It's never a bad thing when you are just 25 games into your NBA career and you get tabbed to spend the All-Star break at the NBA All-Star game. Phoenix Suns rookie Markieff Morris, the 13th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, was selected as one of nine first-year players to participate in the newfangled Rising Stars game in Orlando at the end of February.

The Rising Stars game replaces the old Rookie-Sophomore game and adopts are more fan-friendly approach by having celebrity stars pick their teams from a pool of players. Morris will join these NBA Rookies and Sophomores in the game:

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Sorry this is late, but better late than never.

Game isn't that exciting to me - no one plays defense. And we Suns fans are defense snobs, of course.

Apologies for the lateness.....

Earlier in the day on Saturday, I asked Pau Gasol what he thought his Spanish teammate's chances were in the Dunk Contest. "Slim" was the response.

Little did I know at the time that Pau would play such an influential role in making his prediction a reality. As we all witnessed, Pau insisted, for reasons that make no sense at all, to throw a behind-the-back pass to the back of the backboard as part of Rudy's dunk attempt.

Those missed passes certainly were influential in reducing Rudy's score on what turned out to be a spectacular jam. If Pau had made the easy pass sooner, Rudy's score almost certainly would have been higher then it was.

Do you wonder why Pau did that? One thing that I noticed this weekend was the infatuation on the part of the Spanish media with Rudy. They completely ignored brother Marc Gasol at Friday's media availability and they were nowhere to be seen on Saturday either.

Yet, when Rudy was around, they flocked to him like the Chinese media did to Yao.

I asked Pau about this as well, and his answer while predictably tactful, perhaps was not fully truthful given what he did to Rudy's chances to even greater fame back home in Spain.

Pau Gasol audio

Blazer's Edge (as usual) has all the details and insightful insight

One of the more surreal interviews I heard (while dodging teeth-high elbows) this weekend was Dwight Howard talking to a Lakers.com reporter about Kobe beef.

You can listen in and hear Dwight seem to get a bit confused about the origins of Kobe Beef and its relationship to a certain NBA superstar. Dwight says, "I googled Kobe Bryant and next to his picture was some steaks from his restaurants."

I know you are going to insist that this was a joke and that Dwight Howard knows the difference between Kobe Bryant and Kobe beef but folks, I am here to tell you that the man's face was stone cold serious.

The question remains. Is Dwight Howard Googley challenged?

On a more serious note, his teammate Jameer Nelson talks about not being able to play in the game and how being giving the starting point guard position this season has allowed him to play without looking over his shoulder. That might have been a poor choice of words given his unfortunate injury.

Jameer Nelson audio

Head over to Third Quarter Collapse for all your Magic news

Interview with Danny Granger

Danny Granger was definitely my favorite interview. Partly because the rest of the media were ignoring him, so I got a lot of time, but also because the man is a just a flat out player. The guy oozes basketball.

Danny Granger audio

h/t to Tom at Indy Cornrows for preping me with some great Granger background

Oh, and question I asked Amare was about Kevin Durant beating his record last night.

Amare Stoudemire audio

Interview with Devin Harris

Speaking of Devin Harris. I was able to catch up with him. He was standing still, of course, but still looked fast.  He provided some very candid information about Brook and Robin Lopez. First you will notice when you listen to Devin that he shares our appreciation (or mockeration) for Robin's hair.

He did say that while Brook's offensive game is more developed that he thought, Robin is more athletic and has more "pep in his step and lateral quickness." He also made sure to let us know that Robin is the more dominant personality, while Brook is more laid back. That's news to me. I can tell you without a doubt that you can't tell their voices apart unless you have hair to be your guide.

I also HAD to take the chance to ask Devin about his summer YouTube starring encounter in England. He was a great sport about it and admitted that he was hustled. He didn't sound thrilled, but is going to roll with the 7 million YouTube hits.

Devin has a ton of personality and seemed to be having a great time in Phoenix.

Devin Harris audio

ASG Practice Photo's

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[Note by Phoenix Stan, 02/13/09 9:47 AM MST ]

I am at the Jam Session Center Court watching the D-League All-Stars practice.

I will be interviewing D-League scoring leader (and possible Phx Sun call up) Will Conroy here shortly.

Then the NBA Rookie and Sophomores will be practicing on this court.

Fun stuff ... oh, and I got the password to a super secret special media-only wifi so I can live blog from this part of the building. Thanks Joanna!

[Note by Phoenix Stan, 02/13/09 10:27 AM MST ]

Check out Will Conroy interview over at RU

Now watching NBA Sophomores "practice"

[Note by Phoenix Stan, 02/13/09 11:26 AM MST ]

Just finished the media avail w/ the Rookies and Sophs. Talked to Aaron Brooks, Brook Lopez, Al Horford, Eric Gordon, OJ Mayo and Beasley (whose nickname Easy is WELL deserved). Dude was CHILL. By the time I got over to Durant he was

Biggest scrum, by far, was for Rudy. There are a TON of Spanish media here and they really didn't seem to care much about Big Bro Gasol. Rudy is the star and w/ that little smile of his, you can see why.

Lots of audio and photos coming soon.

Oh and sorry Bulls Blogger Matt -- Derrick Rose wasn't here.

Whoa -- some kid in a suit and sneakers just came up and took the label off my DASANI water bottle. He said he worked for a certain flavored water company whose name I won't be publishing.

Oh, and to make the matter a bit more ... interesting, the media guy sitting next to me who leaned over and asked about it turns out to be True Hoop blogger Kevin Arnotz!

[Note by Phoenix Stan, 02/13/09 12:51 PM MST ]

Just created a flikr photo stream....

[Note by Phoenix Stan, 02/13/09 1:07 PM MST ]

Here's the audio of the various interviews I either did or recorded being done:

First up - Aaron Brooks of the Houston Rockets. This file is one of the biggest. There's a lot of stuff in here up front with him being interview by a Chinese media outlet. He also talks about Tom Chambers' nasty dunk on Mark Jackson. Well done, son. Well done. Aaron Brooks audio

Here's Al Horford, whom I interviewed about playing with former Sun Joe Johnson and his thoughts on almost coming to the Suns. He described it as "unfortunate" that didn't happen. Eat it, ATL! Al Horford audio

Brook Lopez talked to me about being here in Phoenix with his family and about the difference between his season and that of his brother, Robin. I also asked about the hair difference. Brook Lopez audio

LA Clippers outstanding rookie, Eric Gordon, talked to me about his defense and the areas of his game he wants to improve on. This kid really stood out to me as having a great attitude. Eric Gordon audio

Michael Beasley - The Big Easy - was by far the most chill of all the players. Check him out. Mike Beasley audio

I asked OJ Mayo about ASU's win over UCLA last night and got some insight on James Hardin. OJ Mayo audio

Runner-up for most chill was Kevin Durant. By the time I got over to him he was about done answering questions and frankly I couldn't really think of any for him, so here he is talking to some other media.  Kevin Durant audio

Greg Oden was by far the toughest interview. I had a hard time holding the recorder high enough (he's a soft talker), and then he kind of turned and bumped me and I was pretty damn close to picking myself up off the floor. I didn't have any questions for Greg, either. You can hear him talk about some stuff ... not too sure what. Greg Oden audio

I didn't get anywhere near Rudy Fernandez. The Spanish media had him locked up. But, I can tell you that he exudes Rock Star charm ... he lights up the room!

Headed out now to try and figure out who the Suns coach is today ...

[Note by Phoenix Stan, 02/13/09 6:04 PM MST ]

The Basketball Jones tracked Tony Parker to a Subway and asked him about ... his favorite sandwich, of course.

I will be live blogging the ridiculous D-League skillz competition, which includes the High Flying James White in the Dunk Contest. Hot Shot Blake Ahern in the 3 pter and Horse Champ Lance Allred.

Be sure to follow the live courtside blog over at RU ... I am going to try and get some special guest bloggers.

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Rick Welts, President and COO of the Phoenix Suns, spent the first hours of the 2009 NBA Jam Session standing by the Phoenix Convention Center entrance, surveying his work. The look of pride on his face could not be missed.

As a Phoenix resident since 1972, I will admit with no shame that this was a moment of pride for me as well. Seeing this event through the lens of how far our sleepy little town has come was not what I was expecting when I went downtown today, but the enormity of the event was undeniable.

When I first started going to Suns games as a kid at the old Veterans Memorial Coliseum the Phoenix, downtown was a mess -- a place you came to work and left right after.

The Phoenix sports community, led by Jerry Colangelo, started and drove the revitalization of our city center with the decision 20 years ago to put the new Suns home smack in the middle of a run-down area. Now with the opening of this beautiful new convention center last month, the ASU downtown campus, and the light rail in December, Jerry's vision has finally arrived.

Rick Welts best expressed this aspect of hosting the All-Star game, "This is really going to give people an opportunity to see the city in a very different way." Phoenix residents and Suns fans will not only enjoy the various Jam Session events but will be visiting this new building for the first time and see their sleepy home town in a whole new light.

The Jam Session is expecting about 7,000 season ticket holders and sponsors on opening night and at least 100,000 people to visit this portion of the All-Star festivities over the next few days. Rick and his small army of staff and volunteers have worked with the City of Phoenix for over two years to prepare for this day.

Things are difficult on Plant Orange these days, but an historic event like this should remind us that the season-to-season struggles and triumphs really can serve a bigger purpose in the growth and life of a city.

Congratulations to Rick, the entire Suns organization and the City of Phoenix for making this happen.

Rick Welts interview - audio file