The NBA hit the jackpot in 2012 with its NBA Rising Stars Challenge, as the game drew the highest ratings yet for the event featuring the best rookies and second year players in the NBA. Roughly 2.8 million people watched the NBA Rising Stars Challenge on Friday night, February 24, 2012, on TNT, and the game did a 1.7 national rating.

NBA Rising Stars Challenge Has Highest Ratings and Most Viewers Ever in 2012

That was the highest rating in the history of the game, which is played as part of the NBA All-Star Game festivities each year. The previous highest rating for the NBA Rising Stars Challenge came in 2004, when stars like LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh, who all play for the Miami Heat now, and Carmelo Anthony played in the game.

The 2004 Rising Stars Challenge did a 1.6 TV rating and was viewed by roughly 2.2 million people. So the 2012 game was viewed by some 600,000 more people, or a percentage increase of over 27%.

The 2011 Rising Stars Challenge did a 1.5 rating, and was viewed by roughly 2.44 million people. So the 2012 game was viewed by roughly 15% more people than the 2011 game was.

2012 NBA Rising Stars Challenge High Ratings Due to Jeremy Lin

The 2012 Rising Stars Challenge had a different format this year, as the rookies and second year players were pooled together and then drafted into two teams by TNT's Charles Barkley and Shaquille O'Neal. In the past, the rookies would stay together as a team and take on the second year players.

In my opinion, the 2012 NBA Rising Stars Challenge had the highest rating of all time for the game, and the most total viewers due to the presence of Jeremy Lin.

When the NBA first announced the roster for the Rising Stars Challenge, Jeremy Lin was not included. But the NBA quickly added him to the roster as Lin kept having great games for the New York Knicks. If Jeremy Lin did not play in the game, I doubt it would have done record ratings.

Personally, I watched the game not just because of Jeremy Lin, but due to the presence of rookie MarShon Brooks, who plays for my favorite NBA team, the New Jersey Nets. In the 2012 Rising Stars Challenge, rookie Kyrie Irving of the Cleveland Cavaliers scored 34 points and was the game's MVP. Jeremy Lin ended up only scoring two points in the game.