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BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge – Friday, February 13th (Barclays Center, Brooklyn)

Feb 13, 2015; New York, NY, USA; World Team guard Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks (34) shoots the basketball against U.S. Team forward Shabazz Muhammad of the Minnesota Timberwolves (15) and center Mason Plumlee of the Brooklyn Nets (1) during the second half at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

This was one of the more entertaining basketball games I’ve watched this season. I personally prefer this to the actual All-Star game because these players are more hungry. They’re all trying to make their name known, and it shows in the game.

James Harden and LeBron James aren’t battling for rebounds in the All-Star game, nobody tuning in is going to say “Now who’s this LeBron fella?” But guys like Rudy Gobert and Zach LaVine are going to fight to impress the world.

One player in particular seemed to fight extra hard (even for the average young player) in this year’s Rising Stars Challenge, which really shouldn’t be a surprise to Bucks fans.

Giannis Antetounkoumpo is a hard worker who essentially lives in the team practice facility who wants to be one of the greatest to ever play, and his hustle in this game shows just how serious Giannis is about that lofty goal.

Giannis stuffed the stat sheet (as usual), totaling twelve points, ten rebounds, five assists, four steals and two blocks. The Greek Freak also shot 44 percent in the challenge, so his scoring was fairly efficient if not abundant.

Although Giannis represented Milwaukee very well on Friday, a couple of his teammates on the World team performed just a bit better. Rudy Gobert (center on the Utah Jazz) got robbed of a Rising Stars MVP award after totaling 18 points (on 70 percent shooting no less), twelve rebounds and three blocks in a standout defensive performance in the insanely high scoring game (the World team won 121-112).

Maybe I shouldn’t say robbed. I don’t know, I thought from watching the game Gobert (aka the Stifle Tower. How cool of a nickname is that? That’s an 80’s quality nickname) was the best player but Andrew Wiggins (small forward on the Minnesota Timberwolves) also had an outstanding game.

Wiggins led all scorers (well he tied Zach LaVine and Victor Oladipo, but I’m technically correct) with 22 points on an incredible 73 percent from the field. Wiggins also totaled six rebounds, four assists, a steal and a block in the challenge.

Zach LaVine (guard for the Minnesota Timberwolves) also had a very good game for Team USA, throwing down 22 points on a stunning 82 percent. LaVine also contributed four rebounds, two assists and a lone steal.

Between this game and his insane dunk contest, how is LaVine not getting meaningful minutes anyway? He’s on a bottom-tier team this year, so what’s to lose by giving the electric young guard a chance to prove himself over in Minnesota?

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