LeBron could see double duty on NBA All-Star weekend
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-01-28 09:36

LeBron James, the National Basketball Association 2004 Rookie of the Year, could have a busy NBA All-Star weekend next month after being named to the NBA Rookie Challenge's Sophomore team.

LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers, seen here 13 January 2005. James, the National Basketball Association 2004 Rookie of the Year, could have a busy NBA All-Star weekend next month after being named to the NBA Rookie Challenge's Sophomore team.[AFP]

James, who has sparked the Cleveland Cavaliers to the top of the Central Division, leads fan balloting for all guards in the Eastern Conference for the NBA All-Star Game on February 20 at Denver.

The Rookie Challenge is two days earlier, featuring a lineup of second-year NBA stars against top newcomers. Dwight Howard, Emeka Okafor and Ben Gordon - the top three picks in last June's NBA Draft - were named to the Rookie lineup.

Past rookie stars such as China's Yao Ming of Houston and Tim Duncan of San Antonio have been excused from the rookie game when named to the All-Star Game.

But James signing on for the Sophomore squad signals the 20-year-old playmaker's willingness for double duty - a strong possibility since he is averaging 25 points, 7.4 rebounds and 7.6 assists a game so far this season.

Another member of the Sophomore squad who might be named to the All-Star lineup is Miami guard Dwayne Wade, the backcourt teammate of star center Shaquille O'Neal on the Eastern Conference-leading Miami Heat.

Wade trails James and NBA scoring leader Allen Iverson of Philadelphia in fan balloting but figures to be named as an All-Star reserve. Wade is averaging 23.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 7.6 assists a game.

James played for the Rookies last year in Los Angeles, when the Sophomores romped 142-118 to seize a 3-2 edge in the rivalry.

James will have fellow Athens Olympian and Denver Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony with him on the Sophomore squad along with Wade, forwards Chris Bosh of Toronto, Udonis Haslem of Miami, Josh Howard of Dallas and Kyle Korver of Philadelphia and guards Kirk Hinrich of Chicago and Luke Ridnour of Seattle.

Among the rookies, Olympian Okafor of the Charlotte Bobcats averages 15.4 points and 11.3 rebounds a game. Orlando's Howard, 19, averages 10.2 points and 9.8 rebounds while Chicago's Gordon averages 13.1 points a game.

The Rookies roster also includes guards Tony Allen of Boston, Devin Harris of Dallas and Beno Udrih of San Antonio and forwards Luol Deng of Chicago, Andre Iguodala of Philadelphia and Josh Smith of Atlanta.