NBA Rising Stars Game — Portland Dubs and Snubs

The NBA Rising Stars game takes place during All-Star Weekend, tipping off on Friday, February 13th. Earlier this week, the draft was held, with coaches taking turns selecting rookies, sophomores, and G-League players to compete in the event.

Those coaches are some very familiar names from the 2000s — Carmelo Anthony, Tracy McGrady, and Vince Carter — with (less legendary, but still respectable) Austin Rivers heading up the G-League squad.

Vince Carter puts down one of the most legendary dunks of all time in the 2000 All-Star Weekend dunk contest.

Portland had a couple of players selected — and at least one notable snub — which serves as a reminder that the NBA is a business, and this event isn’t strictly about selecting the absolute “best” players. Let’s take a look at who from Rip City made the cut, and who didn’t.

Blazers’ Representation

Being such a young team, the Trail Blazers have no shortage of players eligible for the Rising Stars format. Some are clearly on strong growth trajectories, some are overperforming expectations, and others are still very much works in progress.

So who are we actually seeing in this year’s event?

Team Melo — Donovan Clingan

Representing Team Melo — and probably the most obvious Blazers selection — is Donovan Clingan.

Clingan has made a clear and encouraging jump from his rookie season to his sophomore campaign. He looks stronger, more confident, and the numbers back it up.

2025 Season Averages → 2026 Season Averages (*according to Basketball-Reference*)

• Points Per Game: 6.5 PPG → 11.3 PPG.
• Rebounds Per Game: 7.9 → 11.3
• Minutes Per Game: 19.8 → 27.5
• Offensive Rebounds Per Game: 3.2 → 4.6

That offensive rebounding number is especially impactful — those are extra possessions, extra points, and momentum swings that don’t always show up in highlight clips.

Defensively, Clingan’s growth has been just as important. He’s evolved from a player opposing teams tried to attack into someone they actively avoid challenging in the paint. His presence alone alters how teams approach the rim.

As a standout sophomore, this is a well-earned Rising Stars selection, and it’ll be great to see DC representing Portland on that stage.

Team Austin — Yang Hansen

Representing the G-League squad is Rip City Remix big man Yang Hansen.

Hansen has seen some NBA minutes, but he’s primarily been developing in the G-League — which is exactly where most people agree he should be right now. He’s still raw, still adjusting to the American game, and still a long-term project. But the ceiling is high.

While Hansen hasn’t exactly dominated the G-League, there are a couple of very clear reasons he was selected for the Rising Stars event.

The 16th Overall Pick Factor

Portland selecting Hansen with the 16th pick in the 2025 NBA Draft surprised a lot of people. It was a clear swing for upside, with the organization betting on his long-term potential rather than immediate production.

A Global Audience

The NBA has a massive Chinese fanbase, and with so few Chinese-born players in the league, Hansen’s presence brings a wave of new eyes to both the NBA and the Trail Blazers specifically.

Even if the on-court résumé isn’t fully there yet, the business case for including Hansen is pretty straightforward.

No Love for Love

With the Blazers dealing with a long injury list this season, it’s fair to say no one has exceeded expectations more than two-way guard Caleb Love.

Signed as an undrafted free agent on a two-way deal, Love technically qualifies as a G-League player for Rising Stars purposes. This was not a guy expected to play meaningful NBA minutes — yet here he is, averaging around 22 minutes per game and being relied on to score during real NBA games.

If you watched Love at Arizona, you already know the deal: there isn’t a shot he doesn’t like. When he gets hot, he can absolutely fill it up. He’s already knocked down 82 three-pointers this season and is averaging 11.2 points per game.

That’s more meaningful NBA basketball than any player on Austin Rivers’ G-League roster for this event (see full rosters below).

Maybe it’s because he started the season without much notoriety, but Caleb Love being left out makes it pretty clear that the Rising Stars Game isn’t about putting the best players on the floor.

Closing Thoughts

Any Trail Blazers representation during All-Star Weekend is a win, and hopefully we’re talking about Deni Avdija on an actual All-Star roster soon.

Understanding that this event leans more toward entertainment than merit helps frame these selections properly. Clingan clearly earned his spot, Yang is an intriguing story, and Caleb Love? Yeah — he got snubbed.

Go Blazers →✌️RipCityBrax

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —

Full Rosters — Rising Stars Event

Team Melo (Carmelo Anthony)

• Stephon Castle (San Antonio Spurs)
• Dylan Harper (San Antonio Spurs)
• Donovan Clingan (Portland Blazers)
• Collin Murray-Boyles (Toronto Raptors)
• Jeremiah Fears (New Orleans Pelicans)
• Reed Sheppard (Houston Rockets)
• Cooper Flagg (Dallas Mavericks)

Team Carter (Vince Carter)

• Kon Knueppel (Charlotte Hornets)
• Kel’el Ware (Miami Heat)
• Tre Johnson (Washington Wizards)
• Alex Sarr (Washington Wizards)
• Ajay Mitchell (Oklahoma City Thunder)
• Jaylon Tyson (Cleveland Cavaliers)
• Cam Spencer (Memphis Grizzlies)

Team T-Mac (Tracy McGrady)

• VJ Edgecombe (Philadelphia 76ers)
• Derik Queen (New Orleans Pelicans)
• Kyshawn George (Washington Wizards)
• Matas Buzelis (Chicago Bulls)
• Egor Dёmin (Brooklyn Nets)
• Cedric Coward (Memphis Grizzlies)
• Jaylen Wells (Memphis Grizzlies)

Team Austin (Austin Rivers)

• 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)