Denver Nuggets guard Monte Morris is having a breakout sophomore campaign and is one of the most pleasant surprises of the 2018-19 season. However, despite this, Morris did not make the 20-man cut for Friday night's Rising Stars Challenge to tip off All-Star Weekend.

After another huge contribution from Morris in their 103-87 victory over the Miami Heat, Nuggets head coach Michael Malone spoke highly of his reserve guard and once again argued that Morris should have been included in the showcase:

All-Star Weekend's Friday night special features 20 of the top rising stars in the league. 10 first- and second-year players from the USA will battle it out against 10 first- and second-year players from around the globe.

Without a doubt, Morris is more than deserving to participate in that game. Unfortunately, he will not be joining Malone and All-Star teammate Nikola Jokic in this weekend's festivities in Charlotte.

Nonetheless, Morris continued his stellar play to help the Nuggets snap a three-game losing skid. The former Iowa State standout shot 7-of-11 from the field and notched 17 points, three rebounds, seven assists, and zero turnovers in 28 minutes off the bench.

The former G League standout, along with fellow young prospect Malik Beasley, has been filling in quite nicely for injured guard Gary Harris.

In six games this February, Morris is averaging 15.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 5.8 assists while shooting an outstanding 60 percent from the field and 40 percent from 3-point range in nearly 30 minutes per game. What's most impressive is that he has only had two turnovers over this stretch. He continues to be among the league leaders in assist-to-turnover ratio.