Magic’s Paolo Banchero headlines the NBA’s Rising Stars roster

Paolo BancheroThe rookie season will include a trip to NBA All-Star Weekend.

The Orlando Magic The forward and last year’s No. 1 draft pick was announced Tuesday as a participant in this year’s Rising Stars Game, which will be held in Salt Lake City on Feb. 17, two nights before the All-Star Game.

Banchero, who leads all rookies with 20.7 points per game, can still be selected as an All-Star reserve. Those players will be revealed on Thursday.

“Anytime you get an opportunity to be a part of All-Star weekend, you can’t say no,” Banchero said. “Especially me being a rookie, first year, I’ve never experienced it before, it’s always been a dream just to be a part of this whether it’s Rising Stars or as a reserve. I’m definitely excited to get there and see what it’s like .”

Banchero is on pace to become the first rookie to average 20 points per game since then Luka Doncic the 2018-19 academic year. He is also fourth among rookies in rebounds per game entering Tuesday and third among them in steals per game.

Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said the All-Star experience, whether it’s just for the Rising Stars or not, will have an impact on Banchero.

“Being around other young players who have been in that position, it goes a long way because they’re your teammates,” Mosley said. “You’re around a group of guys that are the elite of the league in this class. I think it says something to the work you’ve done, the work he’s done. It’s going to do wonders for how he continues to believe in himself , in what we are doing as a team and in its continued growth.”

Also chosen for this year’s rookie class game: Detroit’s Jalen Duren i Jaden IveyAtlanta AJ GriffinUtah Walker Kesslerof Indiana Benedict Mathurin i Andrew NembhardtSacramento Keegan MurrayHouston Jabari Smith Jr.Sant Antoni’s Jeremy Sochan and Oklahoma City Jalen Williams.

The second year players selected were from New Orleans Jose Alvarado i Trey Murphy IIIToronto Scottie BarnesOklahoma City Josh GiddeyHouston Jalen Green i Alperen SengunNew York Quentin Grimesfrom Denver Hi Hylandfrom Cleveland Evan Mobley and Orlando Franz Wagner.

There will also be a team of G League players at the Rising Stars event, consisting of Sidy Cissoko, King MojaveScoot Henderson, Kenneth Lofton Jr., Mac McClung, Leonard Miller and Scotty Pippen Jr.

All 21 NBA players will be selected into three seven-man teams. Pau Gasol, Joakim Noah and Deron Williams will coach those teams, while Jason Terry will coach the G League team.

The four teams will play a semi-final match with a target score of 40, and the two winners will play in the championship match with a target score of 25.