Miami Heat’s Bam Adebayo has been named as the Eastern Conference starting center for the upcoming NBA All-Star Game on Sunday, stepping in for Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers, as confirmed by the league on Saturday.

Embiid, a two-time consecutive NBA scoring leader and the MVP for the 2022-23 season, has been hampered by a knee injury. Following a surgery on his left knee’s lateral meniscus on Feb. 6, his recovery is anticipated to span four weeks.

This marks Adebayo’s maiden appearance as an All-Star starter, during his third inclusion in the All-Star squad. Previously selected as a reserve for the 2020, 2022, and 2023 editions, Adebayo claimed victory in the skills competition during the 2020 All-Star festivities.

The decision to elevate Adebayo to a starting position was taken by Doc Rivers, the head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks, tasked with guiding the Eastern Conference team.

Adebayo, a four-time member of the All-Defensive team, boasts averages of 20.2 points, 10.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.0 blocks in his seventh season with the Heat, the team that drafted him 14th overall from Kentucky in the 2017 NBA Draft.

Previously, two Miami Heat luminaries started in the All-Star game as injury replacements. Anthony Mason filled in for Grant Hill in 2001, and Chris Bosh stepped in for Rajon Rondo in 2013.