Denver Nuggets

Nuggets rookie PG takes defending champ's spot in Skills Challenge

Published Feb. 11, 2016 4:46 p.m. ET

Jeff Caplan

Denver Nuggets rookie point guard Emmanuel Mudiay will take center stage in the NBA's Skills Challenge on Saturday, replacing defending champion Patrick Beverley.

The Houston Rockets point guard pulled himself from the competition after suffering an ankle injury in Wednesday's loss at Portland. Mudiay, who is just 19, was the seventh overall pick in the 2015 draft.

YESSS... We get more Mudiay this weekend.

E has been added to Saturday's Skills Challenge!
? #NBAAllStarTO #Nuggets pic.twitter.com/5zk2vdNmtm
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) February 11, 2016

He ranks first among rookies in assists (5.9), second in minutes (30.2) and fifth in scoring (11.4). Mudiay will also compete for the World Team in Friday night's Rising Stars Challenge.

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