Lonzo Ball, Joel Embiid headline Rising Stars rosters

The NBA announced its Rising Stars rosters Wednesday afternoon. The game, which takes place during All Star Weekend (hosted this year by Los Angeles), features first- and second-year players.

Headlining the “World” squad is Philadelphia’s star duo of Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons. Embiid, from Cameroon, is also an All Star starter and is averaging 23.8 points and 11.0 rebounds per game. Simmons, from Australia, is averaging 16.3 points, 7.9 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game for the upstart 76ers. Philadelphia swing man Dario Saric (Croatia) will also suit up for the World team.

The Embiid-Simmons-Saric trio isn’t the only group of teammates playing on the World side. The Kings’ Bogdan Bogdanovic (Serbia) and Buddy Hield (Bahamas) will also take on the U.S. team. Also on the World team is Nuggets guard and reigning Rising Stars MVP Jamal Murray (Canada).

On the U.S. side of things, Lakers running mates Lonzo Ball (10.2 points, 7.1 assists, 7.1 rebounds), Kyle Kuzma and Brandon Ingram will play at their home arena. The Celtics also have multiple participants: Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. Reigning Rookie of the Year Malcolm Brogdon of the Milwaukee Bucks will play for the U.S. for the second straight year.

The Rising Stars Challenge has existed in its current format since 2015 but has roots all the way back to the Rookie Challenge, which debuted in 1994. Team World took home a 150-141 win last year with Murray scoring 36 points and adding 11 assists.