R.J. Barrett is ‘unlikely’ to play in the NBA Rising Stars Game

The third overall pick will reportedly skip the annual event after recently suffering an ankle injury with the Knicks.

New York Knicks rookie R.J. Barrett is reportedly unlikely to play in the NBA Rising Stars Game during All-Star Weekend due to a lingering ankle injury, according to Ian Begley of SNY.

The third overall pick has not played for the Knicks since suffering a sprained right ankle against the Phoenix Suns on Jan. 16. Barrett has put up shots with the team but is not close to a return to the court.

Barrett was one of 10 first-year players selected on Friday by the NBA to participate in the Rising Stars Game on Feb. 14. As a native of Canada, Barrett was chosen to play for the World Team versus the United States.

The Knicks will take a cautious approach his injury, per the report by Begley, and likely hold him out of the event. It is not known when the organization is targeting a return to the court for Barrett but it is still possible the former Duke star could return to play in time.

[lawrence-related id=11061,11051,10595]