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Miles Plumlee Named to Rising Stars Challenge

PHOENIX – 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.

Plumlee replaces Antic as one of nine players on TEAM HILL, whose general manager is former Suns forward Grant Hill of TNT and head coach is Nate McMillan of the Indiana Pacers’ coaching staff. TEAM HILL will compete against TEAM WEBBER, whose general manager is former All-Star Chris Webber of NBA TV and head coach is Rex Kalamian of the Oklahoma City Thunder’s coaching staff.

Among those opposing the Suns’ center will be his younger brother Mason Plumlee, a rookie of the Brooklyn Nets who will play for TEAM WEBBER. The Plumlee brothers are the first pair of siblings to both be selected to the Rising Stars Challenge in the same season.

The BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge will be televised live nationally on TNT at 7 p.m. (Phoenix time) on Friday, Feb. 14, from Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, and also will be broadcast live on ESPN Radio, while NBA.com will make live audio available to fans in multiple languages.