Denver Nuggets: Our Rising Stars
By J.J. Vega
The All Star Weekend is here and the events that we all like so much are finally happening. Our young Nuggets are participating in the Rising Stars Challenge as part of the World Team to take on the USA Team.
Oh, how proud we are. We all know the struggles that the Nuggets have passed over these few years and we, real fans, have been there all the way with them. Now, in this 2016-17 season, the Nuggets are holding the 8th seed in a tough Western Conference and they are looking like a team that wants to win once again.
But we’re taking the season aside for one moment and we’re focusing on what’s happening this weekend. Yeah, you know it. ALL STAR WEEKEND IS HERE!
Now, a lot of people have been disappointed over the past few years with this weekend in particular…and they have every right to. Not everybody has the same tastes, so it’s logical that someone might not like what’s happening. You may not agree with who’s in the Dunk Contest or the Three Point Contest. Or the Skills Challenge. Or even the All Star Game itself.
But you have to admit, there is at least ONE EVENT, that you might like to see. For me, and for a lot of the Nuggets Nation…we’re looking forward to the Rising Stars Challenge.
Denver Nuggets
The rookies and sophomores from all over the league face off in a great match up that looks very promising. And just like last year, we have two Nuggets that will play for the World Team (there were three, but Mudiay was replaced by Willy Hernangomez due to injury).
Those guys are: rookie Jamal Murray and sophomore Nikola Jokic.
Last year, we saw Emmanuel Mudiay and Nikola Jokic participate in the game, where our young Mudiay scored 30 points to lead the World Team. This year, we’re looking forward to Jokic and Murray to take the Nuggets name and pride to a whole new level.
When Murray was asked about Jokic playing with the other guys he said he wasn’t going to tell their teammates about Jokic’s style of play. He was just going to let them know in the game.
So, Nuggets fans and NBA fans in general, get ready to see a lot of assists by the Joker in this Rising Stars Challenge, as he once again is going to impress, not only us, but everybody in the NBA that will be watching the game. This will be good, as people who still don’t know about Nikola Jokic’s existence, will now know and they will recognize the kind of player he is.
On the other hand, we’ll see Jamal Murray shooting arrows from the arc, attacking the basket with aggressiveness and most importantly, showing his ball handling abilities that amazes us by the second.
People may not look at this event as too important, and maybe it is not a big deal because it is not the All Star Game itself. But believe me…those guys that play there will be All Stars in the future. And it is important that you look at them NOW to then see them blossom as NBA superstars.
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So, Nuggets Nation…put on your Nuggets gear and get your spirits up, as we cheer for our young Nuggets in this great event and they hopefully can be the factor that takes World Team to the victory.