After being freshmen teammates at Duke, Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel will be featured in the NBA’s Rising Stars at next month’s NBA All-Star Weekend. Raymond Carlin III / Imagn Images
Jan. 26, 2026 7:05 pm EST
The NBA has unveiled the participants for the 2026 Castrol Rising Stars Challenge, taking place on Friday, Feb. 13, at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. This annual event showcases the league’s premier first- and second-year players, along with standout talent from the NBA G League.
The participants are as follows:
NBA Rookies
Cooper Flagg (DAL)
Cedric Coward (MEM)
Egor Dëmin (BKN)
VJ Edgecombe (PHI)
Jeremiah Fears (NOP)
Dylan Harper (SAS)
Tre Johnson (WAS)
Kon Knueppel (CHA)
Collin Murray-Boyles (TOR)
Derik Queen (NOP)
NBA Sophomores
Matas Buzelis (CHI)
Stephon Castle (SAS)
Donovan Clingan (POR)
Kyshawn George (WAS)
Ajay Mitchell (OKC)
Alex Sarr (WAS)
Reed Sheppard (HOU)
Cam Spencer (MEM)
Jaylon Tyson (CLE)
Kel’el Ware (MIA)
Jaylen Wells (MEM)
NBA G League
Sean East II (SLC)
Yang Hansen (RCR)
Ron Harper Jr. (MNE)
David Jones Garcia (AUS)
Yanic Konan Niederhäser (SDC)
Alijah Martin (RAP)
Tristen Newton (RGV)
The 2026 Rising Stars Challenge will feature 21 NBA players (rookies and sophomores) and seven NBA G League players. The NBA players will be drafted onto three seven-player teams on Tuesday, January 27, at 7 p.m. ET – with the NBA G League players comprising the fourth team.
Carmelo Anthony, Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady and Austin Rivers will serve as the four honorary coaches selected for the Castrol Rising Stars mini tourney. Rivers will be the head coach of the G League players.
Fans can watch the four teams compete in the Castrol Rising Stars mini tournament on Friday, February 13, at 9 p.m. ET on Peacock. Fans can also stream the event via the NBA App and NBA.com.
