Sacramento Kings rookie point guard De'Aaron Fox has been selected as Lonzo Ball's replacement for Friday night's Rising Stars Game. Lonzo has missed the Lakers' last 13 games due to an MCL sprain and the team announced today that he'll be held out of action until after the All-Star break.
Therefore, Ball's college foe, Fox, will get the nod in Friday night's game. The 20-year old point guard is averaging 11.3 points and 4.3 assists per game so far this season.
For the fourth consecutive year, the Rising Stars Game will pit 10 first and second-year NBA players from the U.S. against 10 first and second-year NBA players from around the world. The game, airing on TNT, will take place on Friday, February 16th at 9pm ET from the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Fox's Team USA teammates include Kyle Kuzma and Brandon Ingram of the Lakers, Malcolm Brogdon of the Bucks, Jaylen Brown of the Celtics, John Collins of the Hawks, Kris Dunn of the Bulls, Donovan Mitchell of the Jazz, Dennis Smith Jr. of the Mavericks and Jayson Tatum of the Celtics.
Representing Team World in the Rising Stars game are three players from the Sixers, including All-Star starter Joel Embiid, as well as Ben Simmons and Dario Saric. Additionally, Team World includes Bogdan Bogdanovic of the Kings, Dillon Brooks of the Grizzlies, Buddy Heild of the Kings Lauri Markkanen of the Bulls, Jamal Murray of the Nuggets, Frank Nitlikina of the Knicks and Domantas Sabonis of the Pacers.