Alexandre Sarr is the only Frenchman selected for the Rising Stars Challenge, a mini-tournament between the best young NBA players during the All-Star weekend. Zaccharie Risacher and Maxime Raynaud were, for example, shunned.
There will be two of them representing the French clan during the All-Star weekend in Los Angeles (February 13-15). After the announcement of the selection of Victor Wembanyama as the starter for the next All-Star Game, the list of players selected for the Rising Stars Challenge (February 13 in Los Angeles), a mini-tournament pitting the best young players in the league, has been released. And only Alexandre Sarr had the right to the precious sesame.
The second choice in the 2024 draft has entered a new dimension and was obvious given his first part of the season. The interior is the best scorer (17.4 pts) and rebounder (7.3 rebounds) of the Washington Wizards. He is also the best blocker in the entire NBA.
Several other Tricolores could claim a place in this Rising Stars Challenge. We think in particular of Maxime Raynaud, once in the top 10 in the race for the rookie of the year title, or of Zaccharie Risacher. The latter is also the first No. 1 in the draft not to be selected for this meeting since Anthony Bennett in 2015. This season, the winger is averaging 11.2 points per game, below his rookie season (12.6 points).
Killian Hayes, elected player of the week at the beginning of January in the G-League, could also have been there since a team representing the antechamber of the NBA will be lined up during this All-Star weekend. But the seventh pick of the 2020 draft is not in the selection.
Players selected for the Rising Stars Challenge 2026
Rookies
- Cedric Coward (Memphis Grizzlies)
- Egor Dёmin (Brooklyn Nets)
- VJ Edgecombe (Philadelphia 76ers)
- Jeremiah Fears (New Orleans Pelicans)
- Cooper Flagg (Dallas Mavericks)
- Dylan Harper (San Antonio Spurs)
- Tre Johnson (Washington Wizards)
- Kon Knueppel (Charlotte Hornets)
- Collin Murray-Boyles (Toronto Raptors)
- Derik Queen (New Orleans Pelicans)
Sophomores
- Matas Buzelis (Chicago Bulls)
- Stephon Castle (San Antonio Spurs)
- Donovan Clingan.
- Kyshawn George (Washington Wizards)
- Ajay Mitchell (Oklahoma City Thunder)
- Alexandre Sarr (Washington Wizards)
- Reed Sheppard (Houston Rockets)
- Cam Spencer (Memphis Grizzlies)
- Jaylon Tyson (Cleveland Cavaliers)
- Kel’el Ware (Miami Heat)
- Jaylen Wells (Memphis Grizzlies)
G-League
- Sean East II (Salt Lake City Stars)
- Ron Harper Jr. (Maine Celtics)
- David Jones Garcia (Austin Spurs)
- Yanic Konan Niederhäuser (San Diego Clippers)
- Alijah Martin (Raptors 905)
- Tristen Newton (Rio Grande Valley Vipers)
- Yang Hansen (Rip City Remix)
