SAN ANTONIO — To no one's surprise, San Antonio Spurs' rookie Victor Wembanyama has been named to the 2024 Panini Rising Stars game, scheduled for Feb. 16 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis as part of NBA All-Star 2024.
The first half of the season has provided evidence aplenty for why Wembanyama earned the spot alongside 28 other first and second-year players. The 7-foot-3 center has appeared in 41 games for the Spurs, currently averaging 20.6 points, 10.1 rebounds and an NBA-best 3.12 blocks in 28.6 minutes. He leads all rookies in each of these categories.
He is also the only NBA rookie this season with at least 800 points, 400 rebounds and 120 blocks.
Wembanyama becomes the 11th player in Spurs history to be selected to Rising Stars since the event’s inception in 1994, joining other notable San Antonio rookies such as Jeremy Sochan.
The player pool consists of 11 NBA rookies, 10 second-year NBA players and seven NBA G League players. The 21 NBA players, selected by NBA assistant coaches, will be drafted onto three seven-player teams. The seven NBA G League players, selected by the league office, will comprise the fourth team, according to the NBA.
Sochan, however, was not named to the sophomore squad after making it to the rookie squad last season.
Wembanyama should be expecting to have himself a whirlwind at this year's All-Star festivities. Aside from the Rising Stars Game, he is playing at the NBA All-Star Skills Challenge as well.
Former Spurs center Pau Gasol will return as one of four honorary head coaches after leading his team to the Rising Stars championship last year.