Manimal Dominates BBVA Rising Stars Challenge

Kenneth Faried dominate BBVA Rising Stars Challenge with 40 points and 10 rebounds. (Nathaniel S. Butler)

Kenneth Faried has been overlooked the vast majority of his life. He played NCAA Division I basketball at Morehead State, a lesser-knock school in the state of Kentucky. Faried was undersized, didn't have great strength and lacked offensive effeciency. He used an incessant work ethic and his powerful leaping ability to break the NCAA's rebounding record.

The Denver Nuggets decided to take a chance on Faried late in the first round of the 2011 NBA Draft. He has not disappointed. Faried has overcome his size disadvantage at the power forward position with explosive play and his continual work ethic to improve. The Nuggets have reward him with the team's starting job, where he is averaging 12.3 points and 9.7 rebounds per game.

Since the BBVA Rising Stars Challenge is part of the NBA All-Star Weekend, little effort is usually shown by the players on the court. Faried didn't let that stop him from putting on a show. He finished with 40 points on 18-for-22 shooting and had 10 rebounds. The performance earned him the game's MVP honors.

"I came out with the intent to put on a performance," said Faried. "But I wasn't thinking MVP type of performance. I was just thinking about winning the game and enjoying myself. And pretty much enjoying the game I love to play."

Faried's style of play has earned him the nickname of the "Manimal." With his untamed hair and fanged teeth and the performance like this, he will not be overlooked in the NBA much longer. Faried will try and impress even more people when he make his encore performance in the NBA Dunk Contest on Saturday night.