Kings' Fox replaces Ball in Rising Stars Challenge

Sacramento Kings rookie point guard De'Aaron Fox has replaced his Los Angeles Lakers counterpart Lonzo Ball on the U.S. Team for the Rising Stars Challenge on Friday, the league announced Wednesday.

Ball has missed the Lakers' last 13 games due to an MCL sprain in his left knee.

Fox, who went fifth overall - three spots after Ball - in last summer's draft, is averaging 11.3 points, 4.3 assists, and one steal for the Kings. He had a bit of a bumpy start to the season, but he's been far better since the calendar flipped to 2018, going for 14.1 points, 5.2 assists, and 1.2 steals on .423/.352/.779 shooting.

The Rising Stars Challenge will give the woebegone Kings something to hang their hat on, as the 18-38 squad is now sending three participants to Los Angeles. Fox will be the lone representative for the U.S. side, while Bogdan Bogdanovic and Buddy Hield - of Serbia and the Bahamas, respectively - will play for Team World.