Cleveland Cavaliers shooting guard Dion Waiters has been selected to participate in the 2014 Rising Stars Challenge during All-Star weekend.
Waiters, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, is the highest scoring bench player in the Eastern Conference at 14.5 points in 31 games as a reserve this season. He has scored in double figures in 23 of his 31 appearances off the bench, including nine games of 20-plus points. Overall, he has appeared in 40 games (nine starts) in 2013-14, averaging 14.3 points (fourth-highest among all second-year players), 2.9 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 29.0 minutes per game.
The 6-4, 225-pound guard was selected to the All-Rookie First Team in 2012-13 and was winner of the NBA’s Rookie of the Month Award last February. He also was one of four Cavs players to participate in last season’s Rising Stars Challenge, tallying 23 points on 11-12 (.917) shooting, two of which came on the JR Rider-esque dunk pictured above.
This year’s teams will be selected on February 6 with the general managers to be announced in the near future.
Waiters will join teammate Kyrie Irving at All-Star Weekend as the third-year guard was selected as a starter for the Eastern Conference.
—
(AP Photo/Bob Donnan, Pool)
