Basketball’s stars of tomorrow will help kick off All-Star Weekend on Friday night in the 2026 Castrol Rising Stars Challenge.
Three teams of top NBA rookies and sophomores, along with one G League unit, will compete in a mini-tournament that tips off at 9 p.m. ET at Inglewood’s Intuit Dome, streaming on Peacock.
For the initial round, the first team to reach or surpass 40 points will be crowned the winner.
Here’s a look at opening odds for the first-round matchups and eventual champion on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Opening Odds for 2026 NBA Rising Stars Challenge First Round
Team Austin vs. Team Melo (9 p.m. ET)
Carmelo Anthony’s squad took a hit after his first overall pick, Cooper Flagg, hit the sidelines with a foot sprain. Still, the roster remains loaded with emerging talent, including Portland big man Donovan Clingan, Houston sharpshooter Reed Sheppard, and reigning Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle.
Meanwhile, Austin Rivers’ G League squad is led by Sean East II, Ron Harper Jr., and Yanic Konan Niederhauser.
Team Melo enters as a considerable 4.5-point favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook, while Team Rivers sits as a +220 underdog. The game total is set at 71.5 points.
Team T-Mac vs. Team Vince (9:55 p.m. ET)
Former Raptors teammates, cousins, and podcast co-hosts Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady will coach against each other in the opening round of the Rising Stars Challenge.
Team Vince is led by 76ers standout VJ Edgecombe and also features New Orleans’ Derik Queen, Washington’s Kyshawn George, and Chicago’s Matas Buzelis.
Team T-Mac is headlined by burgeoning Hornets superstar Kon Knueppel, who’s on pace to shatter the rookie regular-season three-point record. He’s flanked by Miami’s Kel’el Ware and Washington’s Tre Johnson — though Wizards big man Alex Sarr and Thunder guard Ajay Mitchell won’t play due to injury.
Even so, Team T-Mac enters as a 2.5-point favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook, while Team Vince sits as a +136 underdog. The game total is set at 74.5 points.
Opening Odds for 2026 NBA Rising Stars Challenge Champion
The Knueppel-led Team T-Mac currently sits as a +180 favorite to win the tournament on DraftKings Sportsbook, followed by Team Vince (+230), Team Melo (+230), and Team Austin (+850).
The championship matchup is set to tip off at 10:35 p.m. ET.
