Los Angeles Lakers second year players, Lonzo Ball and Kyle Kuzma, were both selected to take part in the 2019 Rising Stars Challenge.
The Los Angeles Lakers are going to be well represented in Charlotte during the 2019 NBA All-Star Weekend. Los Angeles already has LeBron James in the showcase game, as he was the leading vote-getter in the Western Conference and will be one captain, with Giannis Antetokounmpo the other captain.
In addition to James, the Lakers will also be represented by Lonzo Ball and Kyle Kuzma during the weekend. Ball and Kuzma were selected to be apart of the Rising Stars Challenge.
The Rising Stars game pits the USA vs. the World with some of the brightest stars in the league taking place. Only first and second-year players are eligible for the game.
They will be joined by an impressive group of young players from around the league. Rounding out Team USA are rookies Trae Young, Marvin Bagley III and Jaren Jackson Jr. Second-year players Jarrett Allen, John Collins, De’Aaron Fox, Donovan Mitchell and Jayson Tatum round out the squad.
For Team World, rookies Luka Doncic, Deandre Ayton, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Rodions Kurucs and Josh Okogie were selected. The second-year players on the world team are OG Anunoby, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Lauri Markkanen, Cedi Osman and Ben Simmons.
The U.S. vs. The WORLD
— NBA (@NBA) January 30, 2019
Presenting the 2019 #MTNDEWICERisingStars rosters at @NBAAllStar! pic.twitter.com/fOsYRCDTjA
Both Ball and Kuzma will be representing Team USA for the second consecutive season. Both were also elected as rookies, along with Brandon Ingram, who was in his second season. Last season, only Kuzma and Ingram actually played in the game as Ball was nursing an injury.
Unfortunately, it looks like it will be the same this year. Ball is suffering from a Grade 3 ankle sprain suffered on Jan. 19. He is unlikely to play in the game and a replacement will be announced at a later date.
Kuzma is also dealing with an injury, as he has sat out the last two games with a hip injury. If he is not 100 percent by the All-Star break, it would not be surprising to see him held out of the game.
Both players are deserving of their selections for the Rising Stars game. Ball is averaging 9.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.5 steals per game. Kuzma is second on the team behind LeBron James, averaging 19.1 points per game to go along with 5.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game.