Wemby, Chet headline Rising Stars roster
San Antonio Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama and Oklahoma City Thunder big man Chet Holmgren highlight the selections for this year's Rising Stars game at All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis.
The annual mini-tournament features 21 rookies and sophomores, as well as seven NBA G League players.
The NBAers will be drafted onto three seven-player teams, while the G League players will make up the fourth team.
Here's the full list of players who made the cut:
Rookies
| Player | Team |
|---|---|
| Bilal Coulibaly | Washington Wizards |
| Keyonte George | Utah Jazz |
| Jordan Hawkins | New Orleans Pelicans |
| Scoot Henderson | Portland Trail Blazers |
| Chet Holmgren | Oklahoma City Thunder |
| Jaime Jaquez Jr. | Miami Heat |
| Dereck Lively II | Dallas Mavericks |
| Brandon Miller | Charlotte Hornets |
| Brandin Podziemski | Golden State Warriors |
| Cason Wallace | Oklahoma City Thunder |
| Victor Wembanyama | San Antonio Spurs |
Wembanyama has taken the NBA by storm, averaging 20.6 points, 10.1 rebounds, and a league-leading 3.1 blocks. Meanwhile, Holmgren has been equally impressive after missing the entire 2022-23 campaign due to injury. The Gonzaga product is averaging 16.7 points on 53.3% shooting - including a 37.4% clip from deep. His 120 swats trail only Brook Lopez and Wembanyama.
Henderson, who went third overall last summer to the Blazers, is making his third Rising Stars appearance after two previous showings with the Ignite. Jaquez ranks in the top 10 among first-year players in points, assists, and steals.
Sophomores
| Player | Team |
|---|---|
| Paolo Banchero | Orlando Magic |
| Dyson Daniels | New Orleans Pelicans |
| Jalen Duren | Detroit Pistons |
| Jaden Ivey | Detroit Pistons |
| Walker Kessler | Utah Jazz |
| Bennedict Mathurin | Indiana Pacers |
| Keegan Murray | Sacramento Kings |
| Shaedon Sharpe | Portland Trail Blazers |
| Jabari Smith Jr. | Houston Rockets |
| Jalen Williams | Oklahoma City Thunder |
Banchero is the reigning Rookie of the Year. The Magic forward has built on his impressive debut campaign, averaging 23 points, seven rebounds, and five assists across 47 appearances this season.
Williams has been a key part of the Thunder's rise this season. He's made 45% of his threes, which ranks fifth in the Association. Murray's had a similar role on an up-and-coming Kings squad. The highlight of his sophomore year was a career-high 47-point outburst versus the Utah Jazz, which included a 12-of-15 shooting performance from downtown.
NBA G League
| Player | Team |
|---|---|
| Izan Almansa | G League Ignite |
| Matas Buzelis | G League Ignite |
| Ron Holland | G League Ignite |
| Mac McClung | Osceola Magic |
| Tyler Smith | G League Ignite |
| Oscar Tshiebwe | Indiana Mad Ants |
| Alondes Williams | Sioux Falls Skyforce |
The quartet of Ignite players are projected to be first-round picks in this year's NBA draft.
McClung played sparingly in the Association after going undrafted in 2021 but rose to fame after capturing last year's Slam Dunk contest title.
Former Pacers stars Jalen Rose and Detlef Schrempf and Hall of Famers Pau Gasol and Tamika Catchings will serve as honorary head coaches for the event.
The first two games will be played to a final target score of 40. The winners from each semifinal will square off in the final, where the target score is set at 25.