NBA adds Jeremy Lin to rookie-sophomore All-Star game

Jeremy Lin will play in the Rising Stars Challenge after all. The New York Knicks point guard was added Thursday to the roster of players for the Feb. 24 game at All-Star Weekend in Orlando, just before Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley began drafting for their teams.

New York’s current sensation has also been invited to play a role in the Sprite Slam Dunk Contest. Sources with knowledge of the league’s plans told ESPN.com that Knicks rookie Iman Shumpert — one of four dunk-contest entrants alongside Houston Rockets forward Chase Budinger, Indiana Pacers swingman Paul George and Minnesota Timberwolves rookie Derrick Williams — will be enlisting Lin to “assist” him in a manner similar to the help 2011 champion Blake Griffin got from then-Los Angeles Clippers teammate Baron Davis.

O’Neal took Lin with his third pick after starting with the Clippers’ Blake Griffin. Barkley took Cleveland’s Kyrie Irving at No. 2. Barkley praised Lin’s addition, saying it was “really stupid the NBA denied him in the beginning.”

Lin, a second-year point guard, has started six games and led the Knicks to seven straight wins. His strong performance the past two weeks has drawn international attention, including that of President Barack Obama, and led to debate about whether he would be invited to participate in All-Star Weekend, which begins Feb. 23 and culminates with the All-Star Game on Feb. 26.

A league source Thursday confirmed a New York Daily News report that the NBA will make Lin part of the field for the Haier Shooting Stars competition during All-Star Saturday night. NBA commissioner David Stern told USA Today earlier this week that Lin would not be a special late addition to the…

via NBA adds New York Knicks’ Jeremy Lin, Miami Heat’s Norris Cole to rookie-sophomore game – ESPN New York.