Domantas Sabonis to play in Rising Stars Challenge at NBA All Star Game

Ex-Gonzaga forward Domantas Sabonis was selected to participate in the Rising Stars Challenge in the NBA All Star Game. The game takes place on Friday, Feb. 16, at 6:00 pm PT, on TNT.

The Rising Stars Challenge showcases the NBA’s worldly aspirations, pitting first and second-year players from the U.S. against first and second-year players from around the globe.

Sabonis is having a breakout season with the Indiana Pacers this season after floundering in mediocrity with the Oklahoma City Thunder his rookie year. We wrote earlier in the year about how all he needed was a scenery change, and it looks like nothing has changed in that regard. Sabonis is averaging 12.3 points per game and is leading the Pacers in rebounds with 8.4 per game. All the while, he is his old efficient self, shooting 52 percent from the floor.

That is more in line with what the Oklahoma City Thunder were probably hoping for, after they traded for Sabonis during the draft. Sabonis was drafted with the No. 11 pick after averaging 17.6 points and 11.8 rebounds in his sophomore year at Gonzaga.

Unfortunately, for the Thunder, Russell Westbrook and company had no idea what to do with Sabonis. They traded him to the Pacers, and the Pacers have come out on the better end of the deal.

If you need to find something or someone to root for in the NBA, you’d be hard pressed to look any further. Congrats Domas!