Three second-year players and one rookie have been named replacements for the Rising Stars event at All-Star weekend in San Francisco, according to the NBA. The league issued a press release announcing the following changes:
- Magic guard Anthony Black is replacing Mavericks center Dereck Lively.
- Trail Blazers forward Toumani Camara is replacing Hornets forward Brandon Miller.
- Pistons swingman Ausar Thompson is replacing Spurs big man Victor Wembanyama.
- Suns wing Ryan Dunn is replacing Sixers guard Jared McCain.
We noted when the Rising Stars participants were officially revealed on Tuesday that a few replacements would be necessary. Lively is sidelined for an extended period due to a stress fracture in his ankle, while Miller and McCain underwent season-ending procedures on their right wrist and left knee, respectively.
Wembanyama is healthy, but was selected as an All-Star reserve for the Western Conference. Players who are named All-Stars don’t take part in the Rising Stars event.
Black, Camara, Thompson, and Dunn will be included in the 21-player pool of NBA rookies and sophomores who will be drafted into three teams of seven players apiece on February 4. Those three teams, along with a fourth club made up of seven G League standouts, will compete a mini-tournament on Friday, February 14 as part of All-Star weekend’s opening night.
The squad that wins the Rising Stars event will advance to All-Star Sunday and take on one of three teams made up of NBA All-Stars in the semifinals of the new-look All-Star Game.
Sounds interesting. I’m looking forward to the Rising Stars v All Stars game.