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NBA Rising Stars Game: Rosters, Picks, Payouts for Every Team

Charlotte Hornets G-F Kon Knueppel shoots a free throw against the Dallas Mavericks.
AP Photo/Jessica Tobias

The 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend takes place in the Los Angeles Clippers’ Intuit Dome, featuring a full schedule of events

The festivities begin on Friday with the Celebrity Game and Rising Stars Game. The 2026 Castrol Rising Stars will cap Friday night with a 9:00 p.m. ET tip on Peacock, showcasing some of the league’s top young talents.

Let’s look at everything you need to know for Friday’s event, including NBA Rising Stars Game rosters, picks, and payouts for every team on PrizePicks Team Picks.

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NBA Rising Stars Game Rosters, Pick, Payouts

The Rising Stars Game was altered in 2022. Four teams participate, consisting of 21 NBA rookies and sophomores and seven G-League players. Each matchup features a target score of 40.

Dallas Mavericks F Cooper Flagg (foot), Washington Wizards PF/C Alex Sarr (hamstring), and Oklahoma City Thunder G Ajay Mitchell (abdominal) have been replaced in the event by Utah Jazz F Ace Bailey, Wizards G Bub Carrington, and Atlanta Hawks F Zaccharie Risacher.

After filling in for San Antonio Spurs G David Jones Garcia, Chicago Bulls G Mac McClung is now out and replaced by Miami Heat G Jahmir Young.

With that said, let’s dig into the Rising Stars rosters. 


2026 NBA Castrol Rising Stars Game Rosters

Three teams include first- and second-year NBA players, while Team Austin is exclusive to G-League pieces.

Team Melo

  • Spurs G Stephon Castle
  • Rockets G Reed Sheppard
  • Spurs G Dylan Harper
  • Pelicans G Jeremiah Fears
  • Jazz F Ace Bailey
  • Raptors F Collin Murray-Boyles
  • Trail Blazers C Donovan Clingan

Team T-Mac

  • Hornets G Kon Knueppel
  • Wizards G Tre Johnson
  • Cavaliers G Jaylon Tyson
  • Grizzlies G Cam Spencer
  • Wizards G Bub Carrington
  • Hawks F Zaccharie Risacher
  • Heat PF/C Kel’el Ware

Team Vince

  • 76ers G VJ Edgecombe
  • Nets G Egor Demin
  • Grizzlies G Cedric Coward
  • Wizards F Kyshawn George
  • Grizzlies F Jaylen Wells
  • Bulls F Matas Buzelis
  • Pelicans C Derik Queen

Team Austin

  • Raptors G Alijah Martin
  • Celtics G Ron Harper Jr.
  • Rockets G Tristen Newton
  • Heat G Jahmir Young
  • Jazz G Sean East II
  • Clippers C Yanic Konan Niederhauser
  • Trail Blazers C Yang Hansen

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NBA Rising Stars Payouts

According to PrizePicks Team Picks, Team Austin is the clear underdog of the four-team field, returning a 6.25x payout for a "Yes" outcome on winning.

The top three favorites feature squads full of rookie and sophomore NBA players.

NBA Rising Stars Tournament Winner Payouts

  • Team Melo: 2.38x Yes | 1.47x No
  • Team T-Mac: 2.85x Yes | 1.33x No
  • Team Vince: 3.33x Yes | 1.26x No
  • Team Austin: 6.25x Yes | 1.07x No

Team Picks data is live as of writing and is subject to change.


NBA Rising Stars Game Pick

Now, it’s time to dig into our top pick for the Rising Stars winner. Which squad could reign supreme on Friday night?

Team T-Mac

Since the Rising Stars format shifted in 2022, a G-League team hasn't won the event. With that in mind, focus could be on Teams Melo, T-Mac, and Vince.

As mentioned, Flagg is missing this event due to injury. Behind the Mavericks star, Knueppel is the second favorite to win Rookie of the Year (5x payout) on PrizePicks Team Picks

The Hornets G-F has totaled 18.9 points per game (PPG) while shooting 43.1% from beyond the arc. With 183 made 3-pointers, he’s firmly on pace to surpass Kings F Keegan Murray’s single-season rookie record of 206. 

Team T-Mac is loaded with snipers, as Johnson (38.6%), Carrington (39.3%), Tyson (47.5%), and Spencer (44.7%) all feature excellent efficiency from deep. Ware is a strong interior player, posting 9.2 rebounds per game (RPG) while shooting 52.3% from the field. The second-year big can step outside and knock down treys, evidenced by his 40.3% mark.

This squad is volatile, likely relying on 3-point success. However, a hot streak could secure the tournament. Between Knueppel, Tyson, and Spencer's outside proficiency, paired with Ware’s strong paint presence, this team catches the eye as the second-favorite to win the event (2.85x).


Make NBA All-Star Weekend Picks on PrizePicks

Which Rising Stars team could have the most success on Friday night? Team Melo is the favorite, led by second-year guards Castle and Sheppard. However, Team T-Mac’s lineup of 3-point specialists could catch fire in a hurry.

Make your hoops picks on PrizePicks and PrizePicks Team Picks. Just pick players and predict More or Less on their projected stats. With Team Picks, make predictions on winners, spreads, and over/unders, and more — now available in 34 states!

Keep it locked in here with the Playbook for continued NBA news, analysis, and picks.

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Team Picks and Culture Picks are event contracts offered by Performance Predictions II, LLC d/b/a PrizePicks Predict, a CFTC-registered FCM and NFA Member. All event contract customers must be U.S. residents and 18+. Some event contracts may not be available in every state. Event contract trading carries significant risk and is not appropriate for everyone. No guarantee against loss is offered. Past results are not necessarily indicative of future results. Void where prohibited by law. Restrictions apply. For full terms of service see prizepicks.com/predict-regulatory. Team and Culture Pick Early Payouts subject to market liquidity. The content provided is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice, or a recommendation to trade any commodity interest.

about the author

Riley Thomas is a 2021 graduate of Ohio University who has worked for FanDuel Sportsbook and BetUS Sportsbook. He specializes in covering the NFL, NBA, college football, and college basketball. In Riley's free time, you can find him cheering on Ohio State and Kentucky or playing video games and reading the latest comics.

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