NBA Hall of Famer Carmelo Anthony wanted both Spurs guards on his team for the Rising Stars Challenge.
SAN ANTONIO — Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper will be playing on the same team in the 2026 NBA Rising Stars tournament thanks to Hall of Famer Carmelo Anthony.
Castle and Harper were named NBA Rising Stars Monday as part of the Sophomores and Rookies respectively.
Unlike prior years, rookies won’t be playing with rookies and sophomores won’t be playing with sophomores. Instead, a draft took place to determine the three teams who will be competing in a tournament along with a team of G-Leaguers headlined by Spurs two-way player David Jones Garcia.
The three former players drafting were Carmelo Anthony, ex-Spurs player Tracy McGrady and Vince Carter. Anthony had the first pick, McGrady had the second pick and Carter had the third pick then it snaked back to Carter and so on and so forth.
With the first overall pick, Anthony picked Cooper Flagg of the Mavericks to start off the draft.
Following Melo, McGrady selected Hornets’ rookie Kon Knueppel who’s having a Rookie of the Year-worthy season.
Carter finished the first round by selecting 76ers rookie VJ Edgecombe and started the second round by picking Pelicans rookie Derik Queen.
The second round concluded with Team T-Mac taking Kel’el Ware of the Heat and Team Melo picking Reed Sheppard of the Rockets.
The third round was when Spurs fans finally heard one of their guys’ names as Team Melo chose reigning Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle seventh overall to join Flagg and Castle.
“I got my alpha in Cooper [Flagg], I got my sniper in Reed Sheppard, now I need a physical defender,” Anthony said. “I’m going Stephon Castle. He understands what All Star Weekend is about.”
When the draft got back to Melo, he decided to pair Castle with his Spurs’ teammate Dylan Harper with the 12th overall pick.
“I like big guards, I like versatile guards, I like guards not afraid of the moment, I like guards who love the moment,” Anthony said. “I’m gonna go with Dylan Harper.” Both McGrady and Carter let out a disappointed sigh when Anthony said Harper’s name.
Full teams are:
Team Melo:
- Cooper Flagg, Mavericks rookie (1st overall)
- Reed Sheppard, Rockets sophomore (6th overall)
- Stephon Castle, Spurs sophomore (7th overall)
- Dylan Harper, Spurs rookie (12th overall)
- Jeremiah Fears, Pelicans rookie (13th overall)
- Donovan Clingan, Trail Blazers sophomore (18th overall)
- Collin Murray-Boyles, Raptors rookie (19th overall)
Team T-Mac:
- Kon Knueppel, Hornets rookie (2nd overall)
- Kel’el Ware, Heat sophomore (5th overall)
- Tre Johnson, Wizards rookie (8th overall)
- Alex Sarr, Wizards sophomore (11th overall)
- Egor Demin, Nets rookie (14th overall)
- Cedric Coward, Grizzlies rookie (17th overall)
- Jaylen Wells, Grizzlies sophomore (20th overall)
Team Vince:
- VJ Edgecombe, 76ers rookie (3rd overall)
- Derik Queen, Pelicans rookie (4th overall)
- Kyshawn George, Wizards sophomore (9th overall)
- Matas Buzelis, Bulls sophomore (10th overall)
- Ajay Mitchell, Thunder sophomore (15th overall)
- Jaylon Tyson, Cavaliers sophomore (16th overall)
- Cam Spencer, Grizzlies sophomore (21st overall)
G-League team:
- David Jones Garcia
- Ron Harper Jr.
- Sean East II
- Yanic Nonan Niederhauser
- Alijah Martin
- Tristen Newton
- Yang Hansen
These four teams will compete in a tournament on Friday, Feb. 13 during All-Star Weekend.