Rising Stars 2026 | With Alex Sara, but without Zachary Rizacher or Maxime Reynaud

It was announced by the NBA the identity of the 28 players invited to ” Castrol Rising Stars », the new name “Challenge Rising Star” from last year.

The Frenchman was detained and isAlec Sarrattractive for the second year in Washington. On the other hand, we could also see Zachary Rizaher or Maxime Reynaud, only that they were not selected in the team of “sophomores” and “beginners”.

If Maxime Reynaud faces stiff competition among the “first-years,” as the ten players drafted are all from the top 14 of the 2025 draft, Zachary Rizacher is paying for his contrasting performances in Atlanta (as well as his absence the past three weeks?).

Even without the pair of Risacher/Rainaud, the lineups in this competition of young players will look great in any case.

Three Hall of Famers in coaching

That’s how we will find ourselves in the clan of “beginners”. Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper, VJ Edgecombe, Knuppel could, Tre Johnson, Jeremiah Fears, Egor Demin, Colin Murray-Boyles, Cedric Coward etc Derrick Queen.

In the clan of “sophomores” we will also find Alex Sara, but also Reed Sheppard, Stephen Castle, Donovan Clingan, Matas Buzelis, Kel’el Ware, Jailon Tison, Kishawn George, Ajay Mitchell, Jaylen Wells etc Cam Spencer.

Those 21 players will then be divided into three teams of seven and the draft will be held this Tuesday, with Carmelo Anthony, Tracy McGrady and Vince Carter serving as coaches responsible for building their teams.

Note that the fourth team, led by Austin Rivers, will once again be made up of players who mostly play in the G-League. We will find it there Yang Hansen, Janić Konan Niederhauser, David Jones Garcia, Tristen Newton, Aliyah Martin, Ron Harper Jr. etc Sean East II.

The four teams will face off on February 13 at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. First in two semi-finals, before the final, then the grand champion is determined.