The NBA announced today that Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado and wing Trey Murphy III have been selected to participate in the 2023 Jordan Rising Stars for NBA All-Star Weekend. The NBA’s annual showcase of premier young talent will air live on Friday, Feb. 17 at 8 p.m. CT on TNT.
For the second straight season, Jordan Rising Stars will feature a three-game mini tournament among four teams comprised of NBA rookies, sophomores and NBA G League players. The pool of 28 players for Jordan Rising Stars consists of 11 NBA rookies, 10 NBA sophomores and seven NBA G League players.
The combined 21 NBA players for Jordan Rising Stars, selected by NBA assistant coaches, will be drafted onto three seven-player teams. The seven NBA G League players, selected by the NBA league office, will comprise the fourth team.
Alvarado, 6-0, 175, who went undrafted in 2021 out of Georgia Tech, is averaging 9.5 points, 2.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.2 steals. Among all NBA rookies and sophomores, Alvarado ranks 2nd in steals per game (1.2) and ranks 12th in assists per game (3.2, 3rd among players playing less than 25 mpg). On Dec. 4 against Denver, Alvarado scored 38 points (12-19 FG, 8-11 3PM), the most by an undrafted player off the bench in NBA history and the most by any player off the bench this season.
Murphy III, 6-8, 211, who was selected 17th overall in the 2021 NBA Draft out of Virginia, is averaging 12.6 points while shooting .397 from three-point range, 3.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1.0 steal. Among NBA sophomores that average 15 minutes or more per game, Murphy III ranks 1st in free throw percentage (92.2%), 3rd in three-point percentage (39.8%), 8th in points per game (12.6), 13th in field goal percentage (47.8%), and is tied for 5th in steals per game (1.0).
Alvarado and Murphy III become the eighth and ninth players in New Orleans franchise history to participate in the Rookie Challenge/Rising Stars Game, joining Chris Paul, Anthony Davis, Buddy Hield, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Nicolò Melli, Zion Williamson, and Herbert Jones.