H1: NBA’s 2026 Castrol Rising Stars: Draft Recap & All-Star Showdown
Castrol Rising Stars Draft Recap
The 2026 Castrol Rising Stars. A formidable trio of rookies, Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel, and VJ Edgecombe, headline the draft, selected as first-round picks by legendary coaches Carmelo Anthony, Tracy McGrady, and Vince Carter.
These top NBA rookies and sophomores will battle against a G League squad in a thrilling mini-tournament on Feb. 13 (9 ET, Peacock), adding star power to the 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles.
Team Draft Results
Team Melo
- 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)
Team T-Mac
- 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)
Team Vince
- VJ Edgecombe (Philadelphia 76ers)
- Derik Queen (New Orleans Pelicans)
- Kyshawn George (Washington Wizards)
- Matas Buzelis (Chicago Bulls)
- Egor Dёmin (Brooklyn Nets)
- Cedric Coward (Memphis Grizzlies)
- Jaylen Wells (Memphis Grizzlies)
G League Team – Team Austin (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)
Tournament Format & Selection Process
The Castrol Rising Stars draft consisted of three rounds with seven picks each. Assistant coaches determined the 21-player pool, ranking 10 rookies and 10 sophomores. Players were drafted based on their ranked points total. The final spot went to the higher-scoring player among the 11th-ranked finishers from each class.
The mini-tournament will follow a similar format to previous years: two semifinals, followed by a championship game decided by the first team to reach or surpass 25 points.
Did You Know?
This is the first time in NBA history that VJ Edgecombe, Kon Knueppel, and Cooper Flagg will compete together in an All-Star event.
Pro Tips
Keep your eyes on the NBA homepage or the NBA app for live updates and highlights of the 2026 Castrol Rising Stars mini-tournament.
FAQ
- Who are the honorary coaches for the 2026 Castrol Rising Stars? Carmelo Anthony, Tracy McGrady, Vince Carter, and Austin Rivers
- When and where will the 2026 Castrol Rising Stars mini-tournament take place? Feb. 13 (9 ET) at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, during the 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend.
- How can I watch the event? The mini-tournament will be televised live on Peacock.
The Future is Bright
With an incredible group of talented rookies and sophomores, the 2026 Castrol Rising Stars mini-tournament promises thrilling basketball action. Don’t miss out on witnessing the future of the NBA.
Call to Action
Share your thoughts on the draft and your predictions for the tournament in the comments below! Who do you think will shine brightest in the 2026 Castrol Rising Stars?