Banchero among Rising Star picks

Paolo Banchero's rookie season will include a trip to NBA All-star weekend.

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

Banchero — who leads all rookies with a 20.7 points-per-game average — may still be selected as an All-star reserve. Those players will be revealed Thursday.

“Anytime you can get a chance to be a part of All-star weekend, you can't say no,” Banchero said. “Especially me, being a rookie, first year, never experienced it before, it's always been the dream to just be a part of that whether it was Rising Stars or as a reserve.

“I'm definitely excited to get there and just see what it's like.”

Also picked for the game from this year's rookie class: Detroit's Jalen Duren and Jaden Ivey, Atlanta's A.J. Griffin, Utah's Walker Kessler, Indiana's Bennedict

Mathurin and Andrew Nembhard, Sacramento's Keegan Murray, Houston's Jabari Smith Jr., San Antonio's Jeremy Sochan and Oklahoma City's Jalen Williams.

The second-year players selected were New Orleans' Jose Alvarado and Trey Murphy III, Toronto's Scottie Barnes, Oklahoma City's Josh Giddey, Houston's Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun, New York's Quentin Grimes, Denver's Bones Hyland, Cleveland's Evan Mobley and Orlando's Franz Wagner.

There also will be a team of G League players in the Rising Stars event, composed of Sidy Cissoko, Mojave King, Scoot Henderson, Kenneth Lofton Jr., Mac Mcclung, Leonard Miller and Scotty Pippen Jr.