No Knicks to play in NBA's Rising Stars Challenge

Kevin Knox, Allonzo Trier highlight snubs from Knicks' roster

1/30/2019, 1:46 AM

The Knicks have an abundance of young talent on their roster, but none of them were selected to the NBA's Rising Stars Challenge teams. 

The NBA announced the rosters on Tuesday for U.S. and Worlds team, which each consist of 10 first and second-year players around the league, for an exhibition game to be played on Friday, Feb. 15 in Charlotte as part of the All-Star weekend festivities. 

The rosters are chosen by NBA assistant coaches, who submit one ballot per team and must have a minimum of three first-year players and three second-year players on each team. 

The most glaring snub for the Knicks is probably 19-year-old rookie Kevin Knox, who is averaging 12.2 points and 4.2 rebounds per game, which both rank seventh among rookies this season. 

Allonzo Trier, 23, is right behind Knox in points per game among rookies, with 10.5.

While they were not named to the roster, Stefan Bondy of the Daily News points out they could be alternates since Lakers' Lonzo Ball will not play

Frank Ntilikina was the Knicks' representative last season, playing for the Worlds team, but the sophomore guard was not voted to return. 

Mitchell Robinson, who has the second-most blocks by rookies with 66 in 34 games this season, was another notable absence, but the center missed a stretch of 13 games due to an ankle and groin injury, which likely hurt his chances. 

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