Miles Plumlee To Replace Pero Antic in Rising Stars Challenge

 

A stress fracture in Pero Antic’s right ankle will cause the Hawks’ center to miss the Rising Stars Challenge on All-Star Friday night. So the League announced on Friday that Suns center Miles Plumlee will be Antic’s replacement, and deservedly so. Per Suns.com:

The NBA announced today Phoenix Suns second-year center Miles Plumlee has been selected to replace injured rookie Pero Antic of the Atlanta Hawks in the 2014 BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge on Friday, Feb. 14, at NBA All-Star Weekend in New Orleans.

Plumlee is the eighth player in franchise history to participate in the All-Star Weekend event, joining Wesley Person (1995), Trevor Ruffin (1995), Michael Finley (1996), Steve Nash (1997), Shawn Marion (2001), Amar’e Stoudemire (2003, 2004-MVP) and Markieff Morris (2012).

The 6-11, 255-pound center earns the honor after averaging 9.3 points, 8.6 rebounds and 1.49 blocks in 27.4 minutes while starting all 49 of the Suns’ games this season. Plumlee has posted 10 double-doubles already this season, the most by a Suns sophomore since Stoudemire had 19 in 2003-04.