Kuminga replacing Duarte in Rising Stars tournament

Golden State Warriors rookie Jonathan Kuminga will replace Indiana Pacers guard Chris Duarte in the upcoming Rising Stars tournament, the league announced Wednesday.

Duarte will miss the festivities because of a toe injury. The 24-year-old is averaging 13.4 points and 4.1 rebounds across 50 appearances this season after being selected 13th overall by Indiana in the 2021 draft.

Kuminga, the seventh overall pick in 2021, has emerged as a solid contributor for Golden State. The athletic wing has primarily come off the bench, although he's recently played well as a fill-in starter for injured forward Draymond Green. Kuminga has scored in double figures in all seven games he's played in February.

Kuminga will take Duarte's spot on Team Payton in the new tournament-style Rising Stars format. Four seven-player teams will be pitted against each other, with the winner of each semifinal matchup advancing to face off in the finals.

The Rising Stars tournament gets underway Feb. 18 in Cleveland.