THE YPNG NBA STARS PARTY SPEAKS SPANISH

The Rising Stars Challenge opens the All Star Weekend with a Spanish accent: Abrines, Willy, Porzingis and Sabonis. Turning to the format of what between 2000 and 2011 had been a game that faced rookies and sophomores, the NBA has added something spicy with a formula that is in its third edition: rookies and sophomores Are mixed (at least three per category on each side) in a duel that faces one team of Americans against another of players from the rest of the world. So far, a win by side and two MVPs for the Wolves (Wiggins and LaVine), who could make triplet because they represent the tremendous pivot Karl-Anthony Towns. The show, which will launch the All Star Weekend at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, will have Spanish accent this year as both Willy Hernangómez and Alex Abrines have slipped, on their own merits but also at the very last hour, in the World Team For the injuries of Emmanuel Mudiay and Cameroon Joel Embiid, which was one of the great attractions of this match ... and the whole weekend. Alongside the two Spaniards will also be Kristaps Porzinigs and Domantas Sabonis, Latvian and Lithuanian but raised in Seville and Malaga. So the Spanish touch is guaranteed waiting for Marc Gasol to play with the majors on Sunday All Star Game (02:00, # 0)

• Isabel López