SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Sacramento Kings All-Star guard Mitch Richmond is expected to miss 4 to 5 weeks after suffering a fractured right thumb in Thursday night's 116-105 home victory against Atlanta.
The 6-foot-5, 215-pound shooting guard, who was selected to appear in his first All-Star game, will be replaced on the squad by Portland's Terry Porter.
Richmond suffered the injury midway through the fourth quarter of Thursday's game. His right hand was placed in a hard cast Friday and will remain there for the next 3 to 4 weeks, though he will not require surgery.
The former Kansas State standout and 1988 U.S. Olympian is averaging 21.9 points, 4.9 assists and a team-leading 38.4 minutes per game. Richmond is the 18th King to be named to the All-Star squad in the franchise's 45-year history. Otis Birdsong was the last to earn a spot when he was selected in 1981 while the franchise was in Kansas City.
The Kings have been decimated by injuries over the last month. Rookie swingman Walt Williams (fractured right hand) and center Duane Causwell (stress fracture, left foot) are on the club's injured list and are not expected to return until after the All-Star break.
Richmond currently remains on the club's active roster. The Kings, 17-30, have lost 67 manpower games this season, including 31 in the last 14 games.
