orleans Pelicans big man Anthony Davis; Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond; Houston Rockets big man Terrence Jones; Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard; Boston big man Jared Sullinger; Toronto Raptors center Jonas Valanciunas; and Cleveland Cavaliers guard Dion Waiters. Magic sophomore Andrew Nicholson, who competed in the 2013 Rising Stars Challenge, is not in the 2014 field.
In his first season out of Indiana, Oladipo is averaging 13.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.6 steals per game. The Magic made him the second overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft. Of the first 10 players selected in 2013, Oladipo and Carter-Williams are the only two the NBA invited to compete in the Rising Stars Challenge.
