D'Angelo Russell is headed to the NBA's All-Star Weekend in Toronto. The former Ohio State guard was selected Wednesday to play in the annual BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge, which features the league's top first- and second-year players.
For the second-straight season, the Rising Stars Challenge will pit 10 players from the United States against 10 players from the world. Previous games saw rookies face off against second-year players.
Russell, who was selected No. 2 overall in the 2015 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers after a sensational freshman season for the Buckeyes, will be on the United States team. He will be joined by the likes of No. 1 overall pick Karl-Anthony Towns of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Jahlil Okafor of the Philadelphia 76ers, Jabari Parker of the Milwaukee Bucks, and others.
The world team is headlined by Andrew Wiggins of the Timberwolves and the New York Knicks' Kristaps Porzingis.
Full rosters can be seen here.
In Kobe Bryant's final season the Lakers have limped their way to a 9-38 record this season. Russell, though, has had a solid first half of his NBA career as the former Ohio State standout is averaging 13.4 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game.
