Cooper Flagg, Stephon Castle, and VJ Edgecombe have been announced as the leading players for the NBA’s Rising Stars showcase, which is set to occur during the All-Star Weekend. The selection of these promising rookies comes as excitement builds for the mini-tournament, featuring a combination of first- and second-year NBA players alongside G League talent.
Stephon Castle, who is representing the San Antonio Spurs, is the current Rookie of the Year, while Cooper Flagg of the Dallas Mavericks is predicted to claim the title this season due to his impressive performance. In total, the showcase will feature 21 young NBA players along with seven players from the G League, all chosen by NBA assistant coaches, with the G League players selected by the league office.
The teams for the showcase were selected in a snake draft by prominent NBC analysts and former NBA stars—Vince Carter, Carmelo Anthony, and Tracy McGrady—who will also serve as team captains and coaches. Anthony kicked off the draft choosing Flagg first, setting the stage for a lineup that prominently features four consecutive rookies. McGrady followed by selecting Knueppel, a sharpshooter from the Charlotte Hornets, while Carter picked Edgecombe third.
Throughout the draft, which displayed a mix of emerging talent, second-year players began to be chosen after the rookies. Miami Heat’s Kel’el Ware was the first sophomore picked by Team T-Mac, followed by teammates Reed Sheppard and Castle making their way onto Team Melo.
The G League players will be coached by former NBA player Austin Rivers, adding to the competitiveness of the tournament, which will kick off the All-Star festivities on Friday, February 13, at the Intuit Dome, home of the Los Angeles Clippers. NBC has recently acquired the broadcast rights for the NBA’s All-Star Weekend, marking a new era in its sports broadcasting.
The drafted teams reflect a bright future for the league, showcasing an abundance of talent among these rising stars. Fans eagerly anticipate how these players will perform in a format that emphasizes skill, teamwork, and the spirit of competition.