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Knicks 2006 first round draft picks Renaldo Balkman and Mardy Collins will make their Madison Square Garden pro debuts this Saturday, as participants in the All-Star Classic for Wheelchair Charities. Balkman, drafted no. 20 overall in the first round from South Carolina, and Collins, drafted no. 29 overall from Temple, will join teammate Stephon Marbury and a host of other NBA stars in this Saturday’s charity game.

Note: InsideHoops.com was in the building and on Sept. 14 we'll recap the event. Fans will get a first look at Balkman and Collins at MSG, along with other NBA stars including Ron Artest, Craig “Speedy” Claxton, Maurice Evans, Desmond Mason, Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Allan Ray, Charlie Villanueva, Alvin Williams, Louis Amundson, Joey Graham, Dahnty Jones, Kevin Martin, Ronnie Price and more.

We had mentioned Chris Paul as being involved, but CP3 actually wasn't scheduled to be in this game, as he's already busy doing other great things.

In addition, the “Legends” game will be played prior to the All-Star Classic, with former NBA stars World B. Free (Brooklyn native), Rod Strickland and Ed Pinckney (Bronx natives), Tim Hardaway, Jerry Reynolds, Charles Smith, Wes Matthews, Reggie Johnson, and Cedric Ceballos.

The “All-Star Classic” started in 1991, with all proceeds from the games earmarked for Wheelchair Charities, Inc. Wheelchair Charities, Inc, founded by Henry J. (Hank) Carter in 1973, is a non-profit organization, which assists in-patients and outpatients at Goldwater Memorial Hospital on Roosevelt Island. The previous “Classics” have raised more than $1.6 million, which has been put towards the purchase of motorized wheelchairs, computers, televisions, specialized beds and specially equipped buses. Wheelchair Charities’ mission has been to improve the quality of life for paraplegic and quadriplegic patients at Goldwater Memorial Hospital for rehabilitation.

Tickets are available at the MSG box or via ticketmaster (ticketmaster.com), and range in price from $10 to $129.50.