The NBA announced its pool of participants for the 2026 Castrol Rising Stars game on Peacock on Monday, Jan. 26. Twenty-one players – 10 rookies and 11 sophomores – along with seven G Leaguers were chosen to represent the future of the NBA to tip-off All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles on Feb. 13.
The rookies are headlined by 2025 No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg, who has looked every bit the franchise centerpiece the Dallas Mavericks were in desperate need of after shipping out Luka Doncic a year ago. Memphis Grizzlies emerging wing Cedric Coward is also in the pool, along with the New Orleans’ Pelicans’ duo of breakout stars Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen.
Stephon Castle has established himself as a solid running mate for San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama; he’s among the sophomores selected. So is Houston Rockets guard Reed Sheppard, who has stepped up from his early season struggles in the absence of Fred VanVleet.
The players will be drafted into three teams on Tuesday, Jan. 27 with a fourth comprised entirely of G League players. Carmelo Anthony, Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady and Austin Rivers will serve as the coaches for each team.
Here is the full list of players they will be picking from:
2026 NBA Rising Stars roster
Here is every player named to the Rising Stars game:
Rookies
Cedric Coward, Memphis Grizzlies
Egor Demin, Brooklyn Nets
V.J. Edgecombe, Philadelphia 76ers
Jeremiah Fears, New Orleans Pelicans
Cooper Flagg, Dallas Mavericks
Dylan Harper, San Antonio Spurs
Tre Johnson, Washington Wizards
Kon Knueppel, Charlotte Hornets
Collin Murray-Boyles, Toronto Raptors
Derik Queen, New Orleans Pelicans
Sophomores
Matas Buzelis, Chicago Bulls
Stephon Castle, San Antonio Spurs
Donovan Clingan, Portland Trail Blazers
Kyshawn George, Washington Wizards
Ajay Mitchell, Oklahoma City Thunder
Alex Sarr, Washington Wizards
Reed Sheppard, Houston Rockets
Cam Spencer, Memphis Grizzlies
Jalon Tyson, Cleveland Cavaliers
Kel’el Ware, Miami Heat
Jaylen Wells, Memphis Grizzlies
G League
Sean East, Salt Lake City Stars
Ron Harper Jr., Maine Celtics
David Jones Garcia, Austin Spurs
Yanic Konan Niederhauser, San Diego Clippers
Alijah Martin, Raptors 905
Tristen Newton, Rio Grande Valley Vipers
Yang Hansen, Rip City Remix
Rising Stars format
Four teams of seven players each will face off in a mini tournament. Tip-off is scheduled for 9 p.m. ET (6 p.m. PT) on Friday, Feb. 13 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.
