Well, if the players on display at the 2011 NBA Rookie/Sophomore Challenge are any indication as to the future of the game, the Association is in good hands going forward. Just like any other All Star type event, one wouldn’t be psychic to predict that there wouldn’t be much defense played in this year’s version of the NBA’s very best 1st and 2nd year players.
Prior to the game, this year’s #1 overall pick John Wall reportedly looked up the fact that Chris Paul established the Rookie Challenge record for assists when he dropped 17 dimes on the Sophs back in 2007. He promptly went out and made a conscious effort to break the 4 year old mark by continually dishing the rock rather than scoring at will like so many other competitors in the event.
Wall was spectacular in setting the new benchmark for assists by dropping 22 dimes in helping the Rookies win 148-140 and in effect, earning the game’s MVP Award. Most of his assists went to former Kentucky teammates Eric Bledsoe and big man DeMarcus Cousins, who had a tremendously efficient game of his own, tallying 33 points and 13 boards. Cousin’s 33 points rank as the 4th highest scoring game in Rookie Challenge history, matching Lebron James 33 points in ’04.
Second year forward DeJuan Blair out-shined most of his other teammates on the Sophomore squad with a spirited 28 point-15 rebound effort, highlighted by an alley-oop off the glass to himself which almost brought the rim down.
But the true highlight reel moment came when the ’09(Griffin) and ’10(Wall) #1 overall picks connected on arguably the most impressive bounce pass, alley-oop I’ve ever seen……
Then on direct orders from coach Kevin McHale, Wall promptly did the Dougie:
Allen Moll has been a lifelong NBA and NCAA College Basketball fan who watches and studies games religiously, and coaches youth basketball in his native Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania. Allen also provides content to Bleacherreport.com, Upperdeckblog.com, in addition to being a tenured NBA and NCAA columnist for TheHoopDoctors.com.
