NBA All Star Weekend: Blake Griffin, Kevin Durant, Paul Pierce Showcased

Despite having a record 10 players drafted in the 2010 NBA Draft, seven of which went in the first round, the only Big 12 alumni to make the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam is former Oklahoma Sooner Blake Griffin.

Griffin, currently the prohibitive favorite to win the NBA Rookie of the Year award, averaging 23 points and 12.7 rebounds per game, is going to have a tiring weekend.

Besides the Rookie Challenge, Griffin is also competing in the 2011 Sprite Slam Dunk Contest and was named as a Western Conference reserve in the showcase event.

Joining Griffin in the All Star game are Big 12 alumni Kevin Durant and Paul Pierce. Durant was chosen by fans to start at forward for the Western Conference with the second most votes in the West behind Kobe Bryant, while Pierce will come off the bench for the Eastern Conference.

The All Star festivities take place from the Staples Center in Los Angeles the weekend of February 18-20. TNT will cover the event.