After missing out on the event last season, Toronto Raptors forward OG Anunoby will represent the World Team in the Mtn Dew Kickstart Rising Stars Challenge during next month's All-Star festivities.
The Rising Stars Challenge will be held on Friday, Feb. 16 at the Spectrum Center, kicking off the NBA All-Star events in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Rookie sensation Luka Doncic joins Anunoby on the world roster alongside Deandre Ayton, Ben Simmons and Toronto native Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell headlines Team USA for the second year in a row, alongside fellow sophomores Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma and Jayson Tatum, with three rookies making the cut in Jaren Jackson Jr., Marvin Bagley II and Trae Young.
Kyrie irving (USA) and Dirk Nowitzki (World) will also serve as honorary coaches for the game.
World Team
| Player | Team | Country |
| Ben Simmons | 76ers | Australia |
| OG Anunoby | Raptors | Great Britain |
| Deandre Ayton | Suns | Bahamas |
| Bogdan Bogdanovic | Kings | Serbia |
| Luka Doncic | Mavericks | Slovenia |
| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | Clippers | Canada |
| Rodions Kurucs | Nets | Latvia |
| Lauri Markkanen | Bulls | Finland |
| Josh Okogie | Timberwolves | Nigeria |
| Cedi Osman | Cavaliers | Turkey |
Team USA
| Player | Team | Country |
| *Lonzo Ball | Lakers | United States |
| Donovan Mitchell | Jazz | United States |
| Jarrett Allen | Nets | United States |
| John Collins | Hawks | United States |
| De'Aaron Fox | Kings | United States |
| Jaren Jackson Jr. | Grizzlies | United States |
| Kyle Kuzma | Lakers | United States |
| Jayson Tatum | Celtics | United States |
| Trae Young | Hawks | United States |
| Marvin Bagley III | Kings | United States |
| *Kevin Knox | Kincks | United States |
*Kevin Knox added to team USA roster to replace injured Lonzo Ball.
🏀🌟 @nyknicks forward @KevKnox will replace injured Lonzo Ball on the U.S. Team in the 2019 #MTNDEWICERisingStars at #NBAAllStar 🌟🏀 pic.twitter.com/jnrVXSJsk7
— 2019 NBA All-Star (@NBAAllStar) February 6, 2019
The NBA also unveiled the uniforms for the game, which pay homage to Charlotte's basketball history.
Inspired by Charlotte’s basketball origins, the Nike-designed #MTNDEWICERisingStars uniforms put a modern twist on the jerseys worn by the ABA’s Carolina Cougars in the 1960s & 1970s. #NBAAllStar pic.twitter.com/uvVoPUikkw
— 2019 NBA All-Star (@NBAAllStar) January 30, 2019
The Rising Stars Challenge showcases the growth of international basketball with another talented team set to take on the USA, in the fifth instalment of the USA vs the World format.