Nikola Jokic to replace Joel Embiid in All-Star Skills Competition

 Joel Embiid will not participate in All-Star weekend festivities, but Nikola Jokic should be an exciting and capable replacement in one event.

We’ve finally gotten to see what a healthy Joel Embiid can do this season, as he’s averaging 20.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game despite averaging just 25.4 minutes per game. But a recent left knee injury has kept him off the floor, and cast some doubt about his ability to participate in the upcoming All-Star weekend events in New Orleans.

Molly Sullivan of CSN Philadelphia has reported Embiid will be going to New Orleans for All-Star weekend, along with the 76ers’ medical staff, but he won’t be participating in the two events he was originally selected for.

So replacements for Embiid are obviously needed now, and quick news came with who will take part in the Skills Competition and the Rising Stars Game instead of Embiid.

The headliner here is clearly Nikola Jokic, the second-year Denver Nuggets center who is putting together a breakout season. He’s averaging 16.3 points, 8.8 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game overall this year, and since the start of January (18 games) he is averaging 22.7 points, 11.0 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game. In seven games played so far in February, Jokic has posted two triple-doubles.

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Jokic’s passing ability will make him a great watch during the Skills Competition, and a likely favorite to win now. The relative obscurity the Nuggets are in, despite currently holding the eighth seed in the Western Conference, will also give Jokic a national audience to show off his skills. There’s a strong case for Jokic to also be on the World Team for the Rising Stars game, instead of Oklahoma City Thunder guard Alex Abrines, but any bigger stage for the Nuggets’ big man is worthwhile.