REGENSBURG (David Hein's Eye on the Future) - A trio of Philadelphia 76ers and a Canadian duo will be heading to Los Angeles this weekend with the hope of leading the Team World to a victory over Team USA in the Mountain Dew KickStart Rising Stars Challenge at the NBA All-Star festivities.

The Rising Stars Challenge has been part of the All-Star weekend since 1994 in a variety of forms. The first two years it was randomly selected first-year players before changing to Eastern and Western Conference rookies facing off from 1996 to 1998.

The longest stint of the competition saw second-year players (Sophomores) vs first-year players (Rookies), lasting from 1999 to 2011. There were two editions of Team Chuck vs Team Shaq with the teams drafted by Hall of Famers Charles Barkley and Shaquille O'Neal, respectively. In 2014, the teams were drafted by Chris Webber (Team Webber) and Grant Hill (Team Hill).

The name of the competition was changed to the Rising Stars Challenge in 2012 and the format was changed again in 2015 with Team USA vs Team World - with the World selection winning last season on the power of MVP Jamal Murray's 36 points and 11 assists.

Murray is back for a second go-around for Team World at the Staples Center and he is joined by fellow Canadian Dillon Brooks of the Memphis Grizzlies, one of five rookies on the World Team. The others are Serbian Bogdan Bogdanovic of the Sacramento Kings, the Chicago Bulls' Lauri Markkanen of Finland, New York Knicks point guard Frank Ntilikina of France and Australian wing Ben Simmons of the Philadelphia 76ers.

Simmons is part of a trio of 76ers on Team World, the largest contingency of players from a single NBA team. Joining Simmons are teammates Joel Embiid of Cameroon and Croatian Dario Saric. Embiid was named to the Rising Stars Challenge last season but could not play due to a knee injury while Saric collected 17 points, five rebounds and four assists.

The other returnees are Bogdanovic's Kings teammate Buddy Hield of Bahamas and Indiana Pacers big man Domantas Sabonis from Lithuania - both of whom played in last year's Challenge as rookies.

While Team World will have four players returning, Team USA will have just one - Brandon Ingram of the Los Angeles Lakers. And the Lakers sophomore will have two of his L.A. teammates on the home court at Staples Center in rookies Lonzo Ball and Kyle Kuzma.

The Milwaukee Bucks sophomore Malcolm Brogdon was selected to return to the game but he will not play due to an injury and is being replaced by Taurean Prince of the Atlanta Hawks. Prince will have rookie teammate John Collins with him in the game while the Boston Celtics also have two players on the Team USA side: Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum.

The other USA players are Kris Dunn of the Chicago Bulls and Donovan Mitchell of the Utah Jazz, the latter of which many believe could snatch the Rookie of the Year award from Ben Simmons.

Mitchell might be a darkhorse candidate to win MVP of the Rising Stars Challenge as he has a chance to make his case as the best rookie in the league.

There will also be the L.A. Lakers youngsters on Team USA going at it again the World talents from the 76ers - as the teams split their match-ups this season, both teams winning on the road.

Also to watch will be Kris Dunn going against Lauri Markkanen in a battle of Chicago Bulls split up on the two teams - the only team to be represented by both teams.

One definite is there will be a lot of points. Team World's 121-112 win in 2015 was the lowest winning total since 2006. And the 112 points scored were the fewest by a team since 2008.

Enjoy the show.

David Hein

FIBA

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