This news from yesterday’s Austin American-Statesman further validates the Spurs acquisition of Malik Hairston and calling him up to the big game last weekend.

Malik Hairston, the Austin Toros’ leading scorer this season, has been selected to play in the NBA D-League All-Star Game.

Hairston will play for the blue team, which will be coached by the Toros’ Quin Snyder and his assistant, Wendell Alexis.

The 6-foot-6-inch Hairston has averaged 21.1 points in 23 games with the Toros.

He was called up to the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday, beginning his second go-around this season with the NBA club.

A second-round pick of the Phoenix Suns in the 2008 NBA draft, Hairston was acquired by the Spurs in exchange for the draft rights to Goran Dragic.

The D-League All-Star Game will be played Feb. 14 in Phoenix.

Dakota guard Blake Ahearn, who began the season with Austin, was named to the red team’s all-star roster.

The league’s leading scorers, Albuquerque’s Will Conroy and Anaheim’s James White, headline the blue team that includes Hairston. White, a forward who once played for the Toros, is scoring 25.5 points per game for Anaheim.