The Rising Stars Challenge is shaping up to be one of the most entertaining events of All-Star Weekend, and now we know exactly how the rosters stack up. The NBA revealed the results of a live, schoolyard-style draft Tuesday night, with Hall of Famers Carmelo Anthony, Vince Carter, and Tracy McGrady selecting from a pool of 21 rookies and sophomores. These three legends - who also happen to be part of NBC Sports' NBA broadcast crew - will each coach one of the teams when the action tips off in Los Angeles next month.
Let’s break down the rosters and the early storylines heading into the mini-tournament.
Team Carmelo Anthony
- Cooper Flagg (Dallas Mavericks)
- Reed Sheppard (Houston Rockets)
- Stephon Castle (San Antonio Spurs)
- Dylan Harper (San Antonio Spurs)
- Jeremiah Fears (New Orleans Pelicans)
- Donovan Clingan (Portland Trail Blazers)
- Collin Murray-Boyles (Toronto Raptors)
Carmelo had the first pick, and he didn’t overthink it - Cooper Flagg went No. 1 overall, and honestly, anything else would’ve been a shock. Flagg’s blend of size, skill, and confidence has already made him a headliner, even among this elite group.
Add in Sheppard’s shooting, Castle’s versatility, and Harper’s athleticism, and Melo’s squad looks built to run. This team has transition firepower and enough spacing to punish defenses that sag off.
Fears and Clingan round out the group with a nice balance of playmaking and interior presence.
Team Vince Carter
- VJ Edgecombe (Philadelphia 76ers)
- Derik Queen (New Orleans Pelicans)
- Kyshawn George (Washington Wizards)
- Matas Buzelis (Chicago Bulls)
- Egor Dëmin (Brooklyn Nets)
- Cedric Coward (Memphis Grizzlies)
- Jaylen Wells (Memphis Grizzlies)
Vince Carter made the first eyebrow-raising move of the night, selecting Derik Queen with the fourth overall pick - ahead of any sophomore. That’s a bold call, but Queen has been turning heads in New Orleans with his footwork, touch, and feel for the game.
Edgecombe brings a dynamic scoring punch, and Buzelis adds size and shot creation. Coward might be the sleeper here - he’s a gritty, underrated forward who could thrive in this kind of open-floor setting.
This team’s length and versatility make them dangerous, especially if Queen imposes his will early.
Team Tracy McGrady
- Kon Knueppel (Charlotte Hornets)
- Kel’el Ware (Miami Heat)
- Tre Johnson (Washington Wizards)
- Alex Sarr (Washington Wizards)
- Ajay Mitchell (Oklahoma City Thunder)
- Jaylon Tyson (Cleveland Cavaliers)
- Cam Spencer (Memphis Grizzlies)
McGrady went with a defensive-minded approach early, grabbing Kel’el Ware as the first sophomore off the board. Ware’s rim protection and athleticism give this team a strong interior anchor, and T-Mac clearly wanted someone who could clean up mistakes and control the paint.
Sarr adds another layer of size and mobility, while Knueppel and Spencer bring shooting. This group might not be the flashiest on paper, but they’ve got the pieces to frustrate opponents - especially if the game slows down.
G League Team (Coached by Austin Rivers)
- Sean East II (Salt Lake City Stars)
- Ron Harper Jr. (Maine Celtics)
- David Jones Garcia (Austin Spurs)
- Yanic Konan Niederhäuser (San Diego Clippers)
- Alijah Martin (Raptors 905)
- Tristen Newton (Rio Grande Valley Vipers)
- Yang Hansen (Rip City Remix)
The fourth team in the mix is made up entirely of G League talent and will be coached by former NBA guard and current NBC analyst Austin Rivers. Don’t sleep on this group - every year, there’s at least one G League standout who takes the opportunity to show they belong.
Ron Harper Jr. brings NBA experience, and Sean East II has been lighting it up in Salt Lake. This team might not have the star power of the others, but they’ve got the hunger.
Format Breakdown
The Rising Stars Challenge sticks with the mini-tournament format that brought a fresh twist last year. Here’s how it works:
- Four teams total: three made up of NBA rookies and sophomores, one made up of G League players.
- Two semifinal games, each played to 40 points - no clock, just first to 40 wins.
- The winners of those games square off in a championship game played to 25 points.
It’s a race to the finish, and that format tends to bring out the competitive fire - even in a setting that’s usually more about highlights than defense.
Early Takeaways
If you’re looking for the early favorite, Team Carmelo Anthony checks a lot of boxes. Flagg is the headliner, but the supporting cast is what makes them dangerous.
Castle and Harper can both push the tempo, Sheppard gives them a knockdown shooter on the wing, and Clingan provides size and rim protection. This team feels tailor-made for the kind of fast-paced, high-flying basketball that defines the Rising Stars Challenge.
That said, Team Vince Carter could be a problem if Derik Queen shows out. He’s got the kind of game that can thrive in this format - skilled, fluid, and unafraid. Edgecombe and Buzelis add scoring punch, and Coward might be the most underrated piece in the whole event.
Team McGrady is the wild card. They’ve got the length, the defense, and some sneaky-good shooters. If Ware and Sarr dominate the paint, they could grind out wins while the other teams are trading highlights.
When and Where to Watch
The Rising Stars Challenge tips off at 9 p.m. ET on Friday, Feb. 13, at the brand-new Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California - just down the street from the legendary Forum, where Magic and the Showtime Lakers once put on a show of their own.
Fans can catch all the action on NBC and Peacock, including the Rising Stars game, All-Star Saturday Night (featuring the Dunk Contest and 3-Point Contest), and the All-Star Game itself on Sunday, Feb. 15.
Get ready - the next wave of NBA talent is about to take center stage, and if the rosters are any indication, they’re coming in hot.