BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge Rosters: Jusuf Nurkic Snubbed
It’s that time of year again for the all-star festivities to commence but it seems that the Denver Nuggets will have no participants this year. Surprisingly, that includes the Rising Stars Challenge that was highly thought to be a lock for rookie Jusuf Nurkic to compete in.
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The NBA changed their format this year to have the two teams showdown, with NBA players from the USA vs. NBA players from every other country (as opposed to Rookie vs. Sophomore NBA players which has been going on since 1994).
Nurkic would have had to been on the world rising star team since he is from Bosnia, but was chosen behind Steven Adams (Thunder), Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks), Bojan Bogdanovic (Nets), Gorgui Dieng (T’Wolves), Dante Exum (Jazz), Rudy Gobert (Jazz), Nikola Mirotic (Bulls), Kelly Olynyk (Celtics), Dennis Schroder (Hawks) and obviously Andrew Wiggens (T’Wolves).
It appears the NBA went with more of a sophomore look for the World Team, which only has four rookies, which may have doomed The Bosnian Beast.
If you’re feeling sad about another year with no Nuggets competing in any of the NBA All-Star Events, just remember what happened with the Rising Star Challenge just two years ago.
They can never take away that glorious moment in history for Nuggets fans and Kenneth Faried alike. And they certainly will never take our pride! Who needs the NBA All-Star Weekend anyways?