Matas Buzelis (Team Vince) and Stephon Castle (Team Melo) are 2 players to watch in Castrol Rising Stars.
From time to time, NBA.com’s writers will share their takes on the biggest storylines and trends around the league.
Which team will win the Castrol Rising Stars and why?
Editor’s Note: Castrol Rising Stars begins at 9 p.m. ET on Friday on Peacock.
Steve Aschburner
Team Melo. They’ve got size, they’ve got scoring, they’ve got defense and now they’ve got Ace Bailey, the Utah forward added as a sub for injured Cooper Flagg. Bailey allegedly got a double-dose of humility on Draft night when he slipped to fifth and got picked by the Jazz. Look, Salt Lake City is a fine destination, but it’s not a glamour stop on the NBA circuit. The Jazz don’t get a lot of attention nationally, a status compounded by their lottery-bound record. This is Bailey’s chance to hit the reset button on his rookie season and perceptions of his game.
Brian Martin
Team Vince. Coming out of the Draft, my pick would have been Team Melo led by No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg and reigning Kia Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle. But since the draft, every team in this competition has been hit with injuries, with one exception – Team Vince.
Shaun Powell
Team T-Mac. This team has the experience edge, which also gives them the slight edge in competition, or so it would seem. Anyway, Kon Knueppel is also the hottest rookie in the field now that Cooper Flagg is out. Therefore, Knueppel’s 3-point shooting plus a group of sophomores should spell victory for Team T-Mac.
John Schuhmann
Team Melo. These games go to a fixed score and can turn into a 3-point shooting contest. So I’ll take the team with the best group of shooters. Kon Knueppel, Cam Spencer and Jaylon Tyson are all shooting better than 43% from deep, while Bub Carrington and Tre Johnson are both better than average from beyond the arc as well.
