NBA names four replacements for Rising Stars event

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 Feb. 4. Those three teams, along with a fourth club made up of seven G League standouts, will compete in a mini-tournament on Friday, Feb. 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.