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SALT LAKE CITY — Trey Burke will be playing basketball during the All-Star festivities, but not the big-time All-Star game.
The NBA has selected the rookie to the BBVA Rising Stars Challenge during the All-Star Weekend in New Orleans. The game will be played the Friday before the All-Star game, Feb. 14.
Burke is one of 18 players selected to play in the game. The NBA doesn't do rookie and sophomore teams anymore; instead, it will hold a draft to select teams Thursday, Feb. 6, at 5 p.m. MT with all players being available from the two classes.
Burke is a contender for the Rookie of the Year award with his great play since his return from injury. He's scored 13.3 points per game and dished out 5.7 assists per game.
Burke joins Deron Williams, Paul Millsap, Ronnie Brewer, Gordon Hayward and Derrick Favors as Jazz players who have been named to the team. The game hasn't been around for too much longer to include many former Jazz players beyond Williams, however in previous incarnations of the event Andrei Kirilenko and Bryon Russell played.
The other rookies who will be in the game with Burke are Steven Adams of Oklahoma City, Pero Antic of Atlanta, Giannis Antetokounmpo of Milwaukee, Michael Carter-Williams of Philadelphia, Tim Hardaway Jr. of New York, Victor Oladiopo of Orlando, Kelly Olynyk of Boston and Mason Plumlee of Brooklyn.
The sophomores are Harrison Barnes of Golden State, Bradley Beal of Washington, Anthony Davis of New Orleans, Andre Drummond of Detroit, Terrence Jones of Houston, Damian Lillard of Portland, Jared Sullinger of Boston, Jonas Valanciunas of Toronto and Dion Waiters of Cleveland.
Today's other Utah news is that Jerry Sloan will have his own day Friday as the Jazz raise his name to the rafters. Gov. Gary Herbert has declared Jan. 31 will be "Jerry Sloan Day" in Utah.
The Jazz are holding a special ceremony for Sloan on Friday as the Jazz take on the Golden State Warriors.
