Indiana Pacers: Chris Duarte selected as 2022 NBA Rising Star

The Indiana Pacers selected Chris Duarte with the 13th pick in the 2021 NBA draft. Leading up to the draft, there were concerns that Duarte’s age could be a negative factor for his NBA tenure, coming into the NBA at 24 years old.

However, in his first NBA season with the Indiana Pacers, Duarte has put the league on notice with his basketball IQ and his consistent ability to score. He has shown that drafting older players can help contribute to a team right away.

The Pacers’ rookie has a unique poise and a great feel for the NBA game. In his first NBA season, he will be the only Indiana Pacers player at All-Star weekend.

Chris Duarte has played in 46 of the Pacers’ 54 games this season. He has started in 34 of those games and remained healthy nearly all season.

In these 54 games, Duarte has shown that he is not only capable of shooting the ball at a high level, but he can create and make some tough shots.

He has taken advantage of matchups with Giannis Atetonkounpo, Kevin Durant, and other names this season without hesitation.

Kevin Durant had high praise for the rookie, saying this on ‘NBAHooperVision’ with Jamal Crawford:

"I like a lot of the rookies this year. I like Scottie Barnes. I like Duarte. We played them a couple of weeks ago. … (Duarte) reminds me of an old-school shooting guard. Quick off the catch, can shoot the mid-range off a couple of dribbles, too. He got good size. I like him. I like him a lot”."

The Pacers rookie is averaging 13.1 points per game, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.2 assists while shooting 35.9% (3rd highest on the team) from behind the arc.

In the NBA leaderboards, Duarte ranks 5th among all rookies in total points scored with 604. He is behind Scottie Barnes, Cade Cunningham, Evan Mobley, and Franz Wagner.

However, in total three-point shots made, Duarte ranks second with a total of 79 made threes. He is behind Cade Cunningham who was drafted with the first pick to Detroit. He ranks third in steals as well with 49 total, 10th in assists (101), and 9th in rebounds with 193.

Duarte has shown all season that he can create and make tough shots, which is something the Pacers can focus on when revamping their roster in upcoming seasons.

His confidence is something that I believe comes with his age, entering the NBA more reps accumulated with different moves that he has developed himself for more time than other younger rookies.

He excels in the mid-range, where he has an effective go-to turnaround shot. In fact, he is shooting 43% from the field at this point on the year on 11.6 attempts. He ranks 6th in field goals made, but 4th in field goal percentage among rookies.

One of my favorite things about Duarte is his transition game, in which he is probably the team’s best pull-up three-point shooter.

Fellow rookie Duane Washington Jr. has emerged as another candidate in this role, but outside of those two, the team doesn’t have much to help their transition offense. Indiana is ranked 24th in transition points.

Defense has been a strength of his as well – averaging 1.7 steals per game in college has translated to his NBA game. Ranking third among rookies in total steals while being top five in scoring – that’s good.

Duarte has given the Pacers a promising young player that can shoot at a high level and consequently, he is a Rising Star alongside the league’s best young talent.

The Indiana Pacers’ rookie will represent the team alone at All-Star weekend.

Duarte will be on team ‘Payton’, one of the four teams of rookie and sophomores that will compete in a tournament during the All-Star break.

The team includes LaMelo Ball, Scottie Barnes, Ayo Dosunmu, Chris Duarte, Scoot Henderson, Jaden McDaniels, and Davion Mitchell.

The event will take place on Feb. 18, 2022, at 9:00 PM ET which is the opening day of the All-Star break.