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Andrew LopezESPN
Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic, Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young and New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson headline the list of players selected to the Rising Stars game during All-Star Weekend, the NBA announced Friday.
The game, to be played on Feb. 14 at the United Center in Chicago, will follow the United States vs. the World format for the sixth consecutive season, with All-Star Game starters Young and Doncic selected to lead their respective teams.
Each team consists of 10 players — all either rookies or second-year players.
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The 20-year-old Doncic, the youngest All-Star Game starting selection since LeBron James in 2005, is having an MRI after suffering an injury to his right ankle during Thursday’s practice. He will miss at least Friday’s game against Houston and is unlikely to play against Atlanta on Saturday, sources told ESPN.
Williamson, who has only played in four games this season after recovering from knee surgery, was selected to the game as an injury replacement for Bulls forward Wendell Carter Jr., who suffered a sprained right ankle on Jan. 6.
In those four games, Williamson has averaged 18.0 points and 8.3 rebounds in just 24 minutes per game. Both would lead all rookies if Williamson had played enough games to qualify.
Young and Williamson are joined on the U.S. team by Warriors forward Eric Paschall, Grizzlies teammates Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr., Heat teammates Tyler Herro and Kendrick Nunn, and Hornets teammates Devonte Graham, Miles Bridges and PJ Washington.
It won’t be the first time Williamson and Morant have been on the same squad. The two briefly played AAU ball together in South Carolina. They also will square off Friday night when the Pelicans and Grizzlies play each other in New Orleans.
On the World team, Doncic (Slovenia) will play alongside Pelicans guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker (Canada); Suns center Deandre Ayton (Bahamas); Knicks guard/forward RJ Barrett (Canada); Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke (Canada); Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Canada); Wizards forward Rui Hachimura (Japan) and center Moritz Wagner (Germany); Pistons guard/forward Svi Mykhailiuk (Ukraine); and Timberwolves guard Josh Okogie (Nigeria).
Alexander-Walker, Gilgeous-Alexander, Barrett and Clarke represent a record four Canadians who will play in the game. Hachimura is the first player from Japan to be named to the Rising Stars game.
The full roster of 20 players was selected by NBA assistant coaches, with each of the league’s 30 teams submitting one ballot per coaching staff.
The ballot consisted of four frontcourt players, four guards and two additional players at either position group for each team. Voters also had to choose a minimum of three first-year NBA players and three second-year NBA players for each team. Coaches were not permitted to vote for any player on their team, according to the NBA.
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