Sixers' Joel Embiid to compete in Rising Stars, Skills Challenge and All-Star Game

LOS ANGELES – Joel Embiid has decided to participate in the Rising Stars game, the Skills Challenge and the NBA All-Star Game here during the NBA All-Star Weekend.

There was thought that the 76ers center would sit out the Rising Stars and/or Skills competition because of a nagging sore right ankle. He missed Wednesday's victory against the Miami Heat because of the injury.

"The last two days, it's been feeling better," he said Friday. "But there was never a [thought] about missing out any of these events.

"This is my first time. So I'm going to have fun."

Embiid didn't compete in the Rising Stars game last season, sitting out with a left knee injury.

The Rising Stars game will be at 9 p.m. Friday. The Skills Challenge is part of All-Star Saturday Night, which will begin at 8 p.m. The All-Star Game will be at 8 p.m. Sunday. All three events will be at the Staples Center.

Embiid isn't expected to play a lot of minutes in the Rising Stars game. The events pits 10 first- and second-year NBA players from the United States against 10 first- and second-year NBA players from around the world.

Sixers teammates Ben Simmons (Australia) and Dario Saric (Croatia) will join Embiid (Cameroon) in the World Team starting lineup.

"There's really no point of me playing in that," Embiid said. "But I just want to show my face and have fun. But the all-star, I'm not sure [how many minutes he'll play]. But there have not been any minutes restriction."