NBA 2018 Rising Stars Challenge roster: Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons lead the World vs. USA challenge

The All-Star game rightfully gets all the hype of All-Star weekend, but the Mountain Dew Rising Stars Challenge is going to be pretty fun, too. On Wednesday evening, the NBA announced all the players who will be participating in the game, and the rosters look pretty good.

Before we get into the teams, though, there are a couple of things to keep in mind about the game and how the format has changed over the last few years. The game will be on Friday, Feb. 16 at 9 p.m. ET on TNT.

The game used to face the league’s best rookies off against the best sophomore players from the season but switched from that format in 2015 to the World vs. USA format.

The league’s best international rookies and sophomores will play for the World, while the best American-born players will play for the USA. The USA team is led by top rookies like Jayson Tatum, Donovan Mitchell, and Kyle Kuzma, while the World is led by 76ers teammates Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons.

With that in mind, here are the rosters.

NOTE: Malcolm Brogdon and Lonzo Ball have since pulled out with injuries. They were replaced by Atlanta’s Taurean Prince and Sacramento’s De’Aaron Fox, respectively.

Embiid is unquestionably the best player in this game, and he’s the only All-Star among these rookies and sophomores. He’s led the Sixers into playoff position so far this season with 23.7 points and 11.1 rebounds per game.

If Embiid is the best player in the game, Simmons just might be the distant second. Much of the 76ers’ turnaround can be credited to his size and skill at the point guard position. The Magic Johnson comparisons look legitimate.

Markkanen might be the most underrated rookie in this class. He’s already hit 113 threes in his first season, and it only took him 41 games to reach 100. That’s the fastest in NBA history.

Murray’s having an under-the-radar season in Denver. He’s had seven games with 30-plus points this season, including a career-high 38 against Portland on Jan. 22.

Victor Oladipo is an All-Star for the Pacers and rightfully so, but Sabonis isn’t getting enough credit for the Pacers’ turnaround. His steady efficiency of 12.1 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 2.2 assists keep the Pacers on balance.

Last year’s runner-up for Rookie of the Year has been a huge part of the Sixers’ turnaround this season. He’s part of their best lineup and is shooting an improved 38.7 percent from three-point range.

Bogdanovic plays for the Kings, so chances are unless you’re a basketball addict or you’re a Kings fan, you’ve never seen him play before. But, let me tell you, he’s got the goods. He’s averaging a cool 11.5 points per game along with 2.7 rebounds, and 3.2 assists. He’s also shooting 40 percent from three already.

Ntilikina is already loved by Knicks fans for having the moxie to go at LeBron James this season, and now he’ll get a chance to endear to fans on a national stage. They say there’s no defense played in this game, but I guarantee you Ntilikina is going to pick someone up full court.

First, let me start by saying that I had no clue Brooks was actually Canadian. Second, if you don’t know him, he can shoot the lights out. He’s already hitting 37.4 percent of his threes in his rookie season and has been the most pleasant surprise out of Memphis.

Hield is known by most for being part of the DeMarcus Cousins trade, but he’s better than that. He’s turned himself into a solid player with the Kings, hitting 43 percent of his threes while shooting 42 percent from the field. He’s hitting more than 87 percent of his free throws, too. He just makes shots.

Mitchell might be the most electrifying rookie in the league this season — he just makes plays. He’s only 6’3, but can jump out of the gym, can get to the basket at will, and is a solid creator for his teammates. The Jazz found themselves a gem.

Kuzma dazzled us with his great summer-league play, and he has continued to do so in the league. He seemed to hit a wall in early January but has caught stride over the last several games

Ball was the most underwhelming rookie to start the season, even if he was the most popular. But prior to his lingering knee injury that’ll keep him out of the game, he was starting to pick him up.

Tatum shot over 50 percent from three for a majority of the season, so it’s a no-brainer that he’s playing in this game. He’s come back down to earth a bit over the last month, but he’s still shooting 42.7 percent from downtown.

Brown came into the league as a raw prospect and has already chiseled himself into the ideal 3-and-D role player you’d want on a championship roster. He has a bright future in the NBA.

Ingram is still learning how to be the primary scoring option for the Lakers, but he’s shooting an improved 46 percent from the field while averaging 16.2 points per game. He hasn’t become exactly what the Lakers hoped for to this point, but the potential is there.

Smith is the future of the Mavericks, and that future is high flying. He’s taken the reins for the Mavericks so far this season and, while he’s still learning, he’s already showing us the special things he can do with his athleticism.

Dunn was a reclamation project of sorts in Chicago, and he has shown a ton of improvement so far since moving from the Timberwolves to the Bulls. He’s shooting 43.1 percent from the field and averaging 6.3 assists per game.

Prior to suffering a partially torn quad injury that’ll keep him out of the game, Brogdon had built on his strong Rookie of the Year campaign from last season. He was shooting a 49 percent from the field with a true shooting mark around 58 percent. He’s creating less with Eric Bledsoe in the picture, but his production hasn’t dropped off.

Collins is having an underrated season in Atlanta. He’s shooting 58 percent from the field and has a PER of 19.2 — that’s really good. If you give him the ball in the paint, he’s a guaranteed bucket.

The rookie point guard has been somewhat anonymous due to the Kings’ struggles, but he’s beginning to emerge as the point guard we all expected when he went No. 5 overall. He’s averaging 11.3 points and 4.3 assists per game this season.

The Hawks’ rebuild has helped the second-year Baylor forward showcase his skills. He’s playing nearly 30 minutes per game while seeing astronomical increases in nearly every statistical category.

There are a few rookies who didn’t make the list, and a few sophomores who have an argument, too, but these teams have most of the prominent names you know and then some.

Either way, this game is going to be loads of fun with Simmons and Embiid going at Tatum, Mitchell, and Kuzma. This is going to be one of the best games yet.