The former Gonzaga guard will replace the injured Portland Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson at the NBA All-Star weekend event.
The jump from Year 1 to Year 2 for guard Julian Strawther is being rewarded with a trip to San Francisco to compete in the NBA All-Star Weekend’s Rising Stars Game at the Chase Center on Friday, February 14th at 6 PM PT on TNT.
Strawther has appeared in all 54 of Denver’s games this season while averaging 9.6 points per game on a shooting split of 43.5 field goal percentage/36.2 three-point percentage/82.7 free-throw percentage. He ranks fifth among second-year NBA players in three-pointers made with 85.
Our Rising Star is headed to All-Star ⭐️
Well deserved, Julian! pic.twitter.com/UJ8d3m7Rtu
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) February 12, 2025
The former Gonzaga guard will take Portland Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson’s place as he suffered a right ankle sprain. Strawther will be coached by Naismith Hall of Famer Mitch Richmond on Team Mitch.
Chris Mullin, Mitch Richmond and Tim Hardaway Sr. drafted their teams today for the 2025 Castrol Rising Stars.
Each NBA legend selected seven players from the pool of 21 NBA rookies and sophomores. Jeremy Lin will lead the team of seven players representing the NBA G League. pic.twitter.com/wImro9Aeie
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) February 4, 2025
Gonzaga has had at least one selection for the NBA’s Rising Stars Game since 2020.
2020 – Brandon Clarke and Rui Hachimura
2021 – Brandon Clarke and Rui Hachimura
2022 – Jalen Suggs
2023 – Andrew Nembhard
2024 – Chet Holmgren
2025 – Julian Strawther
Domantas Sabonis participated in the event back-to-back in 2017 and 2018 as did Kelly Olynyk in 2014 and 2015.
This season’s player pool consists of 10 rookies as well as 11 sophomores from the NBA plus seven NBA G League players. The 21 NBA players, selected by assistant coaches, were split into three seven-player teams. The seven NBA G League players, selected by the league office, comprise the fourth team.
A new caveat to the event this year is that the champion of the Rising Stars Game four-team mini-tournament will earn a spot to play in the NBA All-Star Game mini-tournament on Sunday. There is a chance that fans will be able to see more of Strawther while competing against the best in the world.
Arden Cravalho is a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area… Follow him on Twitter @a_cravalho