JOKIC, MUDIAY TO PLAY IN “STARS”

boston » The call came while Nikola Jokic slept during the afternoon. He had been selected, along with teammate Emmanuel Mudiay, to the Rising Stars Challenge during All- StarWeekend in Toronto. Jokic was excited when he eventually got the news, but he was snoozing— just as he had been when the Nuggets drafted him two years ago. Sleep conquers all. The duo will play in the game, to be held Feb. 12 at Air Canada Centre.

“I think it speaks to the fact that our future is bright, that we have young, talented players with potential,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. “The fact that Emmanuel, who was taken seventh ( overall), is playing the best basketball of his rookie season right now, and the fact that Jokic was not even supposed to play this year. I talked to his brothers after one of the last games, and they’re so happy and thankful because he wasn’t even supposed to play this year. It was ‘ Hey, come over and get used to America, get used to the NBA.’ And now all of a sudden he’s starting.”

That fact was not lost on the Jokic, 20, a native of Serbia.

“I didn’t expect to play,” he said. “And I’m starting and going to the ‘ all- star.’ All of that is really good. Five years ago, I just started practicing basketball— for real, practicing. It came so fast.”

Mudiay ranks fifth among rookies in scoring ( 11.0 points per game) and leads all rookies in assists ( 5.7). Jokic ranks fifth among rookies in rebounds ( 5.4) and is seventh in scoring ( 9.0).

“It’s a blessing to be a part of it,” Mudiay said. “I’m happy, but at the same time, without the team, I wouldn’t be in position to be there.”

Footnotes.

Nuggets center Joffrey Lauvergne did not play Wednesday because of a toe injury. … Guard Jameer Nelson missed his sixth consecutive game with a sprained left wrist.