2015 NBA All-Star Friday: Rudy Gobert, Andrew Wiggins and Team World impress

The Rising Stars Challenge tried something different this year, deviating from the usual rookies vs. sophomores format, and instead making the game an America vs. Everyone affair. But it looked very similar to prior editions -- a highlight reel of high-flying dunks, behind-the-back passes and, surprisingly, some defense.

Dunks were the stat of the night, and many of them came emphatically.

The Rookie Game is all about offense and dunks and threes and nobody plays defensAHHHHH NEVERMIND:

Between Giannis Antetokounmpo putting hard fouls on people and Gobert beating that Noel dunk to death, the World team is not messing around in this game. This could be one of those that gets genuinely competitive down the stretch.

Nice dunk, Zach LaVine! You might wanna apologize to Moondog, though. You’ve done something to upset Moondog deeply:

Little League sensation Mo’ne Davis wasn’t on the court down the stretch for her West team, but she made the play of the night early on. With Hart trying to get in her head, she crossed him before spinning by for a pretty lay-up.

(h/t gifdsports)

Here is justification for the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game in a single Vine:

3-time MVP Kevin Hart getting absolutely schooled by a 14-year-old Little League phenom. Excellent.

The celebrity game has become a tradition on All-Star weekend. Celebrities from all fields -- entertainment, sports, even politics -- have taken part. This year is no different, with luminaries from different disciplines gathering in New York City to awkwardly dribble and shoot on the first day of the NBA’s mid-season celebration.

Isaiah Austin will also be an assistant coach. Austin is a former Baylor University basketball star who was diagnosed with Maran Syndrome, a disease which affects the connective tissues in the body, over the summer. Austin was projected as a first-round pick prior to his diagnosis and now acts as an ambassador for NBA Cares. He also has a foundation which provides support for the awareness and research of Marfan syndrome.

Kevin Hart, by now a fixture of the event (and TV screens everywhere) and a three-time Celebrity Game MVP, will be back on the court. Other notable participants are little league star Mo’ne Davis, actor Ansel Elgort, actor/rapper Common and WNBA star Skylar Diggins of the Tulsa Shock.

The game will feature a number of celebrities with basketball backgrounds, some of whom can actually play.

The NBA is having one of the most entertaining seasons in years and its biggest stars will converge in New York City for a mid-season celebration. All-Star weekend offers something for everyone, from a chance to meet the league’s up-and-coming players in the Rising Stars Challenge to the main even, the All-Star game, in which the best the Eastern and Western Conferences have to offer match up against each other. The three-day gathering will feature nine events in total.

The Shooting Stars competition kicks off Saturday action. A WNBA star, an NBA star and an NBA legend team up to compete in a shooting exhibition that shows off their touch from all over the court, including from mid-court. Chris Bosh, Dominque Wilkins and Swin Cash have won the last two events. After that, the league’s best guards get to demonstrate their ability on the Skills Challenge. Dribbling, passing and shooting are all put to the test on an obstacle course. Damian Lillard, winner of the past two editions, won’t be there to defend his crown so someone new will hoist the trophy this year.