All-Star Rookie Challenge

"Manu, you'll run point in this game!"

It was the first day of the Orlando All-Star Weekend, the day of the Rookie Challenge.

Ever since the Golden Generation of 1996 entered the league, the drafts of recent years had all been considered fairly strong.

Just like how the boom of the '84 generation had been followed by several solid rookie classes.

The years immediately before and after a truly elite draft class often produced strong draft talent as well.

Several rookies from this year's class had already proven their worth.

Vince Carter had put up elite guard numbers of 20+5+3 per game for the Vancouver Grizzlies. He had already been hailed as the next greatest wing after Jordan and Kobe.

As the Kings' second option, Paul Pierce had teamed up with Webber to lead the Kings—who had been at the bottom of the league just last year—into the top eight of the Western Conference! His offensive skills had matured to an unbelievable degree. He did not look like a rookie at all.

The Lakers' twenty-third pick, Manu Ginobili, averaged 10+2+3. The moment he entered the league, he took on the role of sixth man for a championship team—and he had performed that role remarkably well. The Lakers' bench was the best in the league. Though Manu's numbers were not explosive, plenty of reports claimed he was a contender to win Sixth Man of the Year as a rookie!

Mike Bibby had squeezed out Damon Stoudamire and Marcus Camby with the Raptors, becoming the superstar prospect the team was heavily backing.

The Golden State Warriors' Antawn Jamison had displayed considerable offensive talent.

Jason Williams served as Iverson's backup, but within the Princeton offense's passing system, he delivered passes that looked like something out of Magic Johnson's playbook.

The Nuggets' Raef LaFrentz