What had long been apparent was made official Wednesday, as Los Angeles Lakers rookie Lonzo Ball was ruled out from suiting up in the Rising Stars Challenge on Friday night as part of NBA All-Star Weekend. The Lakers will still be represented by Brandon Ingran and Kyle Kuzma.
Ingram and Kuzma were selected to participate in the league’s showcase of its most promising young talent, but the Lakers will be coming off of a back-to-back that started with their loss to the New Orleans Pelicans, and will continue when they take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Because back-to-backs are one of the most fatiguing events on the NBA schedule, Walton explained to Bill Oram of the Southern California News Group that doesn’t want two of his most important and promising young players making it three high-usage games in three nights:
“I need to figure out who’s coaching that team and call them and tell them not to play our players very many minutes because of the fact we had a back-to-back that they’ll be coming off of,” Walton said.