SACRAMENTO -- The All-Star break is looking less and less like a break for a few of the Sacramento Kings players. De’Aaron Fox confirmed that he accepted an invitation to the skills competition, and Buddy Hield will represent Sacramento in the 3-point shootout.
On Tuesday evening, a couple more Kings were invited to the festivities when the rosters were announced for the 2019 MTN Dew Ice Rising Stars game.
Rookie Marvin Bagley III will join Fox on the U.S. Team, and reigning Rising Stars MVP, Bogdan Bogdanovic, will play for the World Team.
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Fox is posting big numbers in his sophomore season and fully expected to get the call. Following practice, he joked with reporters when asked about the potential to play in the game for a second straight season.
“Potentially?,” Fox asked about potentially representing Sacramento. “S@%#’s official.”
“It’s going to be cool, played in it last year,” Fox added. “It’s always great just being able to play in an atmosphere like that.”
The Kings starting point guard is averaging 17.6 points, 7.2 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 1.7 steals in 31.6 minutes per game. He’s taken a monster leap in his second NBA season and he’s a big reason why the Kings currently sit at 25-25 on the year.
NBA
Bogdanovic has improved his numbers in year two as well. The 26-year-old out of Serbia is posting per-game averages of 15.2 points, 4.1 assists and 3.6 rebounds, mostly as a super-sub off coach Dave Joerger’s bench.
Last year, Bogdanovic dropped in 7-of-13 3-pointers on his way to 26 points and six assists as the World Team came with a 155-124 win.
Bagley will play alongside Fox for the U.S. Team. Taken with the second overall selection in the 2019 NBA Draft, the 19-year-old big is averaging 12.8 points and 6.4 rebounds in 23.5 minutes per game for the Kings.
[RELATED: How Bagley is working to improve his 3-point shooting]
Boston Celtics point guard Kyrie Irving will coach Fox, Bagley and the rest of the U.S. Team. In his 21st NBA season, Dallas’ Dirk Nowitzki will handle the coaching duties for the World Team.
The official rosters for the event are listed below.