Trending Topics: Which Castrol Rising Stars team will reach All-Star Game?

Amen Thompson will help lead Team M in the Castrol Rising Stars event.

• NBA All-Star 2025: Complete coverage

For the first time ever, the Castrol Rising Stars winner will participate in Sunday’s All-Star Game as part of a new mini-tournament. Which team do you think will advance to face the All-Stars?

Steve Aschburner

Team M. The presence of the Thompson twins, Amen and Ausar, is what sells me on this squad. Their sibling rivalry should seep into the competitive spirit of their team overall. They have one of the rookie surprises on board in New Orleans Pelicans big man Yves Missi, and Wizards guard Bilal Coulibaly has a chance to assert himself on a big stage more than he has nursing along a trio of rookie prospects in Washington.

Brian Martin

Team M. I’m going with Mitch Richmond’s squad, anchored by the Thompson twins and heavy on sophomore talent. Amen Thompson is having a breakout season and there’s no better stage to show off his game than by leading his squad to the Rising Stars Championship so he can face Shaq’s OGs in Sunday’s All-Star Game.

Shaun Powell

Team C. It was a tough call because the Thompson twins (Team M) will be on a brotherly mission. But Team C is loaded with players who were all mentioned at various points this season for being the favorite to win Kia Rookie of the Year: Stephon Castle, Dalton Knecht, Jaylen Wells and Zach Edey. I suspect those youngsters will be anxious to make a first-year statement and collectively improve their own ROY prospects in the process.

John Schuhmann

Team M. Mitch Richmond’s team has the best group of second-year players, led by Amen Thompson, who is the best player in the competition. It’s short on shooting, and I’m not sure who will run the offense capably, but maybe Thompson himself can do that. He’s had some reps as an emergency point guard with the Rockets.

Castrol Rising Stars Team Rosters

Team T

Honorary coach = Tim Hardaway

Brandin Podziemski (Golden State Warriors)*
Jaime Jaquez Jr. (Miami Heat)
Gradey Dick (Toronto Raptors)
Anthony Black (Orlando Magic)*
Zaccharie Risacher (Atlanta Hawks)
Alex Sarr (Washington Wizards)
Tristan da Silva (Orlando Magic)

Team M

Honorary coach = Mitch Richmond

Amen Thompson (Houston Rockets)
Ausar Thompson (Detroit Pistons)*
Bilal Coulibaly (Washington Wizards)
Toumani Camara (Portland Trail Blazers)*
Bub Carrington (Washington Wizards)
Julian Strawther (Denver Nuggets)
Matas Buzelis (Chicago Bulls) *

Team C

Honorary coach = Chris Mullin

Stephon Castle (San Antonio Spurs)
Dalton Knecht (L.A. Lakers)
Jaylen Wells (Memphis Grizzlies)
Keyonte George (Utah Jazz)
Zach Edey (Memphis Grizzlies)
Trayce Jackson-Davis (Golden State Warriors)
Ryan Dunn (Phoenix Suns)*

Team G League

Honorary coach = Jeremy Lin

JD Davison (Maine Celtics)
Mac McClung (Osceola Magic)
Bryce McGowens (Rip City Remix)
Leonard Miller (Iowa Wolves)
Dink Pate (Mexico City Capitanes)
Reed Sheppard (Rio Grande Valley Vipers)
Pat Spencer (Santa Cruz Warriors)

* Rookies Ryan Dunn (PHX) and Matas Buzelis (CHI) along with sophomores Anthony Black (ORL), Toumani Camara (POR), Ausar Thompson (DET), Brandin Podziemski (GSW) and Julian Strawther (DEN) have been named replacements for the 2025 Castrol Rising Stars.

Rookies Jared McCain (PHI) and Yves Missi (NOP) along with sophomores Victor Wembanyama (SAS), Brandon Miller (CHA), Dereck Lively II (DAL), Cason Wallace (OKC) and Scoot Henderson (POR) will not play.

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