NBA: Griffin, Rubio banner rookie-sophomore All-Star picks

A day after announcing a change in the format of the Rookie-Sophomore game, the NBA released the roster pool in an official statement, a list that includes such notable players as Blake Griffin, Ricky Rubio, and 2011 overall number one pick Kyrie Irving. 

 

Instead of having an all-rookie team face off against an all-sophomore team, the NBA will for the first time, have analysts and former players Charles Barkley and Shaquille O'Neal draft players from a pool, to form nine-man teams. 

 

Barkley and O'Neal will then coach the squads against each other in the Rising Stars game on February 24 (Febraury 25, PHL time).

 

Los Angeles Clipper Blake Griffin headlines a list of players with one year of NBA experience. Also included are DeMarcus Cousins of the Sacramento Kings, Landry Fields of the New York Knicks, Paul George of the Indiana Pacers, Gordon Hayward of the Utah Jazz, Greg Monroe of the Detroit Pistons, Tiago Splitter of the San Antonio Spurs, John Wall of the Washington Wizards and Evan Turner of the Philadelphia 76ers. 

 

Minnesota Timberwolf Ricky Rubio tops the cast of rookies, but along with him are MarShon Brooks of the New Jersey Nets, Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Brandon Knight of the Detroit Pistons, Kawhi Leonard of the San Antonio Spurs, Marikief Morris of the Phoenix Suns, Kemba Walker of the Charlotte Bobcats and Rubio's teammate Derrick Williams. — Adrian Dy/RSJ, GMA News