The NBA unveiled on Friday the 10 first- and second-year players selected to participate in the Rising Stars Game at All-Star Weekend next month in Chicago.
Zion Williamson and Ja Morant headlined the rookies chosen to play in the event as selected by the assistant coaches in the NBA. The 26th Rising Stars game features a United States vs. World format with some of the top, young players from around the world.
As Williamson made the cut, New Orleans Pelicans rookie teammate Nickeil Alexander-Walker was also selected to play in the event as the Canadian will suit up for the World Team. While Williamson and Alexander-Walker made it, fellow Pelican Jaxson Hayes was snubbed.
Pelicans veteran Jrue Holiday was not happy Hayes was left off the roster.
We broke the news to Jrue about Jaxson Hayes not making it into the Rising Stars Game.
He wasn’t happy about it.
— Will Guillory (@WillGuillory) January 31, 2020
In 45 games this season, Hayes is averaging 8.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.1 blocks and one assist in 19.2 minutes per game. Prior to the debut of Williamson, Hayes was perhaps the most exciting rookie in New Orleans given his athleticism and ability to sky-high for blocks and dunks.
The U.S. roster for the Rising Stars Game was stacked with several worthy players so Hayes had a tough road to make it ahead of the likes of Williamson, Eric Paschall and P.J. Washington in the frontcourt.
Rising Stars will air live on Feb. 14 at 9 p.m. ET on TNT in the United States.
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