With the 2021 NBA All-Star weekend compressed into one night, the league elected not to feature the Rising Stars Challenge. However, rookies and second-year players will still earn the honor despite no game being played.
Following the announcement of Team USA and Team World for the Rising Stars Challenge, Steph Curry won’t be the only player to represent the Golden State Warriors with NBA All-Star honors.
On Thursday, the NBA selected rookie James Wiseman and sharpshooter Mychal Mulder to the league’s 2021 Rising Stars team.
Via @warriors on Twitter:
Congrats to @MychalMulder on being named an NBA Rising Star! ⭐️ pic.twitter.com/yTRtIF5LgU
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) March 3, 2021
Congrats to @MychalMulder on being named an NBA Rising Star! ⭐️ pic.twitter.com/yTRtIF5LgU
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) March 3, 2021
As a rookie, the 2020 second overall pick is averaging 12 points on 51.5% shooting from the field with 5.9 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per contest. Wiseman has notched one double-double and 16 games with at least double figures in scoring.
Prior to signing with Golden State in March of 2020, Mulder spent three seasons in the G League. Since joining the Warriors, the Kentucky product is averaging 5.4 points on 42.3% shooting from the field with 1.4 boards in 39 games.
The 2021 edition of the Rising Star Challenge will be the second season in a row the Warriors will have a player featured on the roster. In 2020, Eric Paschall scored a game-high 23 points in 20 minutes for Team USA.
Along with Wiseman, fellow top prospects like Zion Williamson, Ja Morant, LaMelo Ball and Anthony Edwards will represent Team USA and the Canadian-born Mulder will join Deni Avdija, RJ Barrett and Luguentz Dort on Team World.