Beno named to All-Star Rookie team

[Kori Ellis]

NEW YORK, January 27 - Orlando Magic forward Dwight Howard, the first
overall selection in the 2004 NBA Draft and Cleveland Cavaliers guard
LeBron James, the first overall selection in the 2003 NBA Draft and 2003-04
NBA got milk? Rookie of the Year, lead a list of 18 players selected to
play in the 2005 got milk? Rookie Challenge on Friday, February 18 in
Denver at Pepsi Center.

The participants in the got milk? Rookie Challenge were selected by
the NBA's assistant coaches with each team submitting one ballot. The head
coaches for the Rookie and Sophomore teams will be the lead assistant from
the 2005 NBA All-Star Game coaching staffs.

The got milk? Rookie Challenge will be televised live nationally on TNT in the United States and on Rogers Sportsnet in Canada at 7 p.m. MT/ 9p.m. ET. Live audio broadcasts are available on ESPN Radio and on NBA.com in multiple languages.

Last year, the Sophomores defeated the Rookies, 142-118, with Amaré
Stoudemire of the Phoenix Suns earning the Most Valuable Player award.

Howard will be joined on the Rookie team by Tony Allen of the Boston
Celtics, Luol Deng and Ben Gordon of the Chicago Bulls, Devin Harris of the
Dallas Mavericks, Andre Iguodala of the Philadelphia 76ers, Emeka Okafor of
the Charlotte Bobcats, Josh Smith of the Atlanta Hawks and Beno Udrih of
the San Antonio Spurs. Deng and Udrih are among the record number of 79 active international players in the NBA.

James is joined on the sophomore team by Carmelo Anthony of the Denver Nuggets, Chris Bosh of the Toronto Raptors, Udonis Haslem of the Miami Heat, Kirk Hinrich of the Chicago Bulls, Josh Howard of the Dallas
Mavericks, Kyle Korver of the Philadelphia 76ers, Luke Ridnour of the
Seattle SuperSonics and Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat.

If a rookie or second-year player is selected to play in the All-Star
Game on Sunday, he will also play in the got milk? Rookie Challenge on
Friday evening.

This is the sixth year under the current rookie versus sophomore
format with the Sophomores leading the series, 3-2. The game will be played
in two 20-minute halves, with each team allowed one full timeout and one
20-second timeout per half. Individual foul totals will be kept, but a
player can not foul out. A team will be in the penalty situation after 10
team fouls or after the second foul in the final two minutes of each half.
In the event of a tie game, there will be a two-minute overtime to
determine the winner.

For the second consecutive year, NBA.com will provide basketball fans
with the opportunity to have their vote count towards selecting the MVP of
the got Milk? Rookie Challenge, as part of the site's exclusive NBA
All-Star 2005 coverage.

Tickets to the got milk? Rookie Challenge are priced at $40, and are
now available at Pepsi Center box office, Ticketmaster outlets,
Ticketmaster.com, NBA.com and 1-800-4NBA-TIX.

NBA All-Star Saturday Night presented by America Online, featuring
Footlocker Three-Point Shootout, Playstation Skills Challenge, Radio Shack
Shooting Stars and Sprite Rising Stars Slam Dunk will be broadcast live
nationally at 8 p.m. EST by TNT and ESPN Radio. The NBA All-Star Game on
Sunday, February 20 will be broadcast live nationally on TNT, Rogers
Sportsnet, ESPN Radio and audio in multiple languages on NBA.com, from the
Pepsi Center at 8 p.m. EST.

The got milk? Milk Mustache campaign is sponsoring the NBA Rookie
platform to highlight the importance of milk's bone-building calcium and
eight other essential nutrients for active people, teens especially, who
add about 15 percent of their adult height during these years. The
platform includes the got milk? Rookie Challenge, the got milk? Rookie of
the Month awards, the got milk? Rookie of the Year award and the got milk?
All-Rookie Team.

Below are the rosters for the 2005 got milk? Rookie Challenge:
ROOKIE TEAM ROSTER

Player Team Pos. Ht. Wt. School/Country
Tony Allen Boston G 6-4 213 Oklahoma State
Luol Deng Chicago F 6-8 220 Duke
Ben Gordon Chicago G 6-3 200 Connecticut
Devin Harris Dallas G 6-3 185 Wisconsin
Dwight Howard Orlando F 6-11 250 SW Atlanta Christian
Academy
Andre Iguodala Philadelphia F 6-6 207 Arizona
Emeka Okafor Charlotte F/C 6-10 252 Connecticut
Josh Smith Atlanta F 6-9 225 Oak Hill Academy
Beno Udrih San Antonio G 6-3 203 Slovenia



SOPHOMORE TEAM ROSTER

Player Team Pos. Ht. Wt. School/Country
Carmelo Anthony Denver F 6-8 230 Syracuse
Chris Bosh Toronto F 6-10 235 Georgia Tech
Udonis Haslem Miami F 6-8 232 Florida
Kirk Hinrich Chicago G 6-3 186 Kansas
Josh Howard Dallas F 6-5 210 Wake Forest
LeBron James Cleveland F 6-8 245 St. Vincent-St. Mary
HS
Kyle Korver Philadelphia F 6-6 211 Creighton
Luke Ridnour Seattle G 6-1 167 Oregon
Dwyane Wade Miami G 6-4 212 Marquette

PREVIOUS got milk? ROOKIE CHALLENGE RESULTS
1994- Phenoms 74, Sensations 68
1995- White 83, Green 79 (OT)
1996- East 94, West 92
1997- East 96, West 91
1998- East 85, West 80
2000- Rookies 92, Sophomores 81 (OT)
2001- Sophomores 121, Rookies 113
2002- Rookies 103, Sophomores 97
2003- Sophomores 132, Rookies 112
2004- Sophomores 142, Rookies 118

[SLOVENIAN 8]

Awsome!!! :elephant :smokin

[MaNuMaNiAc]

Who else thinks this is going to be another sophmore victory? I mean just take a look at their roster.

[boutons]

Congrats, Beno.

May the game not be the idiotic "balla" bullshit it was last year.

Gordon and Nocioni have been great as a pair in the clutch, Gordon hitting big shots, Nocioni involved in justabout everything in crunch time.

[SLOVENIAN 8]

Beno first Slovenian player on All Star game in history. And that in his first season man that is crazy. :elephant :smokin If someone told me before the season that he will play on AllStar game i would just smile but now that is reality. Udrih!!!!!!!!!!! :king :king :king :king

[fonzy16]

Go Beno! Go Spurs!

[Slomo]

Congrats Beno!

I hope this will get the local national coverage it deserves! Our media have been unkind to Beno in the past, let's see if they eat some crow now!

[GrandeDavid]

Well-deserved.

[ducks]

spurs will have more then duncan there

[kolko]

Tony Allen and Devin Harris over players like Duhon, Nocioni, Bonner or Krstic?? WTF?

[timvp]

Beno should start. He's the best rookie point guard in the league, without a doubt.

:smokin

[Ballcox]

Congrats Beno, I've enjoyed watching you play this season, too bad your style of play won't fit in with all the 'balla' types that will be out there. Don't worry about it though, you can just show them your ring in the off-season! :lol

[Solid D]

Beno is clearly a Rookie All-Star PG. Devin Harris and Beno are both playing backup for Top Echelon teams and they are equally deserving of the honor. The Rookies need one more Big, though (9 players).

The last Rookie team to win was Tony Parker's group in 2002.

[Kori Ellis]

The Rookies need one more Big, though (9 players).

?
Each team has 9 players.

[whottt]

So is this the 5th consecutive year the Spurs will have at least 1 player in the all star rookie game?

I know Parker went his first two years...

I can't remember if Manu went both his first and second years...I think he was in last years game though.

[Solid D]

Congrats Beno, I've enjoyed watching you play this season, too bad your style of play won't fit in with all the 'balla' types that will be out there. Don't worry about it though, you can just show them your ring in the off-season! :lol

Let me break it down for ya'. As long as the "ballas" get the ball in a good position to score, they'll be lovin' Beno. They just need to be alert.

[Solid D]

?
Each team has 9 players.

Wulll.....

then each team needs 10 players. :)

[SLOVENIAN 8]

I dont care how many points Beni will score( i hope a lot). For me is enough that he is on AllStar game :king

[T Park]

if beno can get about 8 baskets, hell have 12 14 assits easy.

GO BENO!!!

[kolko]

So is this the 5th consecutive year the Spurs will have at least 1 player in the all star rookie game?

I know Parker went his first two years...

I can't remember if Manu went both his first and second years...I think he was in last years game though.

2002 Parker
2003 Parker (Manu injured)
2004 Manu
2005 Beno

[Shelly]

Congrats to Beno!

[whottt]

2002 Parker
2003 Parker
2004 Manu
2005 Beno


Yeah that's right, Manu and Parker overlapped 1 year and Manu had an ankle injury his rookie season...

Ok so 4 years in a row...Pretty impressive streak when you compare it to the 90's(I think Duncan was our only player to make an All Rookie Team in the 90's)..

[boutons]

Last year the game was a joke, an embarrassment. NOBODY played seriously, it was worse that bunch of drunks in a pickup game, lotsa laughing and horsing around. A really great way to repay the honor of being chosen. No respect for the game or the fans.

Watch some of the all-star games from earlier decades. They played serious ball and tried to win.

The current jackasses don't give a flying fuck about anything beyond their paychecks, bling, cribs, wheels, and self-aggrandizement. These damn ballas are draggin down the NBA.

[whottt]

When will they announce the participants for the Point Guard Challenge, the 3 point contest, the dunk contest and that funky WNBA/Retired player/Active player contest they did last year?


I'd like to see:

Parker in the PG Challenge, again(he would have won the first time if he could have hit a 3 pointer).

Manu in the dunk contest.

Barry in the 3 point contest(Beno would have a better chance of winning but I'd like to see Barry become the first guy to win the dunk and 3 point contest)...

And for that funky contest I'd like to see...
SilverStars NBA player/David Robinson reitred player/Tim Duncan active player :smokin

[Kori Ellis]

When will they announce the participants for the Point Guard Challenge, the 3 point contest, the dunk contest and that funky WNBA/Retired player/Active player contest they did last year?

In upcoming days. The Rookie Challenge is Friday night, the rest of those games are on Saturday. So they announced this one first.

[HIP HOOPERS]

Is it thrue that 27 out of 30 teams voted for Beno? If it is... WHAT THE HELL WERE THOSE 3 TEAMS THINKING?!? :)

[Solid D]

Is it thrue that 27 out of 30 teams voted for Beno? If it is... WHAT THE HELL WERE THOSE 3 TEAMS THINKING?!? :)

Maybe the Nets and Bobcats, who haven't faced the Spurs yet this season, are two of the three teams. (?)

[Slo spurs fan]

BENO MY MAN

[Manu20]

Congrats to Beno and I hope he has a good game.

[Athenea]

Ben-shuiiiiii :elephant :elephant :elephant

[Kori Ellis]

I refer to him as "Beno-matic".

[Slo spurs fan]

But he still sucks!

Marcus Bryant

:lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol

[HIP HOOPERS]

There were times when he was Benzio... :)

[cmurek]

Beno the man!

Nice reward for him! :smokin

[samikeyp]

Nice job, Beno.

[Solid D]

I remember watching one of the televised summer league games and some of Beno's teammates (Noel Felix and some those guys) were calling him....

http://a1468.g.akamai.net/f/1468/580/1d/pics.drugstore.com/prodimg/10449/200.jpg

[Brodels]

I thought Beno = Manure? Oh wait, that's Manu = Manure.

:)

Sequ, are you comfortable with the point guard situation or does Beno still make you nervous? I know you've been his biggest critic and you've recently changed your mind a little bit...do you think he'll hold up in the playoffs?

I personally think he could become a starter on some team in the future. He's got some weaknesses that are hard to mask, but he sees the floor well and can shoot the ball.

[Solid D]

Sequ, are you comfortable with the point guard situation or does Beno still make you nervous? I know you've been his biggest critic and you've recently changed your mind a little bit...do you think he'll hold up in the playoffs?

I personally think he could become a starter on some team in the future. He's got some weaknesses that are hard to mask, but he sees the floor well and can shoot the ball.

Sequ changes his mind in the same thread.

Sequ =
http://www.zappos.com/images/140/7157140/827-127122-d.jpg

[T Park]

or as some people have reffered to him.

Paino.

[milkyway21]

Is it thrue that 27 out of 30 teams voted for Beno? If it is... WHAT THE HELL WERE THOSE 3 TEAMS THINKING?!? :)either;
..they want the sophomores to win again. :lol
..their team got beaten by Beno big this year or; :lol
..they want their rookie to go instead :lol or;
..they still can't understand WHY this 27th pick is sooo good they ignored him the draft :lol now he's playing for the BEST team of the season :elephant

[angel_luv]

I heard the great news on the radio last night when Bill S was interviewing Beno after the game. I am so proud of Beno! How exciting! He is so going to kick tail!

Bill S said the reason they wanted to interview Beno on the Impact Player of the Game show was because he was so excited about being named to the All Star Rookie Team. I thought that was really cute!

I also thought Beno was sweet to thank the fans for being such a great crowd. It is nice to hear that our support makes a difference to the team. The guys are always great about acknowledging that but somehow it never gets old. I think it is because I know they mean it.

[ALVAREZ6]

Nice!

The Sophomore class is clearly going to own though.

[whottt]

Nice!

The Sophomore class is clearly going to own though.

That sophomore class(last years freshman class) got it's ass beat into the dirt last season...by a team also lacking in star power compared to the LBJ and Melo show.

It wasn't even a competitive game...

[ALVAREZ6]

I predict at least 100 dunks in the game.

I recorded last year's Rookie vs. Sophomore game, and I believe an NBA analyst said that there were over 80 dunks.....

[E20]

Congrulations!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Supergirl]

It's not only pretty impressive that the Spurs have had a rookie on the all-rookie team for so many years, it's also particularly cool that the Spurs excellent talent scouting is honored - Beno is a MUCH lower pick than any of the other rookies selected, I believe - how often is a player from the middle of the 2nd round sent to the all-rookie team? The only other recent one I can think of is Parker.

[Slo spurs fan]

Manu was drafted in 2nd round!

[Slo spurs fan]

Tony and Beno were in 1st! 28th overall both!