NBA Rising Stars Event 2026: Rosters, Start Time, TV Schedule & How to Watch

The NBA All-Star Weekend festivities begin on Friday night with the annual Rising Stars tournament. The mini tournament, headlined by rookies Kon Knueppel, Dylan Harper, and VJ Edgecombe, will match the league’s most promising young players against each other.

Once again, a group of the G League’s top players will get the opportunity to make their mark. This side has won a semi-final game in each of the last two seasons, ensuring that the NBA’s Rising Stars put forth their best effort.

All things considered, this tournament has clearly become considerably more competitive than the league’s official All-Star game. The majority of these young men still have much to prove, and what better stage to do so?

How to Watch

What: NBA Rising Stars Event
Where: Intuit Dome
When: 8:00 PM CT
Watch: Peacock

How Does it Work?

The NBA’s Rising Stars tournament will pit some of the league’s best young players against one another on the league’s largest platform. The roster pool of exceptional freshmen and sophomores has been divided into three teams, each coached by an NBA icon. A fourth team will be comprised of the top G League players.

There will be two semi-final matchups chosen at random before the winners face off in a third and final championship game. The first two games will be contested to a set score of 40 points, with the championship being the first to reach 25 points.

The original pool of 21 players was chosen via ballots supplied by NBA assistant coaches.

What’s the Schedule?

Game 1: Team Austin vs. Team Melo
Game 2: Team Vine vs. Team T-Mac
Championship: TBD (9:35 CT)

Rising Stars Rosters

Note: Players marked with an asterisk have been ruled out with injury.

Team Melo

Cooper Flagg (Mavericks)*
Reed Sheppard (Rockets)
Stephon Castle (Spurs)
Dylan Harper (Spurs)
Jeremiah Fears (Pelicans)
Donovan Clingan (Trail Blazers)
Ace Bailey (Jazz)
Collin Murray-Boyles (Raptors)

If the San Antonio Spurs’ Stephon Castle can lead Team Melo to victory, it will be his second consecutive victory in the Rising Stars event. He scored 12 points in the 2025 championship game, helping Chris Webber’s squad win.

Team T-Mac

Kon Knueppel (Hornets)
Kel’el Ware (Heat)
Tre Johnson (Wizards)
Jaylon Tyson (Cavaliers)
Zacchaire Risacher (Hawks)
Cam Spencer (Grizzlies)
Bub Carrington (Wizards)
Alex Sarr (Wizards)*
Ajay Mitchell (Thunder)*

Team Vince

VJ Edgecombe (76ers)
Derik Queen (Pelicans)
Matas Buzelis (Bulls)
Kyshawn George (Wizards)
Egor Demin (Nets)
Cedric Coward (Grizzlies)
Jaylen Wells (Grizzlies)
Carter Bryant (Spurs)