Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns has been named to represent the team at the 2017 Rising Stars Challenge, the game involving rookies and second-year players that is part of the NBA's All-Star festivities. For the second straight season Towns will be on the U.S. team.
Unless….
That is unless Towns is named to the All-Star game itself. Reserves will be named Thursday night on TNT at 6 p.m. He could, technically, play in both games; it's been done before.
In his second season Towns is third in the league in double-doubles (33), 18th in scoring (21.8), eighth in rebounding (12.0) and ninth in minutes (36.1). He has scored 40 or more points twice and 30 or more five times. Earlier this season he became the second player in franchise history with consecutive games with 30 points, 10 rebounds and five assists.
His season high of 47 came against the New York Knicks Nov. 30.
The Rising Stars challenge pits a team of U.S. players competing against a team make up of international players. The rosters are voted on by the league's assistant coaches. They voted for four frontcourt players, four guards and two players regardless of position. They could not vote for players on their own team.
The game will be played in New Orleans on Friday, Feb. 17 at Smoothie King Center at 8 p.m. It will be broadcast by Turner Sports.
Wolves rookie point guard Kris Dunn was not named to the event, though he could be an injury replacement.
