Eric Paschall is set to compete in the NBA’s Rising Stars Challenge today for the Golden State Warriors.
The Golden State Warriors are excited to watch their rookie, Eric Paschall, display his talents in NBA All-Star Weekend during the Rising Stars Challenge.
Paschall will become the first Warriors player since Harrison Barnes in 2014 to reach the Rising Stars Game. This was back when the game was simply rookies and sophomores, rather than the USA vs. World format they have today.
Back in 2014, names such as Damian Lillard, Andre Drummond and Bradley Beal headlined the show. This year, fringe MVP candidates like Luka Doncic and Trae Young will battle for their respective teams.
Paschall is far from being the best player in the showcase but he has played a big role for the Warriors this season. In an otherwise hopeless season, Paschall has been one of the few bright spots for the Dubs.
In surprising fashion, Paschall broke his way into the starting lineup and became one of the team’s most consistent scorers. The second-round pick is averaging 13.2 points, making him the sixth-best scorer of his class.
He is a bulky athlete with immense strength on the drive. He has thrived moving off the ball and slashing towards the rim, where he connects on 71.2 percent of his attempts within three feet.
Paschall has the potential to be a dual-threat on offense, having a few games in which he is hot from beyond the arch. He is shooting below 30 percent from the 3-point line but has had 10 games of two or more 3-pointers.
At 23 years of age, Paschall has time to develop an outside shot. However, he will find the most success as a slasher. The Warriors will have increased spacing next season with Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson back in the lineup. This will open more opportunities for Paschall to attack the basket.
On defense, Paschall is promising. He has a very similar build to former Defensive Player of the Year, Draymond Green. His athleticism is certainly on point but it is yet to be seen if Paschall can ever come close to replicating the frenetic energy that Green brings to this end of the floor.
Paschall has yet to be a positive on defense thus far despite his potential. He holds one of the worst Defensive Rating’s on the team and is averaging less than one block and steal per game.
It’s obvious that Paschall’s role will be drastically diminished next year as the team moves back into becoming a title contender. He isn’t talented enough on either end of the floor to start over any of the Warriors’ core players.
Still, Paschall can do some damage with the second unit. Expect the Dubs to continue working with their Rising Star as he becomes a key member of the bench squad.