A positive side to injuries ravaging the Golden State Warriors 2019-20 season has been the opportunity that’s opened up for players at the bottom of the roster. One player that’s benefitted the most from the Warriors depleted lineup is rookie, Eric Paschall.
Paschall was selected No. 41 overall in the second round of the NBA draft by the Warriors in 2019. High expectations don’t usually surround a second-round draft pick. However, Paschall quickly became one of the Warriors leading scorers at the start of the season.
The 23-year-old rookie is averaging 13.4 points and 4.7 rebounds in 26.9 minutes per game. For a period when D’Angelo Russell was injured, Paschall became Steve Kerr’s best offensive option, leading the Warriors in scoring seven times this season. Paschall has registered games with scoring totals of 34 and 30 points in his first NBA season. Paschall is tied for third with Atlanta’s De’Andre Hunter for total points scored by rookies with 590.
During the NBA’s 2020 All-Star weekend in Chicago, Paschall will receive some recognition for his productive rookie season. Paschall was selected to Team USA for the NBA’s Rising Star Challenge — an All-Star game for rookie and sophomore players. Paschall was voted in by NBA assistant coaches across the league.
Eric Paschall has been selected to participate in the 2020 Rising Stars Challenge in Chicago ⭐️ pic.twitter.com/nevUMQrXin
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) January 31, 2020
The Villanova product is the first Warriors selected for the Rising Star Challenge since Harrison Barnes in 2014. Current Warriors’ Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson have also been previously selected for the challenge.
Warriors forward Eric Paschall selected to play in 2020 NBA Rising Stars Game pic.twitter.com/RJjfKgonPo
— Warriors PR (@WarriorsPR) January 31, 2020
For now, Paschall will be the only member of the Golden State Warriors represented in Chicago, as the team did not have a player selected as a reserve or starter for the 2020 edition of the All-Star game.
The Rising Stars Challenge will take place on Friday, February 14, at the United Center in Chicago.