Elfrid Payton, Mario Hezonja named to Rookie Challenge roster

Elfrid Payton and Mario Hezonja will be heading to Toronto for the BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge. Aaron Gordon though will not.

Elfrid Payton and Mario Hezonja have been named to the rosters for the BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge. Aaron Gordon was not named to the roster of rookies and sophomores.

The BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge will once again take on a U.S. vs. the World format as it did last year, mixing a roster of 10 rookies and 10 sophomores and splitting them into teams based on their country of origin. That is likely how Hezonja got in.

Here are the full rosters:

Elfrid Payton certainly should be in the game despite his recent struggles. The point guard has been dominant at times for the Magic, averaging 11.2 points and 5.9 assists per game. He has shown some improved shooting and continues to be a driving engine for the Magic.

Of late though, Payton has struggled. That goes particularly on defense, a supposed strength of his. That might be normal for a second-year point guard but Payton has been relied on for the Magic to be a leader at the point guard position.

How he has gone has largely how the Magic have gone throughout this season. And his play right now is indicative of the team’s losing stretch.

Hezonja, on the other hand, has not gotten a ton of minutes. He is averaging just 4.6 points per game in 13.7 minutes per game. His scoring 10 points is seen as a sign of progress, but he has rarely been able to match that and build consistency. And thus his role and his minutes have been inconsistent.

It is surprising to see Aaron Gordon not get the nod for the game. But it is likely a product of the USA vs. World format.

Of the sophomore players — Jordan Clarkson, Rodney Hood, Zach LaVine, Nerlens Noel, Jabari Parker, Elfrid Payton, Marcus Smart, Bojan Bogdanovic, Clint Capela, Nikola Mirotic, Dwight Powell and Andrew Wiggins — Gordon certainly has a claim to be put among them.

Gordon is averaging 7.4 points per game and 5.2 rebounds per game, playing 20.2 minutes per game. He has started the last three games and has played well of late — 9.8 points per game and 7.0 rebounds per game in the past eight games.

He is starting to put all his talent together.

Splitting the teams though required the league put up more sophomores for the World team — including Canadian Dwight Powell. On the U.S. team, Gordon might have gotten a nod over a player like Clarkson. But Clarkson has also been good and meriting a spot in this game.

Justise Winslow also missed the game for the rookies on Team USA. Winslow certainly would have been selected ahead of Hezonja if there were another format.

Gordon has to be the first alternate for Team USA if a sophomore player is unable to participate.

It is disappointing, but ultimately irrelevant.

Payton and Hezonja should be able to perform well in this game. These are the kind of games they are made for.

Payton is happy to dish to players and is explosive finishing around the basket when he is given a free lane. There should be plenty of that as there always is in this glorified dunk contest.

Next: Does Elfrid Payton fit with Scott Skiles?

And giving Hezonja space to shoot and drive also should allow him to show off his athleticism. Hopefully by the time the teams play on Feb. 12 in Toronto, Hezonja will have gotten some more minutes and some more confidence to enjoy the weekend.