rising stars game 2026
The 2026 NBA Rising Stars Game is the annual showcase for top rookies and second‑year players, held as part of NBA All‑Star Weekend in Los Angeles.
When and where
- Date: Friday, February 13, 2026.
- Time: 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
- Venue: Intuit Dome, Inglewood, California (home of the Los Angeles Clippers).
Format and structure
The 2026 Rising Stars is a four‑team mini‑tournament using a target‑score “Elam Ending” style.
- Teams:
- Three squads of seven NBA rookies/sophomores coached by Hall of Famers: Team Carmelo Anthony (Team Melo) , Team Tracy McGrady (Team T‑Mac) , and Team Vince Carter (Team Vince).
* One **Team Austin Rivers** composed of G League players.
- Gameplay rules:
- Semifinals: Two games played to a target score of 40 points (first team to reach or surpass 40 wins).
* **Championship:** The two semifinal winners meet in a final played to **25 points**.
Schedule and matchups
The mini‑tournament unfolds in three games on the same night.
- Game 1: Team Austin vs. Team Melo (9:00 p.m. ET).
- Game 2: Team Vince vs. Team T‑Mac (shortly after Game 1, around 9:55 p.m. ET).
- Game 3: Championship between the two semifinal winners (scheduled roughly around 10:35 p.m. ET).
Rosters and headliners
The 21 NBA players were chosen via ballots from NBA assistant coaches, then drafted into teams by the Hall of Fame coaches.
A few notable names frequently mentioned in coverage include:
- Cooper Flagg (Mavericks, top‑end rookie prospect).
- Reed Sheppard (Rockets).
- Stephon Castle (Spurs).
- Dylan Harper (Spurs).
- Donovan Clingan (Trail Blazers).
- Ace Bailey (Jazz).
Team Melo and Team T‑Mac are widely viewed as the most talent‑heavy squads, while Team Vince and Team Austin Rivers are seen as the underdogs in the betting markets.
How to watch
- Streaming: The 2026 Rising Stars is carried on Peacock in the U.S. (no traditional cable‑TV broadcast listed).
- International: Many global fans rely on NBA League Pass or local rights‑holders, depending on country.
Fan and betting context
The Rising Stars Game has become more competitive thanks to the target‑score format , which discourages clock‑killing and keeps defense sharper.
- Betting lines (as of Feb 13, 2026) had Team Melo as the favorite to win the tournament, with Team T‑Mac and Team Vince further back, and Team Austin Rivers as the biggest longshot.
- On forums and social media, discussion centers on which young stars will “break out” nationally and whether Team Melo’s stacked roster can live up to the hype.
Quick‑reference table
| Aspect | 2026 Rising Stars details |
|---|---|
| Date | Friday, February 13, 2026 | [1][3]
| Time | 9:00 p.m. ET | [7][3]
| Venue | Intuit Dome, Inglewood, CA | [9][1][2]
| Teams | Team Melo, Team T‑Mac, Team Vince, Team Austin Rivers | [1][9][3][7]
| Semifinals | First to 40 points each | [8][1][2][5]
| Championship | First to 25 points | [9][1][2][3]
| Streaming | Peacock (U.S.) | [3][7][9]
