Updated Feb. 13, 2026, 9:42 p.m. ET
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — The NBA Rising Stars Challenge will serve as the headline event for Friday’s All-Star Weekend festivities in the Los Angeles area.
Rookies Kon Knueppel (Charlotte Hornets) and VJ Edgecombe (Philadelphia 76ers) will be among the talent competing in the tournament.
Knueppel is averaging 18.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game in 53 games played for Charlotte. He will play for Team T-Mac. Edgecombe has averaged 14.9 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.2 assists in 49 games played for Philly. He’ll play for Team Vince.
Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg was expected to compete, but was a late scratch due to injury. Washington Wizards center Alex Sarr was also scheduled to participate but will not play due to a hamstring injury.
Ace Bailey (Utah Jazz) and Bub Carrington (Washington Wizards) were named as their respective replacements.
Rising Stars Semifinal Game 1: Team Melo 40, Team Austin 34
Just when it looked like Team Austin and the G Leaguers would scratch out an upset, Team Melo locked in. Rockets guard Reed Sheppard (Melo) drained consecutive 3s to reclaim the lead.
Then, Spurs guard Stephon Castle attacked the paint and got to the line for a pair of free throws, before Pelicans guard Jeremiah Fears floated a bank jumper, leaving Team Melo two points away from victory.
After Team Austin airballed a 3, Spurs rookie Dylan Harper ended the game with a short stepback jumper in the paint.
Sheppard and Donovan Clingan led Team Melo with 9 points apiece, while Fears added 7.
For Team Austin, Yanic Konan Niederhauser paced the way with 11 points on 5-of-7 shooting, while Yang Hansen chipped in 10 points on 4-of-5 from the field.
Second timeout: Team Austin 30, Team Melo 26
The young G Leaguers have taken control of the game. Now just 10 points away from a win, the pair of Team Austin bigs Yanic Konan Niederhauser (9 points and 2 rebounds) and Yang Hansen (8 points) have attacked the basket.
Niederhauser has flushed home a couple of alley-oop dunks, while Hansen has flashed steady footwork to create space; on the most recent basket, Hansen jab stepped multiple times, getting Donovan Clingan out of position and allowing Hansen to cruise through the paint for an easy lay-in.
First timeout: Team Melo 16, Team Austin 12
The first semifinal game of the showcase features Team Austin, led by former NBA guard Austin Rivers, against Team Melo, led by NBA Hall of Fame forward Carmelo Anthony. Team Melo is arguably the most balanced and complete roster, with high-profile second-year players and rookies. Team Austin features G League stars.
Early on, however, Team Austin held its own, fighting back from a six-point deficit to close the Team Melo lead.
It has been a showcase of bigs, as Trail Blazers center Donovan Clingan (Melo) leads all players with 9 points. On Team Austin, it was Yanic Konan Niederhauser who scored 5 early points, including a 3 he swished.
Ron Harper Jr. (Austin), who is battling against his brother, Spurs rookie Dylan Harper (Melo), scooped 5 early rebounds.
How to watch NBA Rising Stars Game?
Where: Intuit Dome (Inglewood, California)
When: Friday, Feb. 13, 9 p.m. ET (6 p.m. PT)
TV/Stream: Peacock
Who will play in NBA Rising Stars Game?
Team Melo: Ace Bailey, 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, Bub Carrington
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
NBA Rising Stars game schedule
- Game 1: Team Melo vs. Team Austin
- Game 2: Team Vince vs. Team T-Mac
- Rising Stars championship: (G1 winner vs. G2 winner)