The NBA All-Star Weekend shouldn’t be solely a chance for the league to showcase its greatest and brightest stars, but in addition its future.
The NBA’s Rising Stars Game will characteristic the league’s younger stars, together with rookies Cooper Flagg (Dallas Mavericks), Kon Knueppel (Charlotte Hornets) and VJ Edgecombe (Philadelphia 76ers).
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The trio additionally makes up the highest 3 within the NBA’s Rookie of the Year race, according to odds on BetMGM.
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Flagg (-1000) is taken into account the favourite, adopted by Knueppel (+600) and Edgecombe (+8000).
Flagg has averaged 20.3 factors, 6.6 rebounds and 4.2 assists per recreation in 48 video games performed this season.
All three rookies have been chosen within the first spherical by the sport’s honorary coaches. NBA alumnus Carmelo Anthony, Tracy McGrady and Vince Carter are serving because the honorary coaches for the three respective teams. Austin Rivers can even coach a staff made up of G League gamers.
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The 4 teams will compete in a mini event on the Intuit Dome. A winner can be determined within the semifinal video games when a staff is the primary to succeed in or surpass 40 factors. The championship recreation winner can be determined with the primary staff to succeed in or surpass 25 factors.
Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel (7) shoots as Dallas Mavericks ahead Cooper Flagg (32) defends in the course of the first quarter at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas on Jan. 29, 2026.
Baron Davis and Quentin Richardson have been among the many former NBA gamers to have performed within the recreation.
Richardson was a participant within the recreation when it was known as the NBA Rookie-Sophomore Challenge in 2002. Davis competed within the recreation a yr prior.
Looking forward at this yr’s expertise, Davis talked about Flagg, Edgecombe, Derik Queen and Kyshawn George as gamers he’s excited to observe.
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“All these young kids are so good now,” Davis mentioned. “To watch them play and go at each other will be a different type of vibe and be highly competitive. They all want to be No. 1.”
Richardson believes the sport and weekend will function a rewarding expertise for the youthful expertise, particularly these keen to benefit from it.
“I would say to take part in the weekend,” Richardson mentioned. “I know, as some of the younger players, they will have to make appearances and things like that, but that was one of the things I was happy to do. … Sometimes you go to those events and have a great time and meet people you wouldn’t have met.
“Don’t be the guy who’s just turning things down. That’s what the weekend is about: Having fun, but there’s also a lot of business around that weekend.”
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Even within the years following his retirement, Davis has served for example for the youthful technology of gamers relating to staying concerned throughout the NBA off-court neighborhood and actions.
Davis served as a number for a contest placed on by the NBA Foundation and the LA Clippers.
The All-Star pitch competitors introduced Los Angeles-based firms centered on driving neighborhood influence to pitch innovation options to a panel of enterprise leaders, traders and different entrepreneurs.
The opponents are competing for $200,000 in whole money prizes.
“What is super exciting is that there are so many young and great minds, especially in this city of Los Angeles, that are building businesses that can be extremely explosive and that can create a lot of jobs,” Davis mentioned. “What the NBA is doing with the foundation and really pouring into the entrepreneurs is not just with the competition, but it’s also the time and the platform they are allowing them to stand on.”
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Who will play within the NBA Rising Stars Game?
Team Melo: Cooper Flagg, Stephon Castle, Dylan Harper, Jeremiah Fears, Donovan Clingan, Collin Murray-Boyles
Team T-Mac: Kon Knueppel, Kel’el Ware, Alex Sarr, Tre Johnson, Ajay Mitchell, Jaylon Tyson, Cam Spencer.
Team Vince: VJ Edgecombe, Derik Queen, Kyshawn George, Matas Buzelis, Egor Demin, Cedric Coward, Jaylen Wells.
Team Austin: Sean East II, Ron Harper Jr., Yanic Konan Niederhauser, Alijah Martin, Tristen Newton, Yang Hansen, Mac McClung, David Jones Garcia.
NBA Rising Stars Game Schedule
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Game 1: Team Melo vs. Team Austin
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Game 2: Team Vince vs. Team T-Mac
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Rising Stars Championship: (G1 winner vs. G2 winner)
How to observe NBA Rising Stars Game?
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When: Friday, Feb. 13, 6 p.m. PT (9 p.m. ET)
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Where: Intuit Dome (Inglewood, California) | Tickets
This article initially appeared on USA TODAY: NBA Rising Stars Challenge rosters set for NBA All-Star Weekend