National Basketball Association

Lin headed to All-Star Weekend

Published Feb. 16, 2012 12:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Jeremy Lin will be at All-Star Weekend after all.

Jeremy Lin will play in the Rising Stars Challenge after he was added Thursday to the roster of players for the Feb. 24 game, just before Shaquille O'Neal and Charles Barkley began drafting for their teams. ESPN also reports that Lin will assist Knicks teammate Iman Shumpert in the Slam Dunk contest.

Lin's breakout came after the pool of 18 players was selected, and the NBA was pressured to add him after he scored 136 points in his first five starts, most by an NBA player since the merger with the ABA in 1976-77.

O'Neal took Lin with his third pick after starting with the Clippers' Blake Griffin. Barkley took Cleveland's Kyrie Irving at No. 2.

Miami's Norris Cole also was added to make 20 eligible players.

"I was surprised Charles didn't take Lin, so I had to take him," O'Neal said following the draft.

Lin will get a chance to play with Knicks teammate and good friend Landry Fields, who was chosen by O'Neal in the 11th pick. Along with Griffin, they will play with Timberwolves point guard Ricky Rubio, Pistons center Greg Monroe and Bobcats point guard Kemba Walker, among others.

The game will be played Friday in Orlando, starting at 9 p.m. ET.