2026 NBA Rising Stars Showcase Rookie and Sophomore Talent

Four-team tournament features top young players competing for championship

Feb. 11, 2026 at 4:39pm

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The 2026 NBA Rising Stars event will kick off All-Star Weekend on Saturday, February 13th at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. Three teams of the best NBA rookies and sophomores, along with a fourth team of G League players, will compete in a three-game tournament format to determine the champion.

Why it matters

The Rising Stars Challenge has long been a platform to showcase the league's up-and-coming talent, giving fans a preview of the stars of tomorrow. This year's event features an exciting new tournament format that should make for a highly competitive showcase of the NBA's brightest young prospects.

The details

The 21-player pool was determined by NBA assistant coaches, with the top 10 rookies and top 10 sophomores earning spots. Hall of Famers Carmelo Anthony, Vince Carter, and Tracy McGrady each drafted a team of 7 players, while the fourth team is comprised of G League Rising Stars. In the tournament, Team Melo will face Team Austin, followed by Team Vince vs. Team T-Mac, with the winners meeting in the championship.

  • The Rising Stars event will take place on Saturday, February 13, 2026.
  • The semifinal games will tip off at 9:00 PM ET and 9:55 PM ET.
  • The championship game is scheduled for 10:35 PM ET.

The players

Cooper Flagg

Rookie forward for the Dallas Mavericks.

Kon Knueppel

Rookie forward for the Charlotte Hornets.

VJ Edgecombe

Rookie guard for the Philadelphia 76ers.

Austin Rivers

Current NBC Sports analyst and head coach of the G League Rising Stars team.

Carmelo Anthony

Hall of Fame player and head coach of Team Melo.

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What they’re saying

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, Grocery employee

The takeaway

The 2026 NBA Rising Stars event promises an exciting showcase of the league's top young talent, with a new tournament format that should make for a highly competitive and entertaining weekend of basketball.