Robert Covington To Replace Michael Carter-Williams In Rising Stars Challenge

Sixers second year forward Robert Covington will replace Michael Carter-Williams in Friday's Rising Stars Challenge, multiple sources have confirmed to LibertyBallers.

Carter-Williams has missed the last 3 games due to a toe injury in his right foot. He has also been battling shin and ankle injuries of late.

The Rising Stars Challenge will pit 10 first and second year NBA players from the United States against 10 first and year NBA players from around the world. This is the first year for the new format.

Covington, a second year player who went undrafted in the 2013 NBA draft, is averaging 13.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game in his first season with the 76ers. The Sixers signed Covington on November 15th from the D-League, where he was the first overall selection in the 2014 D-League Draft by the Grand Rapids Drive. Covington started 41 games for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the D-League last year, where he averaged 23.2 points and 9.2 rebounds per game.

Covington's 13.2 points per game ranks 5th among all 1st or 2nd year players. He also ranks 6th in PER (15.5), 8th in Win Shares (2.5), 5th in Boxscore Plus/Minus (0.3), and 6th in Value Over Replacement Player (0.7)*.

The Rising Stars Challenge will take place on Friday, February 13th at 9 p.m. eastern at the Barclay's Center, and will be broadcast on TNT.

David Pick was the first to report the news that Robert Covington would make the team.

*minimum 1,000 minutes played.