NBA All-Stars Luka Dončić of the Dallas Mavericks and Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks lead the list of 20 players selected by NBA assistant coaches to play in the 2020 NBA Rising Stars on Saturday, Feb. 15 at the United Center in Chicago.
The 26th Rising Stars will pit 10 first- and second-year NBA players from the United States against 10 first- and second-year NBA players from around the world in the league’s annual showcase of premier young talent during NBA All-Star.
Dončić (Slovenia) is joined on the World Team by New Orleans Pelicans guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker (Canada); Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton (Bahamas); New York Knicks guard/forward RJ Barrett (Canada); Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke (Canada); Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Canada); Washington Wizards forward Rui Hachimura (Japan) and center Moritz Wagner (Germany); Detroit Pistons guard/forward Svi Mykhailiuk (Ukraine); and Minnesota Timberwolves guard Josh Okogie (Nigeria).
Young is joined on the U.S. Team by Charlotte Hornets forwards Miles Bridges and PJ Washington and guard Devonte’ Graham; Chicago Bulls center Wendell Carter Jr.; Miami Heat guards Tyler Herro and Kendrick Nunn; Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. and guard Ja Morant; and Golden State Warriors forward Eric Paschall.
Pelicans forward Zion Williamson, the No. 1 overall pick in NBA Draft 2019 presented by State Farm, has been selected by the NBA to join the U.S. Team as the replacement for the injured Carter, who has not played for the Bulls since sustaining a sprained right ankle on Jan. 6. Carter is not expected to return to game action until after the All-Star break.
Dončić and Young return to NBA Rising Stars after playing in last year’s game as rookies. They have also been voted to start the 2020 NBA All-Star Game, marking the first time that multiple second-year NBA players will start an All-Star Game since 1996 (Grant Hill and Jason Kidd).
A record four Canadians are participating in Rising Stars: Alexander-Walker, Barrett, Clarke and Gilgeous-Alexander. Alexander-Walker and Gilgeous-Alexander are cousins.
Hachimura is the first player from Japan to be named to a Rising Stars roster. He became the first Japanese player ever selected in the first round of the NBA Draft when the Wizards made him the ninth pick in 2019.
NBA assistant coaches selected the Rising Stars rosters, with each of the league’s 30 teams submitting one ballot per coaching staff. A ballot consisted of four frontcourt players, four guards and two additional players at either position group for each team. Voters also had to choose a minimum of three first-year NBA players and three second-year NBA players for each team. Coaches were not permitted to vote for any player on their team.
The coaching staffs for the Rising Stars teams will consist of assistant coaches from the NBA All-Star Game.
Rising Stars will be a 40-minute game with four 10-minute periods.
Below is the roster for the 2020 NBA Rising Stars:
| Player | Team | Country |
| Nickeil Alexander-Walker | New Orleans Pelicans | Canada |
| Deandre Ayton | Phoenix Suns | Bahamas |
| RJ Barrett | New York Knicks | Canada |
| Brandon Clarke | Memphis Grizzlies | Canada |
| Luka Doncic | Dallas Mavericks | Slovenia |
| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | Oklahoma-City Thunder | Canada |
| Rui Hachimura | Washington Wizards | Japan |
| Syi Mykhailiuk | Detroit Pistons | Ukraine |
| Josh Okogie | Minnesota Timberwolves | Nigeria |
| Mortiz Wager | Washington Wizards | Germany |
| Player | Team | College |
| Miles Bridges | Charlotte Hornets | Michigan State |
| Wendell Carter Jr. ** | Chicago Bulls | Duke |
| Devonte' Graham | Charlotte Hornets | Kansas |
| Tyler Herro | Miami Heat | Kentucky |
| Jaren Jackson Jr. | Memphis Grizzlies | Michigan State |
| Ja Morant | Memphis Grizzlies | Murray State |
| Kendrick Nunn | Miami Heat | Oakland |
| Eric Paschall | Golden State Warriors | Vilanova |
| Zion Williamson* | New Orleans Pelicans | Duke |
| Trae Young | Atlanta Hawks | Oklahoma |
| PJ Washington | Charlotte Hornets | Kentucky |
* Injured player/will not play
**Injury replacement
About NBA All-Star 2020
NBA All-Star 2020 in Chicago will bring together the most talented and passionate players in the league’s history for a global celebration of the game. The 69th NBA All-Star Game, which will take place on Sunday, Feb. 16 at the United Center, will reach fans in more than 200 countries and territories in more than 40 languages. TNT will televise the All-Star Game for the 18th consecutive year, marking Turner Sports’ 35th year of NBA All-Star coverage. United Center will also host Rising Stars on Friday, Feb. 14 and State Farm All-Star Saturday Night on Saturday, Feb. 15. The NBA All-Star Celebrity Game presented by Ruffles on Feb. 14 and the NBA All-Star Practice & Media Day presented by AT&T on Feb. 15 will take place at Wintrust Arena.
