The NBA’s future takes center stage on Friday night.
The Rising Stars Challenge returns this weekend. It promises to be an enthralling watch, offering viewers a glimpse at the league’s present and future — all underneath the glimmering Gainbridge Fieldhouse lights.
It’s a contest headlined by stars. San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama, Oklahoma City’s Chet Holmgren and Orlando’s Paolo Banchero are among the most notable youngsters slated to take part in the festivities. But there’s a host of talents that should make it that much harder to figure out just who will capture MVP honors.
The Sporting News is tracking live updates from Friday’s Rising Stars Challenge. Follow below for highlights and more as the league’s finest young stars sparkle in the Hoosier State.
MORE: Everything you need to know about All-Star 2024
NBA All-Star Rising Stars Challenge: Live updates, scores, highlights
11:02 p.m.: MVP honors go to Bennedict Mathurin! Little surprise there given his impressive display in the first game. The hometown kid gets it done!
Rising stars winner: Team Jalen
10:56 p.m.: That’s game! Jordan Hawkins and Jalen Williams sinks back-to-back threes to dash G-League hearts!
JDUB GAME-WINNER 🥶
Team Jalen are the #PaniniRisingStars champions 🏆 pic.twitter.com/WWCzyOq33P
— NBA (@NBA) February 17, 2024
10:53 p.m.: Lively leaps through the floor before ripping the rim on a lob. Team Jalen is up 20-13. They’re almost at the finish line.
10:52 p.m.: Tshiebwe pulls of another magic trick, faking out Dereck Lively before finishing with a feather. Team Detlef brings things slightly closer.
10:50 p.m.: What an assist by Mathurin, who completed a full 360 before finding Kessler with a dime. Team Jalen starting to pull away a bit. They’re up 14-9.
10:43 p.m.: Thiebwe throws down the hammer on Kessler! What a start to the game for Team Detlef, who takes a 4-2 lead!
10:40 p.m.: The final contest of the night — between Team Detlef and Team Jalen — tips off! Should be an enticing affair.
10:28 p.m.: Ballgame! Buzelis flips one blond Miller’s grasp to give Team Detlef a stunning victory. It’ll be G-Leaguers vs. NBA stars to determine who is the superior youngsters.
Matas Buzelis of the @nbagleague Ignite wins it ‼️
Team Detlef advances to the #PaniniRisingStars Championship and will face Team Jalen 🍿🍿 pic.twitter.com/eqErAqx8lw
— NBA (@NBA) February 17, 2024
10:23 p.m.: Detlef’s team is up 39-36. The G-Leaguers just can’t seem to find a final bucket.
10:19 p.m.: What an answer by Team Detlef! Williams and Buzelis combine to put the G-League loaded roster on the brink of a shock upset.
10:14 p.m.: In an instant, the lead is down to two. Wallace sank a contested three, followed by a Wemby finish through contact. These games can get away from you so quickly.
10:08 p.m.: Team Detlef is in control. Almansa swats away Coulibaly, then finishes with authority on the break. They’re on a 19-5 run.
McClung showcasing his skillset, blowing past Coulibaly before finishing through contact to give his team a 25-15 edge.
10:06 p.m.: Impressive showing by Team Detlef, who has raced out to an 15-8 lead. Emoni Bates putting on a clinic early.
10:00 p.m.: Wemby already putting on a show. Just dropped a delicate lob to Jaquez at Team Pau gets off to an early lead. He followed that up with an audacious nutmeg attempt on Tshiebwe. It didn’t work. But it gives you a idea of how he’s feeling early.
9:46 p.m.: Next up on the docket: Team Detlef (Ron Holland, Izan Almansa, Emoni Bates, Matas Buzelis, Mac McClung, Oscar Tshiebwe, Alondes Williams) and Team Pau (Bilal Coulibaly, Brandon Miller, Jaime Jaquez, Brandin Podziemski, Jabari Smith, Cason Wallace, Victor Wembanyama).
9:40 p.m.: Mathurin hits a fadeaway jumper on Scoot! Team Jalen survives, vanquishing Team Tamika 40-35. Impressive comeback spurred on by the Canadian starlet, who tallied 18 of Team Jalen’s 40 points.
Get to your spot.
Fadeaway.
GAME. https://t.co/y9DOIVzRp8 pic.twitter.com/gn97mxmlSQ— NBA (@NBA) February 17, 2024
9:38 p.m.: Another impressive bucket for Mathurin, who stepped back on Ivey before hitting yet another three. Team Jalen is on the brink of a win. And it’s mostly on Mathurin, who has 16 on the night.
Team Jalen is two point away from a win.
9:32 p.m.: Mathurin is en fuego. He’s got 11 of Team Jalen’s 32 points at present. And he’s got Rose’s team on the up-and-up. Team Jalen leads 32-24. It could have been worse for Team Tamika as well. If not for a ball slip, Mathurin could have very well baptized Duran with a one-handed tomahawk.
9:30 p.m.: Mathurin is beginning to percolate. Just slid beyond Keyontae George with a sumptuous behind th back and scoop layup. Team Jalen is back in this one.
9:20 p.m.: It’s been a bit of a track meet in the early stages of tonight’s first contest. Team Tamika is putting a hurting on Team Jalen, with Banchero proving especially lively in the open floor. Early 14-8 lead for Team Tamika.
Paolo double-clutch.
Chet windmill.We’re UNDERWAY in the #PaniniRisingStars 🔥
Team Jalen vs. Team Tamika #PaniniRisingStars on TNT pic.twitter.com/4ZFj2T7L2X
— NBA (@NBA) February 17, 2024
9:15 p.m.: First matchup of the day sees Team Jalen Rose (Jalen Williams, Bennedict Mathurin, Chet Holmgren, Jeremy Sochan, Walker Kessler) take on Team Tamika Catchings (Jalen Duren, Scoot Henderson, Paolo Banchero, Jaden Ivey, Keegan Murray). Target score for both sides is 40 points. Should be an interesting contest.
7:45 p.m.: Wemby is making sure to pay homage to his Texas roots ahead of tonight’s big game. He’s sporting a cowboy hat as he’s strutting into Lucas Oil Stadium.
.@wemby representing San Antonio with the cowboy hat 🤠 pic.twitter.com/TN7ZMdZi33
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) February 17, 2024
7:35 p.m.: Thunder teammates look to make magic happen on the All-Star platform that is the Rising Stars Challenge.
Thunder x Team Jalen teammates!@ChetHolmgren x @jdubwttp #PaniniRisingStars: 9pm/et on TNT pic.twitter.com/uN24r27GUp
— #NBAAllStar (@NBAAllStar) February 17, 2024
NBA All-Star Rising Stars Challenge start time
- Date: Friday, Feb. 16
- Time: 9 p.m. ET | 6 p.m. PT
The Rising Stars Challenge will begin around 9 p.m. ET on Friday, Feb. 16. The event will be held at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
NBA Rising Stars Challenge rosters 2024
Team Pau Gasol
| Player | Team |
| Victor Wembanyama | Spurs |
| Brandon Miller | Hornets |
| Brandin Podziemski | Warriors |
| Jaime Jaquez Jr. | Heat |
| Jabari Smith Jr. | Rockets |
| Cason Wallace | Thunder |
| Bilal Coulibaly | Wizards |
Team Tamika Catchings
| Player | Team |
| Paolo Banchero | Magic |
| Jaden Ivey | Pistons |
| Jalen Duren | Pistons |
| Keegan Murray | Kings |
| Scoot Henderson | Trail Blazers |
| Keyonte George | Jazz |
| Dyson Daniels* | Pelicans |
| Vince Williams Jr.* | Grizzlies |
*Williams will be the injury replacement for Daniels.
Team Jalen Rose
| Player | Team |
| Chet Holmgren | Thunder |
| Jalen Williams | Thunder |
| Bennedict Mathurin | Pacers |
| Shaedon Sharpe* | Trail Blazers |
| Dereck Lively II | Mavericks |
| Jordan Hawkins | Pelicans |
| Walker Kessler | Jazz |
| Jeremy Sochan* | Spurs |
*Sochan will be the injury replacement for Sharpe.
Team Detlef Schrempf
| Player | Team |
| Izan Almansa | G League Ignite |
| Emoni Bates* | Cleveland Charge |
| Matas Buzelis | G League Ignite |
| Ron Holland* | G League Ignite |
| Mac McClung | Osceola Magic |
| Tyler Smith | G League Ignite |
| Oscar Tshiebwe | Indiana Mad Ants |
| Alondes Williams | Sioux Falls Skyforce |
*Bates will be the injury replacement for Holland.
NBA Rising Stars Challenge format 2024
Here is the full breakdown of the event, per NBA.com:
All three games in the mini-tournament will be played to a Final Target Score, which means each game will end on a made basket or free throw rather than time expiring.
The two semifinal games — Game 1 and Game 2 — will be played to a Final Target Score of 40.
The final game, featuring the winners, will be played to a Final Target Score of 25 to determine the tournament champion.
- Game 1: Team Jalen vs. Team Tamika
- Game 2: Team Detlef vs. Team Pau
- Game 3: Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2
NBA All-Star schedule 2024
NBA All-Star Weekend kicks off Friday with the All-Star Celebrity Game and Rising Stars Challenge. The skills competitions will be held on Saturday, and the All-Star Game will take place on Sunday.
Friday, Feb. 16
| Event | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|
| Rising Stars Practice | 11:30 a.m. | NBA TV |
| Hall of Fame News Conference | 5:30 p.m. | NBA TV |
| NBA All-Star Celebrity Game | 7 p.m. | ESPN |
| Rising Stars | 9 p.m. | TNT |
Saturday, Feb. 17
| Event | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|
| NBA All-Star Practice | 11 a.m. | NBA TV |
| HBCU Classic | 2 p.m. | ESPN2/NBA TV/TNT |
| Adam Silver News Conference | 7 p.m. | NBA TV |
| All-Star Saturday Night (Skills Challenge, 3-Point Contest, Stephen vs. Sabrina 3-Point Challenge, Slam Dunk Contest) | 8 p.m. | TNT |
Sunday, Feb. 18
| Event | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|
| NBA Legends Awards | 11:30 a.m. | NBA TV |
| G League Up Next Game | 1:30 p.m. | NBA TV |
| NBA All-Star Game | 8 p.m. | TNT |
