Knicks guard Landry Fields was selected to the Rising Stars Challenge over All-Star Weekend, but Knicks head coach Mike D’Antoni can’t believe that rookie Iman Shumpert was not.
“I was shocked [Shumpert] didn’t make it,’’ D’Antoni told reporters before the Knicks’ 107-93 victory over the Wizards. “Not taking anything away from other guys.”
According to the New York Post, D’Antoni was informed that assistant coaches did the voting.
“Could be a reason why they’re assistants,” D’Antoni said. “Because he plays as well as anybody. Iman deserved to be on it. It’s too bad.”
Fields is averaging 9.7 points and 3.8 rebounds
Shumpert, out of Georgia Tech, is averaging 9.9 points and 3.7 boards.
Also chosen in the game were former UConn star Kemba Walker of the Charlotte Bobcats, who played at Rice High School, and former Duke standout Kyrie Irving of the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Elizabeth (N.J.) St. Patrick star who was the No. 1 overall pick in the draft.
Tristan Thompson, Irving’s teammate and a former St. Benedict’s Prep standout, was also chosen.
Below is the roster for the 2012 BBVA Rising Stars Challenge:
2012 BBVA Rising Stars Challenge Player Pool
Prior to NBA/
Player Team Pos. Ht. Wt. Home Country Exp
MarShon Brooks New Jersey G-F 6-5 200 Providence/USA R
DeMarcus Cousins Sacramento C 6-11 270 Kentucky/USA 1
Landry Fields New York G 6-7 210 Stanford/USA 1
Paul George Indiana G-F 6-8 215 Fresno State/USA 1
Blake Griffin L.A. Clippers F 6-10 251 Oklahoma/USA 1
Gordon Hayward Utah F 6-8 210 Butler/USA 1
Kyrie Irving Cleveland G 6-3 191 Duke/USA R
Brandon Knight Detroit G 6-3 189 Kentucky/USA R
Kawhi Leonard San Antonio G-F 6-7 225 San Diego State/USA R
Greg Monroe Detroit C 6-11 250 Georgetown/USA 1
Markieff Morris Phoenix F 6-10 245 Kansas/USA R
Ricky Rubio Minnesota G 6-4 180 FC Barcelona/Spain R
Tiago Splitter San Antonio F-C 6-11 240 Saski Baskonia/Brazil 1
Tristan Thompson Cleveland F 6-9 227 Texas/USA R
Evan Turner Philadelphia G-F 6-7 205 Ohio State/USA 1
John Wall Washington G 6-4 195 Kentucky/USA 1
Kemba Walker Charlotte G 6-1 172 Connecticut/USA R
Derrick Williams Minnesota F 6-8 241 Arizona State/USA R
