Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel Lead Castrol Rising Stars Draft Selections

In a thrilling announcement, Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel emerged as the top selections in the 2026 Castrol Rising Stars draft. This event featured rising talents in the NBA, with Flagg going to the Dallas Mavericks and Knueppel to the Charlotte Hornets.

Overview of the Draft

The 2026 Castrol Rising Stars draft took place on a Tuesday, showcasing rookie and sophomore players. The selections were made by honorary coaches Carmelo Anthony, Tracy McGrady, and Vince Carter, emphasizing the competitiveness and excitement of the event.

Teams and Players

• Team Melo:
  • Cooper Flagg (Dallas Mavericks)
  • Reed Sheppard (Houston Rockets)
  • Stephon Castle (San Antonio Spurs)
  • Dylan Harper (San Antonio Spurs)
  • Jeremiah Fears (New Orleans Pelicans)
  • Donovan Clingan (Portland Trail Blazers)
  • Collin Murray-Boyles (Toronto Raptors)
• Team T-Mac:
  • Kon Knueppel (Charlotte Hornets)
  • Kel’el Ware (Miami Heat)
  • Tre Johnson (Washington Wizards)
  • Alex Sarr (Washington Wizards)
  • Ajay Mitchell (Oklahoma City Thunder)
  • Jaylon Tyson (Cleveland Cavaliers)
  • Cam Spencer (Memphis Grizzlies)
• Team Vince:
  • VJ Edgecombe (Philadelphia 76ers)
  • Derik Queen (New Orleans Pelicans)
  • Kyshawn George (Washington Wizards)
  • Matas Buzelis (Chicago Bulls)
  • Egor Dёmin (Brooklyn Nets)
  • Cedric Coward (Memphis Grizzlies)
  • Jaylen Wells (Memphis Grizzlies)

Details of the Mini-Tournament

The mini-tournament will take place on February 13, 2026, at the Intuit Dome, home of the LA Clippers. This competitive event features a match-up between the drafted teams and a G League squad coached by former NBA player Austin Rivers.

Tournament Format

The Rising Stars mini-tournament format includes the following:

• Game 1: Team A vs. Team B (First semifinal)
• Game 2: Team C vs. Team D (Second semifinal)
• Championship: Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2

Each semifinal game is won by the first team to reach 40 points. The championship requires 25 points to win.

Selection Process

The pool of 21 players was determined by NBA assistant coaches. Each coach submitted a ballot ranking rookies and sophomores. The top ten players based on total points were selected, with an additional spot awarded to the higher-scoring 11th player in each category.

The 2026 Castrol Rising Stars draft has set the stage for an exciting showcase of emerging talent. Fans can look forward to an exhilarating competition featuring these standout players.