B efore the late great Kobe Bryant helped lead the Los Angeles Lakers to five NBA championships, he spent much of his childhood in the Philadelphia area, where he honed his skills

The NBA's stars of tomorrow get the first crack at impressing on All-Star Weekend. Three teams comprised of rookies and sophomores and a fourth made up from G League players get the initial run under the spotlight during the Rising Stars Challenge.

The NBA has raised the stakes of this year’s Rising Stars game, making it count for the up-and-coming talent on the rosters. The NBA’s best rookies, sophomores and G-League players will compete in a tournament where the winning team will ultimately face off against the NBA All-Stars.