Rosters For 2026 NBA Rising Stars Game Announced
NBA All-Star Weekend can sometimes feel like a fever dream of highlight dunks, questionable fashion choices, and zero defense. But recently, Friday night has quietly become the best hoops product of the entire weekend. Why? Because the kids actually care.
The NBA just dropped the player pool for the 2026 Rising Stars game, and if you aren’t excited about this crop of talent, you might want to check your pulse. We’re heading to the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles on February 13, and the league is rolling out a format that blends serious 2000s nostalgia with the future faces of the league.
Headlining the chaos is none other than Dallas Mavericks rookie sensation Cooper Flagg. But he’s not coming alone. Here is why this year’s showcase is must-watch TV.
The Cooper Flagg Show Takes Center Stage
If you’ve been watching the Mavericks this year, you know the narrative. The team is hovering below .500, injuries have sidelined Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis at times, and yet, Flagg has looked like he’s been in the league for five years.
The No. 1 overall pick isn’t just putting up empty calorie stats; he’s averaging nearly 19 points a game and, out of necessity, spent his first seven games playing point guard. A 6’9″ rookie forward running point? That is trial by fire. Flagg has handled it with the poise of a vet, currently ranking as the only player in the entire NBA to sit in the top 10 for clutch points, rebounds, and assists.
Jason Kidd called it early, saying Flagg would be in the “Little Game” even if he made a push for the Sunday All-Star roster. Now, Flagg gets to reunite with his old Duke roommate, Kon Knueppel of the Charlotte Hornets, who also made the cut.
Legends On the Clipboards
The NBA knows exactly what it’s doing with the Rising Stars coaching staff. For the Rising Stars draft (happening Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET on Peacock), the league is bringing in the heavy hitters of the 2000s.
We’re talking Carmelo Anthony, Vince Carter, and Tracy McGrady. If you grew up watching the NBA in the early 2000s, that lineup of coaches is enough to make you emotional. These are three of the most gifted scorers the game has ever seen, now tasked with drafting and managing egos in a pickup game environment. Watching “T-Mac” try to explain to a 19-year-old how to score 13 points in 33 seconds is worth the price of admission alone.
On the other side, former NBA guard and current broadcaster Austin Rivers will be managing the G League squad. Rivers has never been shy about his opinions, so expect his team to play with a massive chip on their shoulder.
Sophomores and Sleepers To Watch
While the Rising Stars rookies get the hype, the sophomore class in this Rising Stars pool is sneaky deep. The San Antonio Spurs are well-represented with Stephon Castle, who has been a defensive menace, and Dylan Harper representing the rookie side.
Keep an eye on the Houston Rockets’ Reed Sheppard and the Wizards’ duo of Alex Sarr and Kyshawn George. These guys have a year of NBA conditioning under their belts. In this format, that extra year usually translates to “I’m tired of hearing about how good the rookies are,” which leads to some actual competitive fire.
And let’s not forget the G League team. It is easy to write them off as the “fourth team,” but guys like Ron Harper Jr. and Tristen Newton are fighting for 10-day contracts and roster spots. They aren’t there to make friends; they are there to get buckets and put people on posters.
Why the Format Works
Thank goodness the NBA kept the Elam Ending style format. We are getting a four-team mini-tournament. The semifinals play to a target score of 40, and the finals play to 25.
No clock means no fouling to stop the game. It means you have to get a stop to win. Last year, the Rising Stars format gave us actual defense in the final possessions. That is a rare sighting during All-Star weekend. With Flagg looking to cement his Rookie of the Year campaign and legends like Carter calling the shots, Friday night in LA is shaping up to be a classic.
