The NBA’s Rising Stars showcase is always a highlight of All-Star Weekend - a glimpse into the league’s future, packed with young talent ready to make their mark. But this year’s edition will be missing two of its most exciting names. Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg and Washington Wizards second-year big man Alex Sarr have both been ruled out due to injury.
Flagg, who’s been turning heads since his debut in Dallas, is sidelined with a left midfoot sprain and won’t return until after the All-Star break. Over in Washington, Sarr is dealing with a hamstring strain that’s expected to keep him out for about two weeks. Both players were expected to be featured in the Rising Stars game, so their absence is a tough blow for fans hoping to see the next generation of stars on full display.
But as the saying goes, next man up - and the NBA has already named their replacements.
Utah Jazz rookie Ace Bailey will step in for Flagg, while Wizards guard Bub Carrington will take Sarr’s spot. Both players have earned this opportunity with strong stretches of play leading into the break.
Bailey’s season started off a bit slow in Salt Lake City, but he’s found his rhythm in recent weeks and has become a reliable piece in Will Hardy’s rotation. Since the calendar flipped to January, Bailey has been averaging 13.7 points and 4.6 rebounds per game, shooting a solid 46.4% from the field. Among rookies during that span, he ranks fifth in scoring - and he’s been remarkably consistent, hitting double figures in 14 of his last 16 games, including four outings with 20 or more points.
Bailey’s recent surge is a good sign for a Jazz team that’s building around a young core, and the Rising Stars game will give him a national platform to show just how far he’s come.
Carrington, meanwhile, has seen his role expand significantly in Washington following the departure of CJ McCollum and as the team awaits Trae Young’s debut post-trade. The second-year guard has started 24 of the 53 games he’s played this season and is putting up 10.2 points, 4.6 assists, and 3.5 rebounds per game. He’s also shooting a strong 39.3% from beyond the arc - a key stat for a team that’s leaned on his perimeter shooting more heavily in recent weeks.
Among second-year players, Carrington is one of just 16 averaging double-digit points and ranks third in made three-pointers. That kind of production, especially on a retooling Wizards squad, has quietly made him one of the more intriguing young guards in the league.
The 2026 Rising Stars game tips off on Friday, February 13, at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California - the new home of the LA Clippers. While Flagg and Sarr will be missed, Bailey and Carrington bring plenty of intrigue to the table. For both, it’s not just a showcase - it’s a chance to announce themselves on one of the NBA’s biggest stages.