Thunder to send 3 players to the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge

The Oklahoma City Thunder might not be represented during the NBA All-Star Game, but will be well represented during the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam during All-star Weekend. Kevin Durant, Jeff Green, and Russell Westbrook will all be participating with KD and JG22 leading the Sophomore team against teamate Russell Westbrook and the Rookie team. The Thunder are the ONLY team in the NBA sending 3 players to this Challenge, a clear sign of great things to come? I think so...

 KEVIN DURANT, DERRICK ROSE HEADLINE SELECTIONS FOR

2009 T-MOBILE ROOKIE CHALLENGE & YOUTH JAM

 

-- All-Stars Dwight Howard of the Magic and Dwyane Wade of the Heat to Serve on Coaching Staffs --

 

-- Cavaliers All-Star LeBron James to Serve as TNT NBA Analyst --

 

NEW YORK, Jan. 28, 2009 – Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant, the reigning T-Mobile Rookie of the Year, and Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose, the first overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, lead a list of 18 players selected for the 2009 T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam to be held on Friday, Feb. 13 in Phoenix during NBA All-Star 2009.

 

The participants in the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam were selected by the NBA’s assistant coaches, with each team submitting one ballot. For the first time in the game’s history, two current NBA players, All-Star starters Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic and Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat – veterans of the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge and part of T-Mobile’s “All-Star Faves” – will serve on the coaching staffs, Howard for the Sophomores and Wade for the Rookies.  The head coaches for the Rookie and Sophomore teams will be the lead assistants from the 2009 NBA All-Star Game coaching staffs.

 

Forward Jeff Green, Durant’s teammate in Oklahoma City, joins him on the Sophomore team, which also includes Atlanta Hawks forward/center Al Horford, Los Angeles Clippers forward Al Thornton, Philadelphia 76ers forward Thaddeus Young, New York Knicks forward Wilson Chandler, Detroit Pistons guard Rodney Stuckey and a pair of teammates from the Houston Rockets – guard Aaron Brooks and forward Luis Scola.

 

Joining Rose on the Rookie team are two sets of teammates – guard O.J. Mayo and center Marc Gasol from the Memphis Grizzlies and center Greg Oden and guard Rudy Fernandez from the Portland Trail Blazers.  Thunder guard Russell Westbrook, Clippers guard Eric Gordon, Heat forward Michael Beasley and New Jersey Nets center Brook Lopez round out the Rookie team.

 

The T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam will be televised live nationally on TNT at 9 p.m. ET and also will be broadcast live on ESPN Radio, while NBA.com will make live audio available to fans in multiple languages. Fans tuning in to TNT will also get a special treat, as NBA All-Star starter LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers, a participant in the 2004 and 2005 T-Mobile Rookie Challenge, will join Kevin Harlan, Kenny Smith and Craig Sager as part of TNT’s broadcast as an analyst.

 

As title partner of the Rookie Challenge and overall NBA Rookie Program, T-Mobile has teamed up with the NBA and NBA Cares to create the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Phoenix students to experience NBA All-Star 2009.  By successfully completing fitness, nutrition, and community service requirements, more than 3,500 “T-Mobile Stick Together All-Stars,” ages 11-15, from participating school districts in Phoenix will watch the game from the best seats in the house at US Airways Center.

 

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PAGE TWO

2009 T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam

 

As a new element to the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam, fans had the unique opportunity to design the official jerseys worn by the Rookie and Sophomore teams. Thousands of fans registered for the NBA LIVE Jersey Creator Contest hosted by EA SPORTS for the chance to win a trip for two to Phoenix, AZ for NBA All-Star 2009.  The winning jersey is being produced by adidas, the official uniform and apparel provider for the NBA, and will be worn by all participating Rookie and Sophomore players, marking the first time that a fan designed jersey has ever been worn during an NBA game or event.  In past years, Rookies and Sophomores wore their regular team jerseys during the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam. The winning design was created by 18-year-old Tim Ahmed from East Meadow, Long Island.  Ahmed attended East Meadow High School and is currently a first-year student at Baruch College in Manhattan. 

 

In last year’s T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam, Cavaliers guard Daniel Gibson earned Most Valuable Player honors, making 11 three-pointers en route to a game-high 33 points, as the Sophomores cruised to a 136-109 victory. Grizzlies forward Rudy Gay added 22 points and Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Farmar tallied 17 points and 11 assists. Durant, then of the Seattle SuperSonics, led the Rookies with 23 points. 

 

The contest began its current format pitting the Rookies against the Sophomores in 2000 and the Sophomores hold a 7-2 advantage over the first-year players. The game will be played in two 20-minute halves.  Individual foul totals will be kept, but a player cannot foul out. A team will be in the penalty situation after 10 team fouls or after the second foul in the final two minutes of each half. In the event of a tie game, there will be a two-minute overtime to determine the winner. The clock will stop after each successful field goal in the last minute of each half.

 

T-Mobile will provide basketball fans with the opportunity to have their vote count toward selecting the MVP of the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam by voting on NBA.com or via SMS on mobile phones during the second half of the game.

 

The NBA All-Star Game on Sunday, Feb. 15, will air live on TNT and ESPN Radio beginning at 8 p.m. EST. The game will also be telecast in over 200 countries and territories in more than 40 languages and broadcast on NBA.com.

 

NBA All-Star brings together the top NBA players and performers for a week of competition, community service and world-class entertainment. Among the many other exciting All-Star events are Sprite Slam Dunk, Foot Locker Three-Point Shootout, PlayStation® Skills Challenge, Haier Shooting Stars and NBA All-Star Jam Session presented by adidas.

 

Building upon its already strong appeal to the nation’s youth and as Official Partner of the NBA, T-Mobile is showcasing the NBA’s youngest players -- the Rookies -- through the T-Mobile Rookie Program.  Highlights include the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam, an All-Star competition between NBA rookies and second-year players, and rookie awards presentations including the T-Mobile Rookie of the Month and T-Mobile Rookie of the Year. To learn more about T-Mobile’s partnership with the NBA, visit www.t-mobile.com/nba.

 

 

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2009 T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam

 

Below are the rosters for the 2009 T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam:

 

ROOKIE TEAM ROSTER

Player                            Team                  Pos.       Ht.        Wt.         School/Country

Michael Beasley             Miami                 F            6-9        245         Kansas St.

Rudy Fernandez             Portland              G-F        6-6        185         Spain

Marc Gasol                     Memphis             C           7-1        265         Spain

Eric Gordon                    L.A. Clippers      G           6-3        222         Indiana

Brook Lopez                   New Jersey         C           7-0        260         Stanford

O.J. Mayo                       Memphis             G           6-4        210         USC

Greg Oden                      Portland              C           7-0        285         Ohio State

Derrick Rose                   Chicago              G           6-3        190         Memphis

Russell Westbrook          Oklahoma City   G           6-3        187         UCLA

 

Head Coach – TBD

Assistant Coach – Dwyane Wade  

 

SOPHOMORE TEAM ROSTER

Player                            Team                  Pos.       Ht.        Wt.         School/Country

Aaron Brooks                 Houston              G           6-0        161         Oregon

Wilson Chandler             New York           F            6-8        220         DePaul

Kevin Durant                  Oklahoma City   G-F        6-9        215         Texas

Jeff Green                      Oklahoma City   F            6-9        235         Georgetown

Al Horford                      Atlanta                F-C        6-10      245         Florida

Luis Scola                       Houston              F-C        6-9        245         Argentina

Al Thornton                    L.A. Clippers      F            6-8        220         Florida State

Rodney Stuckey             Detroit                G           6-5        205         Eastern Washington

Thaddeus Young            Philadelphia        F            6-8        220         Georgia Tech

 

Head Coach – TBD

Assistant Coach – Dwight Howard

 

                             PREVIOUS T-MOBILE ROOKIE CHALLENGE RESULTS

1994 - Phenoms 74, Sensations 68

1995 - White 83, Green 79 (OT)

1996 - East 94, West 92

1997 - East 96, West 91

1998 - East 85, West 80

2000 - Rookies 92, Sophomores 81 (OT)

2001 - Sophomores 121, Rookies 113

2002 - Rookies 103, Sophomores 97

2003 - Sophomores 132, Rookies 112

2004 - Sophomores 142, Rookies 118

2005 - Sophomores 133, Rookies 106

2006 - Sophomores 106, Rookies 96

2007 – Sophomores 155, Rookies 114

2008 – Sophomores 136, Rookies 109

                                                                 

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