Curry, Evans, Cousins to play in Rookie Challenge

Feb. 1, 2011WARRIORS PAGEWARRIORSVIDEO
KINGS PAGEKINGSVIDEO

NEW YORK(APCSN)Sacramento Kings guard Tyreke Evans, the reigning Rookie of the Year, and Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin lead a group of 18 players selected for the Rookie Challenge.The squads for the game pitting rookies against second-year players were announced Tuesday. They will play Feb. 18 in Los Angeles ahead of the NBA All-Star game.Joining Evans on the Sophomore team are: Spurs center DeJuan Blair, Warriors guard Stephen Curry, Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan, Bulls forward Taj Gibson, 76ers guard Jrue Holiday, Thunder forward Serge Ibaka, Bucks guard Brandon Jennings and Trail Blazers guard Wesley Matthews.The other rookies are: Wizards guard John Wall, Clippers guard Eric Bledsoe, Kings center DeMarcus Cousins, Nets forward Derrick Favors, Knicks guard Landry Fields, Timberwolves guard Wesley Johnson, Pistons center Greg Monroe and Spurs guard Gary Neal.

Evans, picked fourth overall by the Kings in the 2009 NBA Draft, is following up his Rookie of the Year campaign with a solid season in Sacramento. The former Memphis Tiger is putting up 17.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 5.5 assists in 40 games with the 12-33 Kings.
Curry, the Warriors' first-round pick in 2009, is averaging 19.1 points and 5.9 assists in 39 games this season after finishing second to Evans in last year's Rookie of the Year voting.
Cousins, who the Kings selected with the fifth overall pick in last year's draft, is averaging 13.5 points per game, but has put up 52 points and 22 rebounds and back-to-back double-doubles in Sacramento's last two games, upset wins over the Lakers and the Hornets.