Sacramento Kings rookie Davion Mitchell on Friday expressed his disappointment in not being able to play in the NBA Rising Stars game on Friday as part of All-Star Weekend.
Mitchell on Thursday was ruled out of playing because of a right-hand injury that caused him to sit out on Wednesday versus the Chicago Bulls. Kings interim head coach Alvin Gentry said it is not considered serious, but it will prevent him from participating, nonetheless.
Despite being ruled out of playing, the ninth pick is still on-hand for the festivities and is looking forward to interacting with several of his peers throughout the weekend.
“It feels amazing,” Mitchell said. “I’m mad I can’t play but it feels good just to be in this environment with these good players.”
Mitchell first started experiencing pain in his hand against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Feb. 8. He fell on it a couple of times and then was forced to sit out.
I fell on it and then in the Timberwolves game, I fell on it again. I couldn’t really catch the ball and I had to get an X-ray and then it felt fine after the game. I fell on it again against Brooklyn (on Monday) and then it just kept doing the same thing and it started hurting worse and I couldn’t catch the ball again.
Off-Night arrives in CLE for #NBAAllStar Weekend 🤩 pic.twitter.com/jIpM1x8hqi
— Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) February 18, 2022
The injury comes just as Mitchell was beginning to heat up for the Kings.
Mitchell is averaging 16.1 points, 4.6 assists and 2.8 rebounds on 39.1% shooting from 3-point range in 10 games since Jan. 26. He earned the start in seven of those contests and scored in double figures in six straight games, his longest streak of the season.
The missed opportunity to compete in the Rising Stars game was certainly a disappointment for Mitchell, but the 23-year-old knows the Kings will need him back healthy and in the lineup after the break.
This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!
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