Deandre Ayton and Luka Doncic will always be connected.

While Ayton went No. 1 overall to the Suns in the 2018 NBA Draft, at the All-Star break of the players' first seasons, Doncic appears to be the favorite to win the Rookie of the Year award with the Mavericks.

"Luka is my guy," Ayton told The Jump last week. "I love what he's doing, he better not stop what he's doing, and me, I really don't focus on another man's success, I try to do my own thing as well.

"He's being great, I'm going to try to be great as well, and I want the best for everybody in this class, I want this to be the best draft class of all time."

The two players will team up on the World Team at the Rising Stars Challenge on Friday at 9 p.m. EST along with another rookie in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Marvin Bagley III, Kevin Knox, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Trae Young will suit up for the U.S. Team.

Ayton comes into the game averaging 16.5 points, 10.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists with the Suns this season. He's just happy to get a chance to play in a game of this caliber.

"It's amazing," he told Omnisport in a phone interview courtesy of Shamrock Farms Rockin' Protein. "You know stuff like this just shows where your hard work is going.

"And you know, it makes me want to work harder, because the next step for me is All-Star, I'm trying to be an All-Star next year."

The World Team has won each of the last two Rising Stars Challenges.

Ben Simmons and Donovan Mitchell both return for the 2019 game after good showings last season. They finished 1-2 in the rookie of the year voting last year as Ayton and Doncic could finish this year.