The NBA has announced the 28 players selected for the 2026 Castrol Rising Stars Challenge, highlighting top rookies, sophomores and G League talents. Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel, former Duke teammates, lead the rookie class, while Donovan Clingan and Jaylon Tyson represent promising second-year players. The event will take place on February 13 at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles during All-Star Weekend.
The NBA unveiled the participants for the 2026 Castrol Rising Stars Challenge on January 26, selecting 28 players to compete in a mini-tournament on Friday, February 13, at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. This annual showcase features the league's premier first- and second-year players alongside standout NBA G League performers, offering a platform for emerging talents to shine.
The roster includes 10 rookies, 11 sophomores and seven G League players. Among the rookies are Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg, the top pick from last year's draft, averaging 18.8 points, 6.4 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game for the 19-27 Mavericks. Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel joins him, along with Philadelphia 76ers' VJ Edgecombe, Brooklyn Nets' Egor Dëmin, San Antonio Spurs' Dylan Harper, Washington Wizards' Tre Johnson, Memphis Grizzlies' Cedric Coward, New Orleans Pelicans' Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen, and Toronto Raptors' Collin Murray-Boyles.
Sophomores include Portland Trail Blazers center Donovan Clingan, who has averaged 11.3 points, 10.9 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 42 games, ranking fourth in the league in rebounds per game and leading in contested shots at 12.8 per game. Cleveland Cavaliers wing Jaylon Tyson has posted career highs of 13.7 points, 5.5 rebounds and 46.2% from three-point range, fifth-best in the NBA. Other sophomores are Chicago Bulls' Matas Buzelis, San Antonio's Stephon Castle, Washington Wizards' Kyshawn George and Alex Sarr, Oklahoma City Thunder's Ajay Mitchell, Houston Rockets' Reed Sheppard, Memphis' Cam Spencer and Jaylen Wells, Miami Heat's Kel'el Ware.
The G League contingent features Portland affiliate Yang Hansen, who averages 17.0 points and 9.2 rebounds in eight games with the Rip City Remix, despite modest NBA stats of 2.3 points in 26 appearances. Others include Sean East II (Salt Lake City Stars), Ron Harper Jr. (Maine Celtics), David Jones Garcia (Austin Spurs), Yanic Konan Niederhäser (Sioux Falls Skyforce), Alijah Martin (Raptors 905) and Tristen Newton (Rio Grande Valley Vipers).
On Tuesday, January 27, at 7 p.m. ET, honorary coaches Carmelo Anthony, Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady will draft the three seven-player NBA teams on Peacock, with Austin Rivers leading the G League squad. The tournament format includes two semifinal games to 40 points, with winners advancing to a final to 25 points, broadcast at 9 p.m. ET on Peacock, the NBA App and NBA.com.
This selection underscores the depth of young talent across the league, with players like Flagg and Clingan already making significant impacts on their teams' performances.
