Rookie/Soph Game Is Pointless, Has its Moments

By Bethlehem Shoals
Despite being on the payroll of the NBA, I can’t honestly say that the Rookie/Sophomore game matters. It sometimes lives up to its implicit “future stars” billing, which is kind of cool -- like an All-Star Game for toddlers. And to be sure, there have been some iconic moments over the years.

However, it’s just as likely to be an unkempt blowout, which devolves into a sloppy dunk contest (see 2005). That’s usually because, unlike the real ASG, the Rookie/Sophomore affair is a slave to draft classes. When there’s a gross imbalance between the last two, we fans are set up for a night of agony or disinterest. So if nothing else, it gives us a chance to evaluate classes one and two seasons down the line.
From that perspective, this year’s match-up is especially illuminating. In 2006, the age limit went into effect, keeping high school prodigies out and making us realize just barren the college ranks were. At the time, to call this crop of players underwhelming was a compliment. Then, there’s 2007. Oden/Durant, the Florida kids, an army of prospects to rival 2003. Or so we thought.
Now, in some ways it’s markedly unfair to compare rookies and sophomores. There’s really no way to overstate what an extra year of NBA seasoning will do for a kid. But tonight’s otherwise meaningless match-up should give the Class of 2006 a chance to redeem their bad name.
A starting five of Brandon Roy, Rudy Gay, LaMarcus Aldridge, Paul Millsap, and Ronnie Brewer cannot be taken lightly. To your left, 2007 offers up Durant, Al Horford, Mike Conley, Jamario Moon, and Jeff Green. If Greg Oden weren’t out, maybe the contrast wouldn’t so stark. Instead, from where I’m sitting, 2006 has one real All-Star in Roy, and a borderline candidate in Gay. They could probably make the playoffs in the East. 2007, on the other hand, has only two guys who without question should start on their current teams.
That’s what we’ll learn from tonight’s event. Might be fun to hear the announcers try and fight for 2007’s honor.↵