Tim BontempsJan 27, 2026, 08:02 PM ET
- Tim Bontemps is a senior NBA writer for ESPN.com who covers the league and what's impacting it on and off the court, including trade deadline intel, expansion and his MVP Straw Polls. You can find Tim alongside Brian Windhorst and Tim MacMahon on The Hoop Collective podcast.
PHILADELPHIA -- NBA Hall of Famer Carmelo Anthony made Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg, the No. 1 pick in June's NBA draft, the first pick in Tuesday night's draft of the three teams made up of rookie and sophomore players in the Rising Stars Challenge.
The first four picks, in fact, were all members of the 2025 NBA draft class, with Flagg being followed by Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel, who was taken with the second pick by Tracy McGrady. Vince Carter then took Philadelphia 76ers guard VJ Edgecombe and New Orleans Pelicans forward Derik Queen with the third and fourth selections.
Rounding out the three teams, which were drafted on NBC's pregame show on Peacock Tuesday night ahead of 76ers-Bucks here in South Philadelphia, were the following:
Team Melo: Flagg; Houston Rockets guard Reed Sheppard; San Antonio Spurs guards Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper; Pelicans guard Jeremiah Fears; Portland Trail Blazers center Donovan Clingan; and Toronto Raptors forward Collin Murray-Boyles
Team T-Mac: Knueppel; Miami Heat center Kel'el Ware; Washington Wizards guard Tre Johnson and center Alex Sarr; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Ajay Mitchell; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Jaylon Tyson; and Memphis Grizzlies guard Cam Spencer
Team Vince: Edgecombe; Queen; Wizards forward Kyshawn George; Chicago Bulls forward Matas Buzelis; Brooklyn Nets guard Egor Demin; and Memphis Grizzlies forwards Cedric Coward and Jaylen Wells
The fourth team, made up of players who have participated in the G League this season, consists of two first-round picks from June's draft: Trail Blazers center Yang Hansen, the 16th pick, and LA Clippers center Yanic Konan Niederhauser, the 30th pick; four players on two-way contracts in David Jones Garcia (Spurs), Tristan Newton (Houston Rockets), Alijah Martin (Toronto Raptors) and Ron Harper Jr. (Boston Celtics); and Sean East II, who plays for the G League's Salt Lake City Stars.
The four teams will play three games, with the winners of the first two games playing in the third to determine the overall champion, on Friday, Feb. 13, as part of the All-Star festivities at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles.
