Rising Star: Rookie season takes Colorado’s Tristan da Silva to NBA All-Star weekend

The bumpy flight into Denver felt familiar for Tristan da Silva.

So did stepping off the plane and smelling the crisp mile high air.

Even though hes spent the last six months or so in the warmth of Florida and the Magics flight landed in the wee hours of the morning ahead of a game against the Nuggets later that night, da Silva was happy to be back in Colorado.

Orlando Magic forward Tristan da Silva (23) in the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Feb.

6, 2025, in Denver.

(AP Photo/David Zalubowski) This has been my home for like four years, so it was kinda like a nostalgic feeling, even though its only been like nine months (since I left), da Silva told The Denver Gazette.

It felt really good.

Not a lot of games where youre on the road and youve got people cheering for you, so it felt really good.

When he was introduced for his first minutes last Thursday night at Ball Arena, it wasnt the typical low, monotone welcome to the court for a visiting player youll hear from Nuggets PA announcer Kyle Speller.

Checking in for the Magic, from the University of Colorado, No.

23 Tristan da Silva, Speller said as a good chunk of the crowd rose to cheer on one of the key players of last years Buffaloes team that won two NCAA Tournament games and set a program record with 26 wins.

Colorado's Tristan da Silva (23) looks to pass around Marquette's Chase Ross (2) during the first half of a second-round college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament, Sunday, March 24, 2024 in Indianapolis.

(AP Photo/Michael Conroy) Former teammates, coaches, friends and people he considers family were all in attendance to see his one game in Denver during his rookie NBA season.

What a first professional season its been for da Silva, too.

This weekend, hell head to San Francisco to take part in NBA All-Star weekend as a member of the Rising Stars game on Friday night.

Seeing him in the rotation and how well hes adjusted to the NBA, it makes your heart warm as a coach because you hope you prepared him well, said CU coach Tad Boyle, who was in attendance last Thursday in Denver.

After four years in Boulder, da Silvas transition to the NBA has looked seamless.

Orlando selected him in the middle of the first round of last years draft hoping he could be the latest piece to a talented young core that is growing into one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference.

As one of the NBAs most productive rookies, da Silva is proving the Magic right and showing that he could be a building block for years to come.

His maturity level, his growth, his understanding of the game (is what is impressive), Magic coach Jamahl Mosley, a fellow CU alum, said.

Knowing exactly, as a rookie, what its going to take and the wall that he may hit (and) the way he needs to take care of his body I think him understanding that as the year has gone on has been very good to see.

I think his growth is just gonna continue to get better just because of the way he views the game and also understands who he is as a basketball player.

Orlando Magic forward Tristan da Silva (23) brings the ball up the court against the Utah Jazz during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Jan.

5, 2025, in Orlando, Fla.

(AP Photo/Phelan M.

Ebenhack) His minutes have been sporadic as of late, but Orlando got an up-close look at da Silvas ceiling earlier in the season when both Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner were out, leaving a gaping scoring void in the frontcourt.

Da Silva stepped up in a big way, averaging over 14 points per game in a 13-game stretch from mid-December into mid-January and often serving as the first offensive option.

There were moments that I was surprised, but then you had to go back to the fact that he went to Colorado, that he is an older rookie, and hes experienced a lot of this, Mosley said.

I think him being in big time games, big time tournaments, knowing the process that it takes as a young player to get better, that was good to see.

He had a level of poise about him and understanding of the game and was willing to learn and learn on the fly.

It also helped da Silva knew that he belonged.

The injuries definitely helped me a little bit to slip into that rotation, get minutes and show what I can do, he said.

I feel like that helped me, for sure, and gave the coaches and my teammates some insight.

It definitely felt really good playing a lot.

Were trying to pick it back up where we left off in the beginning of the season before everybody got hurt.

Orlando has begun shaking off a stretch in which it lost nine of 10 games and has its sights set on getting back into the top six of the Eastern Conference standings ahead of the playoffs and theres a good chance da Silva is a key piece off the bench when the postseason does arrive in a few months.

But thats not a surprise at all to the people that have known him for years.

Jabari Walker, former Buffs teammate and roommate, now in his third NBA season with the Trail Blazers, saw it during the summer of 2020 as they got ready for their freshmen seasons.

Colorado forward Tristan da Silva, center, is congratulated after hitting a 3-point basket as time ran out in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game by forward Jabari Walker, left, and guard Benan Ersek Saturday, Jan.

16, 2021, in Boulder, Colo.

(AP Photo/David Zalubowski) Early on, the flashes were crazy, Walker told The Denver Gazette.

I think he was still adjusting to playing in America, honestly.

His skills and his feel for the game, it was like no other.

Just the way he was able to have a slow pace and still get things done, it was something I was jealous of, honestly.

Now, Walker and everyone else who spent time around da Silva in Boulder the last few years gets to live vicariously through their friend and former teammate as he spends the weekend around the NBAs bests.

Just seeing how hes grown and translated his game to the NBA is amazing, Walker said.

Its weird being on the other side, sometimes, but Im just so happy for him and seeing his success.

Thats my brother..

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