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Memphis\u2019 Cedric Coward is 1 of several rookie standouts who will take part in the Castrol Rising Stars showcase.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
It\u2019s a rite of deep January now, with the Castrol Rising Stars<\/a> inevitably bringing some Rising Snubs.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n As with the All-Star Game itself<\/a>, there are only so many roster spots available for the Rising Stars game at the showcase weekend in Los Angeles next month. When the player pool was announced Monday, 10 rookies, 11 second-year players and seven NBA G League participants were invited for the event on All-Star Friday, Feb. 13, at the Intuit Dome (<\/span>9 ET, Peacock<\/span><\/b><\/a>).<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n It\u2019s always possible that an injury could clear a spot for another worthy rookie candidate. For now, the Rising Stars format presents the same challenge as this season\u2019s Kia Rookie Ladder: Limiting a deep field to just 10. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Going by draft position, four of the 14 lottery picks from June did not make the initial cut. The Utah Jazz\u2019s Ace Bailey, the fifth player selected, is the highest pick and biggest contributor among the so-called snubs. He\u2019s got plenty of company, with no Jazz teammates chosen for that or any other All-Star event so far. (If it\u2019s any consolation, Bailey is back on the Ladder this week after posting some strong scoring numbers.)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The other three lottery picks who didn\u2019t get the call: the Phoenix Suns\u2019 Khaman Maluach (No. 10), the Chicago Bulls\u2019 Noa Essengue (No. 12) and the San Antonio Spurs\u2019 Carter Bryant (No. 14). Among occasional Ladder designees, the Sacramento Kings\u2019 Maxime Raynaud, Dallas Mavericks\u2019 Ryan Nembhard and Charlotte Hornets\u2019 Ryan Kalkbrenner were absent from the list. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Otherwise, nine\u00a0rookies\u00a0on the latest Ladder are scheduled to\u00a0participate\u00a0\u2013 and hopefully\u00a0<\/span>compete<\/span><\/i>, an ingredient that matters to a successful All-Star Weekend event.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The two leaders and former college teammates, Charlotte\u2019s Kon Knueppel and Dallas\u2019 Cooper Flagg, will be facing off for Team T-Mac (Tracy McGrady) and Team Melo (Carmelo Anthony). Those two Hall of Famers will coach their seven-man squads against Team Vince (HOFer\u00a0Vince Carter) and Team Austin (Austin Rivers, NBA player turned broadcaster) in a mini-tournament.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n