Magic's Tristan da Silva, Mac McClung Named 2025 Rising Stars

Orlando Magic rookie forward Tristan da Silva and two-way guard Mac McClung were named to the Rising Stars Challenge player pool for 2025 NBA All-Star Weekend in San Francisco.
Orlando Magic forward Tristan da Silva (23) dunks past Miami Heat forward Nikola Jovic (5) and center Kel'el Ware (7) during the third quarter at Kaseya Center.
Orlando Magic forward Tristan da Silva (23) dunks past Miami Heat forward Nikola Jovic (5) and center Kel'el Ware (7) during the third quarter at Kaseya Center. / Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
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Two players will represent the Orlando Magic during the Rising Stars Challenge at NBA All-Star Weekend 2025 in San Francisco.

Rookie forward Tristan da Silva and two-way guard Mac McClung were each named to the pool of players competing in the competition, which takes place Feb. 14 at Chase Center, the home of the Golden State Warriors and this year's All-Star festivities.

"[I'm] extremely happy for [Tristan] and Mac," Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said Wednesday. "I think these guys have continued to work at their craft [and] their game."

Drafted No. 18 overall in the 2024 NBA Draft, da Silva's reliable production as a Swiss army knife has been constant in a season full of changing variables. He's appeared in 44 games with 34 starts, averaging 8.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in 26.3 minutes per.

When asked what's impressed him the most about da Silva a little over halfway through his rookie campaign, Mosley said: "His ability to step in not knowing what minutes he was going to get [or] how much he was going to play, to contribute to winning, and the ability for his teammates to trust him and how he knows how to play the game."

Mosley then lauded the confidence, poise and maturity of his fellow former Colorado Buffalo, saying he's made the right play at the right time since his entrance to the league.

"He's got a quiet confidence, is what you can kind of call it," Mosley said. "He understands what he needs to do in order to get better, the work ethic that he has to have to keep working throughout this league."

In a time of need, da Silva burst onto the scene with 17 points in the Magic's first game without Paolo Banchero on Nov. 1 in Cleveland. Since then, he's played in every game for the Magic. Including that outburst versus the Cavaliers, he's scored in double figures 15 times this season. He's scored the 8th-most points for any rookie this year and played the fourth-most minutes.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope said he's seen constant growth from the Magic's adaptable newcomer.

"Especially as a rookie, being thrown into the fire like that and being ready," Caldwell-Pope said at Wednesday's practice. "He's been performing at a high level, and just congrats to him."

"I'm not surprised," Paolo Banchero said Wednesday, who competed in the Rising Stars each of the two previous years. "He's came in, made an impact from day one. Just got to give a huge shoutout to him for stepping in for those 25-30 games and starting and just holding his own. That's not easy to do as a rookie in the NBA on a competitive team that's trying to get wins.

Added Banchero: "He's really helped us in a lot of areas, and big shouts to him for getting that Rising Stars. I hope he enjoys All-Star weekend."

Since the event's inception in 1994, da Silva becomes the 14th Magic player to ever participate in any iteration of the Rising Stars game and the 12th Orlando rookie to do so. Current teammates Banchero ('23, '24), Franz Wagner ('22,'23), Jalen Suggs ('22), Cole Anthony ('22), Wendell Carter Jr. ('20) and Caldwell-Pope ('15 with Detroit) have all previously played in or been selected for the game at least once.

Orlando Magic forward Tristan da Silva (23) hugs Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes (4)
Orlando Magic forward Tristan da Silva (23) hugs Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes (4) at the end of the fourth quarter at Scotiabank Arena. / Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images

McClung makes his third appearance in the event after previously competing in the 2023 and 2024 events. He's on a two-way contract with the Magic, but has only made one appearance with Orlando this season.

Through 10 games of the Osceola Magic's regular season, McClung is averaging 24.0 points, 3.2 rebounds and 6.0 assists a game.

McClung had also committed to the 2025 Slam Dunk Contest, in which he'll attempt to become the first-ever three-peat champion and second-ever three-time champion. That event takes place on Saturday, Feb. 15 as part of the annual All-Star Saturday Night competitions.

The 2025 NBA Rising Stars player pool.
The 2025 NBA Rising Stars player pool. / NBA PR

Was Anthony Black snubbed?

Second-year guard Anthony Black was not one of the 11 sophomores named to the player pool for this year's Rising Stars.

In 25.0 minutes a game, Black is averaging 9.3 points, 2.6 rebounds and 3.5 assists a game, appearing in 44 games with six starts.

One could argue Black had an argument over other sophomore players, but he could have a chance to be an injury replacement for one of Dereck Lively II or Brandon Miller, who are both dealing with extended absences.

He was selected with the Magic's No. 6 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.

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