2026 NBA Rising Stars Roster: Cooper Flagg and the Next Gen Take Over
The future of the league isn’t just knocking on the door; it’s kicking it down.
As the NBA season heats up and we barrel toward All-Star Weekend, the league has officially dropped the roster for the 2026 Castrol Rising Stars event. On January 26, the NBA unveiled the 28-player pool that will take over the Intuit Dome, and the list is absolutely stacked.
From highly-touted rookies who have lived up to the hype to sophomores looking to cement their status as franchise cornerstones, this year’s showcase promises to be more than just a friendly exhibition. If you’ve been waiting to see the best young talent in the world share the floor, mark your calendars for February 13.
Here is the breakdown of who made the cut, how the tournament works, and why this year’s Rising Stars game is a must-watch.
The Roster Reveal: Who Made the Cut?
The NBA assistant coaches have spoken, and the roster composition is officially set. The league announced a pool consisting of 10 rookies, 11 sophomores, and seven G League standouts.
This mix is designed to highlight the depth of talent entering the professional ranks from all angles. While the sophomores bring a year of NBA conditioning and experience to the table, the rookie class has been making noise since tip-off in October.
Cooper Flagg Headlines the Rookie Class
It comes as no surprise that Cooper Flagg, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 Draft, is the headliner for the rookie group. Flagg has been under the national microscope since high school, and his inclusion in the Rising Stars event is just the first of what many expect to be numerous All-Star Weekend appearances.
Fans and media alike took to social feeds immediately after the announcement, buzzing about Flagg’s potential matchups. Seeing him go toe-to-toe with established sophomores in a fast-paced format is exactly the kind of television the NBA wants.
The Spurs’ Backcourt of the Future
One of the biggest winners of the roster announcement is the San Antonio Spurs organization. The Spurs managed to place two guards in the pool: rookie Dylan Harper and sophomore Stephon Castle.
For Spurs fans, this is validation of the rebuild. Having a representative in both the rookie and sophomore classes signals a bright future in San Antonio. The chemistry between Harper and Castle has been a bright spot in the regular season, and watching them potentially team up or face off during the Rising Stars tournament adds a fun layer of intrigue for the Silver and Black faithful.
Legends on the Sidelines
The talent on the court is elite, but the talent holding the clipboards is legendary. The NBA has tapped three icons to serve as honorary coaches for the event:
- Carmelo Anthony
- Vince Carter
- Tracy McGrady
These three will be responsible for drafting their squads from the NBA player pool on January 27. The G League players will form their own fourth team to compete against the NBA draftees. Watching Vinsanity or T-Mac draw up a game-winning play for the next generation? That’s pure basketball nostalgia meeting modern talent.
The Format: The Race to the Target Score
If you were worried about a lack of defense or intensity, the tournament format is designed to fix that. The NBA is sticking with the “Target Score” ending, which has revitalized the event in recent years.
Here is how it goes down on February 13 at the Intuit Dome:
- The Teams: Four teams of seven players.
- The Semifinals: The first two games will be played to a target score of 40 points.
- The Final: The winners advance to a championship game, which will be a sprint to a target score of 25 points.
This format eliminates the clock-killing tactics at the end of games. You have to end on a made basket. It usually leads to significantly higher intensity on the defensive end because no one wants to give up the game-winning layup on national TV.
Why This Matters
For the casual fan, this might look like an exhibition. But for the players, the “long-term outlook” is real. A breakout performance in the Rising Stars challenge can accelerate a young player’s national profile overnight.
We have seen it happen before—a rookie catches fire, hits a few deep threes, wins the MVP, and suddenly the narrative for the second half of the season shifts. With the spotlight of the Intuit Dome and a streaming audience on Peacock, the pressure is low, but the potential for viral moments is sky-high.
What’s Next?
The roster announcement was just step one. The real fun begins with the draft.
- Jan. 27, 2026: The Rising Stars Draft. Carmelo, Vince, and T-Mac will select their seven-man rosters from the NBA pool. This is where we see which rookies and sophomores get paired up.
- Feb. 13, 2026: The main event. The three-game tournament takes place in Inglewood.
Whether you are tuning in to see Cooper Flagg’s aerial assaults, the Spurs’ young duo, or the hungry talent from the G League, the 2026 Castrol Rising Stars is shaping up to be an electric start to All-Star Weekend.
Get your popcorn ready. The future is now.
