Mac McClung named to NBA Rising Stars game
TUESDAY UPDATE: Osceola Magic guard Mac McClung has been selected to participate in the 2024 Panini Rising Stars, on Friday, Feb. 16 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis as part of the 2024 NBA All-Star Weekend. TNT will televise the annual showcase of premier young talent at 9 p.m. ET.
The league announced McClung, who won the All-Star weekend Dunk Contest last year, and Alondes Williams of the Sioux Falls Skyforce will be the first standard NBA G League contract players to ever participate in the event.
It's a worthy calling for McClung, who in 25 games for Osceola is averaging 24.9 points and 6.8 assists in 35 minutes per game. He has led or tied the team in scoring seven times and in assists 15 times. He has scored at least 20 points in all but three games and scored 30 or more five times.
MONDAY: The NBA and the G League have announced that Osceola Magic two-way guards Trevelin Queen and Kevon Harris have been chosen to participate in the 2024 NBA G League “Up Next” Game on Sunday, Feb. 18 in Indianapolis. It is part of the NBA All Star Weekend festivities.
You can stream the Next Up game at nbagleague.com, the G League App and the NBA G League’s YouTube channel.
Both players have seen minutes with both Osceola and the Orlando Magic.
Queen has played and started in 18 games for Osceola, averaging 23.9 points, 7.9 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 2.7 steals in 34 minutes per game. Queen, who is currently with Orlando on the Magic’s road trip to Dallas, San Antonio and Minnesota, has led or tied the team in scoring nine times, in rebounding 10 times and in assists four times. He has eight double-doubles and one triple-double in those 18 games, and pulled down double-digit rebounds eight times.
Harris, who started the season late after rebounding from a knee injury, has played in 10 games with Osceola, averaging 18 points and six rebounds in 27.4 minutes per game, proving to be a scoring leader when Queen has been with Orlando, and with Brandon Williams heading to the Dallas Mavericks on a two-way contract. Additionally, Harris has played in one game for Orlando.
“It’s definitely a blessing, I had a late start to the season after the injury,” Harris said before Monday’s game against the Wisconsin Herd, a 112-110 Wisconsin win won on Wenyen Gabriel game-winning shot at the end. “I thought I might get an All-Star break, but there’s no breaks. I’m hoping it’s the start of something great.”
After playing in the G League with the Toronto Raptors and with the Minnesota Timberwolves Summer League team, Harris, who scored 14 points Monday, one of six Magic players in double-figures, said he feels like his path to the NBA is through Orlando, where he played in 33 games last season.
“I’m finding a rhythm out there and having fun,” he said. “I’m working on doing the things I can to help both teams (Osceola and Orlando) win. I’m just trying to be a leader. I’m shooting the ball and a good clip right now, playing with confidence, trying to prove I belong in the NBA. It’s been great.”
The G League will field four seven-man teams, with two semifinal games to determine the two teams that will play for the “Next Up” title.
Before that, the Magic host the Delaware Blue Coats Wednesday and the Ontario Clippers Thursday. Thursday night is mascot Swish’s birthday, and some of his mascot friends will be in attendance.
