Magic rookie forward Tristan da Silva and two-way guard Mac McClung have been selected to participate in the Rising Stars event, which will be played in San Francisco at Chase Arena as part of NBA All-Star weekend, the league announced Tuesday.
TNT will televise the annual showcase of premier young talent Feb. 14 at 9 p.m.
The No. 18 pick, da Silva has helped Orlando in more ways than one when filling in for Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner when the star duo had the same injury (torn right abdominal muscle).
Starting 34 of his 44 appearances, da Silva has averaged 8.8 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 26.3 minutes. He’s scored in double figures 15 times and 20-plus points three times.
Entering Tuesday’s slate of games, he ranked inside the top 10 among all rookies in key areas including scoring (10th), rebounding (7th), assists (tied-9th), field-goal percentage (41.9, 10th), 3-point field goal percentage (33.1, 9th), free throw percentage (84.1, tied-2nd) and minutes played (4th).
Despite his two-way status, McClung has spent majority of his time with Osceola. In nine regular season starts there, the reigning G League MVP has averaged 23.4 points, 6.2 assists and 3.0 rebounds in 33.5 minutes.
The back-to-back NBA contest champion, McClung also will go for a three-peat at All-Star Weekend.
The player pool for Rising Stars consists of 10 rookies, 11 second-year players and seven G League players. The 21 NBA players, selected by NBA assistant coaches, will be drafted onto three seven-player teams. The seven G League players, selected by the league office, will comprise the fourth team.
New this season, the winner of the tournament will advance to play in the inaugural NBA All-Star Game tournament.
Thirteen players have represented the Magic during the Rising Stars game: Penny Hardaway (1994), Mike Miller (2001, ’02), Dwight Howard (’05, ’06), Jameer Nelson (’06 out with injury), Andrew Nicholson (’13), Nikola Vučević (’13), Victor Oladipo (’14, ’15), Elfrid Payton (’15, ’16), Mario Hezonja (’16), Cole Anthony (’22), Jalen Suggs (’22), Franz Wagner (’22, ’23) and Paolo Banchero (’23, 24).
