The highest NBA rookies and sophomores can be on show within the 2026 Rising Stars on Friday as part of All-Star Weekend. G-Leaguers may also compete within the four-team event wherein the semifinals encompass groups taking part in to achieve 40 factors, with these winners then taking part in within the Rising Stars Championship Sport to 25 factors. The three groups of NBA gamers are coached by Corridor of Famers Carmelo Anthony, Tracy McGrady and Vince Carter, with Group G League led by Austin Rivers.
The Rising Stars 2026 will start at 9 p.m. ET from the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. Group Melo, who will not have Cooper Flagg (foot), continues to be the +160 favourite per the newest NBA odds from FanDuel Sportsbook, adopted by Group T-Mac (+180), Group Vince (+230) and Group Austin (+900). Group Melo is the 4.5-point favourite within the first sport in opposition to Group Austin, whereas Group T-Mac is -2.5 within the newest Rising Stars odds in opposition to Group Vince.
Earlier than making any 2026 Rising Stars picks, make sure you take a look at the 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend predictions from SportsLine professional Mike Barner.
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Barner is among the most revered voices within the trade, and his work has appeared in Sports activities Illustrated and on Yahoo, RotoWire and KFFL. He is additionally been featured on ESPN Radio. He digs deep into the info, analyzing crew developments and projecting sport outcomes. If there’s anyone who can spot an edge in a matchup or establish a participant in place to interrupt out, it is him.
Barner’s experience has been on full show these days as he enters the All-Star break on a 40-17 run on NBA picks (+2014). He’s coming off a dominant 2024-25 NBA season, ending 239-178-2 and returning $3,209 to $100 bettors. Anybody following at sportsbooks and on betting apps may have seen large returns.
Now, he has analyzed the 2026 Rising Stars lineups from all angles and simply locked in his coveted choose and predictions. He’s solely sharing his NBA picks and evaluation at SportsLine.
2026 Rising Stars event format
That is the fifth consecutive yr wherein the Rising Stars occasion will heart on a three-game event amongst 4 groups with seven gamers on every squad. The three groups of NBA gamers encompass a mixture of rookies and sophomores, with the G-League squad having solely gamers within the NBA’s developmental league. All three of the event video games can be performed to a Remaining Goal Rating, fairly than over a selected time frame.
The primary two video games can be performed to 40, with the ultimate performed to 25 to find out the Rising Stars Problem champion. The primary matchup at 9 p.m. ET is Group Carmelo Anthony (-4.5, O/U 73.5) vs. Group Austin Rivers, adopted by Group Tracy McGrady (-2.5, O/U 74.5) vs. Group Vince Carter. See which crew to again at SportsLine.
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Prime 2026 NBA Rising Stars predictions
Barner is fading Group Vince (+230), because it has the least achieved roster of gamers amongst the three squads that includes NBA gamers. Group T-Mac has the expertise edge over Vince Carter’s squad in that the previous has probably the most sophomores, with 5 second-year gamers in comparison with Group Vince having simply three. In the meantime, Melo’s crew has the reigning Rookie of the Yr in Stephon Fortress, plus the dimensions edge in 7-foor-2 heart Donovan Clingan.
Group Vince lacks the caliber of these two squads and has simply two gamers who had been top-10 draft picks in V.J. Edgecombe and Egor Demin. Melo’s crew has 4 top-5 draft picks, whereas T-Mac has 4 top-6 draftees. There is a sheer expertise hole between Vince Carter’s squad with these two others, and even in an exhibition sport just like the Rising Stars Problem, that gulf must be obvious on the scoreboard. See extra predictions at SportsLine.
How one can make 2026 NBA Rising Stars picks
Barner has studied the NBA Rising Stars sport from each angle and located a crucial X-factor that makes considered one of these groups a must-back on Friday night time. See who it’s over at SportsLine.
Who wins the NBA Rising Stars Problem 2026, and which crucial X-factor do you have to learn about? Go to SportsLine now to get Mike Barner’s choose for the NBA Rising Stars Problem 2026, all from the professional who has crushed his NBA picks, and discover out.
2026 NBA Rising Star odds, rosters
Group Melo (+160)
Cooper Flagg (Dallas Mavericks) (out with damage)
Ace Bailey (Utah Jazz)
Reed Sheppard (Houston Rockets)
Stephon Fortress (San Antonio Spurs)
Dylan Harper (San Antonio Spurs)
Jeremiah Fears (New Orleans Pelicans)
Donovan Clingan (Portland Path Blazers)
Collin Murray-Boyles (Toronto Raptors)
Group T-Mac (+190)
Kon Knueppel (Charlotte Hornets)
Kel’el Ware (Miami Warmth)
Tre Johnson (Washington Wizards)
Alex Sarr (Washington Wizards)
Ajay Mitchell (Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder)
Jaylon Tyson (Cleveland Cavaliers)
Cam Spencer (Memphis Grizzlies)
Group Vince (+230)
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)
Group Austin (+900)
Sean East II (Salt Lake Metropolis Stars)
Ron Harper Jr. (Maine Celtics)
David Jones Garcia (Austin Spurs) [injured, will not play*]
Yanic Konan Niederhäuser (San Diego Clippers)
Alijah Martin (Raptors 905)
Tristen Newton (Rio Grande Valley Vipers)
Yang Hansen (Rip Metropolis Remix)
Mac McClung (Chicago Bulls)
