No surprise here: Victor Wembanyama is headed to his first All-Star weekend.
The San Antonio Spurs rookie and No. 1 overall pick in last year's NBA draft was one of 28 players picked for the Rising Stars games to be held on Feb. 16.
No. 2 pick Brandon Miller of Charlotte and No. 3 pick Scoot Henderson of Portland are joining Wembanyama among the rookies selected for the games — the format is a mini-tournament with the seven-player rosters, and a championship game after two semifinals. Henderson is in the event for a third time, after being picked twice when he played for the G League Ignite in 2022 and 2023.
Also picked from the rookie class was Oklahoma City teammates Chet Holmgren and Cason Wallace, Washington’s Bilal Coulibaly, Utah’s Keyonte George, New Orleans’ Jordan Hawkins, Miami’s Jaime Jaquez Jr., Dallas’ Dereck Lively II and Golden State’s Brandin Podziemski.
From the second-year class are Orlando’s Paolo Banchero, New Orleans’ Dyson Daniels, Detroit teammates Jalen Duren and Jaden Ivey, Utah’s Walker Kessler, Indiana’s Bennedict Mathurin, Sacramento’s Keegan Murray, Portland’s Shaedon Sharpe, Houston’s Jabari Smith Jr. and Oklahoma City’s Jalen Williams.
Reigning slam dunk champion Mac McClung was one of seven G League players picked for the event, along with Izan Almansa, Matas Buzelis, Ron Holland, Tyler Smith, Oscar Tshiebwe and Alondes Williams.
