All-Star Weekend's Rookie/Sophomore Game — now called the Rising Stars Challenge — has always stood out for its flashy play and lack of defense. From Jason Williams's elbow pass in 2000 to John Wall's alley-oop off the floor last year, the contest has a rich tradition of guys trying crazy plays that wouldn't be possible in a regular game.
Wall, playing in Friday's game as part of Team Chuck, realizes this precedent exists. So, with the game in its final seconds, and his team well ahead of Team Shaq, he decided to have a little fun and set up an alley-oop to himself from the three-point line. The defenders, including Detroit's Greg Monroe, seemed to be giving him an open lane. So Wall threw the ball ahead and started his run. Except, in one of the greatest jokes in All-Star Weekend history, Monroe then cut in to steal the ball. It was the Rookie Game equivalent of Lucy stealing the ball from Charlie Brown.
It was the end of a tough Rising Stars Challenge for Wall, who took motivation from being picked late in the game's draft and was overshadowed in the game itself by MVP Kyrie Irving, who finished with 34 points. Eventually, people will forget those bits, though. Monroe's joke will never be forgotten.
(Video via TBJ)
7 comments