NBA Rising Stars Challenge Overview
This Friday, February 13, the exhilarating talent of the NBA’s upcoming stars will be showcased at the Rising Stars Challenge, taking place at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. The event features standout players from around the league, including rookies Kon Knueppel from the Charlotte Hornets and VJ Edgecombe from the Philadelphia 76ers, who are set to lead their respective teams in the tournament.
Player Updates
Fans were initially excited for Dallas Mavericks’ Cooper Flagg to participate; however, his participation was canceled due to an injury shortly before the event. Flagg has been performing remarkably well this season, averaging 20.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.1 assists over 49 games, and was considered a strong contender for the NBA’s Rookie of the Year award, according to BetMGM odds.
In another unfortunate turn of events, Washington Wizards center Alex Sarr has also been ruled out after suffering a hamstring injury, forcing him to miss approximately two weeks of play.
Team Representations
Despite these setbacks, Knueppel, second in rookie stats with averages of 18.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in 53 games, will represent Team T-Mac. Edgecombe, with his averages of 14.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.2 assists in 49 contests, will be a key player for Team Vince. Also participating are Stephon Castle of the San Antonio Spurs and Ajay Mitchell of the Oklahoma City Thunder, rounding out a competitive field.
Match Schedule
The competition will kick off featuring matchups among the teams, including Team Melo, Team T-Mac, and Team Vince, with the Rising Stars Championship to follow. Fans eager to catch the action can tune in at 9 PM ET (6 PM PT) via Peacock.
Rosters for the NBA Rising Stars Challenge
- Team Melo: Cooper Flagg, Stephon Castle, Dylan Harper, Jeremiah Fears, Donovan Clingan, Collin Murray-Boyles
- Team T-Mac: Kon Knueppel, Kel’el Ware, Tre Johnson, Ajay Mitchell, Jaylon Tyson, Cam Spencer
- Team Vince: VJ Edgecombe, Derik Queen, Kyshawn George, Matas Buzelis, Egor Demin, Cedric Coward, Jaylen Wells
- Team Austin: Sean East II, Ron Harper Jr., Yanic Konan Niederhauser, Alijah Martin, Tristen Newton, Yang Hansen, Mac McClung, David Jones Garcia
Match Schedule
- Game 1: Team Melo vs. Team Austin
- Game 2: Team Vince vs. Team T-Mac
- Championship: Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2
This thrilling exhibition promises to be a highlight of the NBA All-Star Weekend, shining a spotlight on the league’s next big names.
This report originally appeared on USA TODAY, detailing how to view the NBA Rising Stars Challenge.
