Al Thornton and Eric Gordon will be arch rivals — at least for a couple of hours. Both Clippers have been selected to play in the 2009 Rookie Challenge during All-Star Weekend in Phoenix:
Forward Jeff Green, Durant’s teammate in Oklahoma City, joins him on the Sophomore team, which also includes Atlanta Hawks forward/center Al Horford, Los Angeles Clippers forward Al Thornton, Philadelphia 76ers forward Thaddeus Young, New York Knicks forward Wilson Chandler, Detroit Pistons guard Rodney Stuckey and a pair of teammates from the Houston Rockets — guard Aaron Brooks and forward Luis Scola.
Joining Rose on the Rookie team are two sets of teammates — guard O.J. Mayo and center Marc Gasol from the Memphis Grizzlies and center Greg Oden and guard Rudy Fernandez from the Portland Trail Blazers. Thunder guard Russell Westbrook, Clippers guard Eric Gordon, Heat forward Michael Beasley and New Jersey Nets center Brook Lopez round out the Rookie team.
The honor must be satisfying for Thornton, who was inexplicably left off the rookie squad in New Orleans last season.
