The 2026 Castrol Rising Stars event has a new face, with Utah Jazz’s Ace Bailey stepping in as an injury replacement. Bailey will join Carmelo Anthony’s Team Melo.
The games, part of the NBA All-Star 2026 festivities, are set to stream on Peacock on February 13, with the winners competing in the Castrol Rising Stars Championship.
Bailey’s Opportunity with Team Melo
Ace Bailey’s addition has sparked debates about the balance of talent across the teams. A forward for the Utah Jazz, Bailey has been averaging 15.4 points and 5.1 rebounds over his last 15 games. He is replacing Cooper Flagg on Team Melo, who had to bow out due to a left midfoot sprain.
Carmelo Anthony is an NBA legend who is coaching Team Melo, which now includes Ace Bailey.
Carrington Replaces Sarr on Team T-Mac
Washington Wizards’ Bub Carrington is also stepping in as an injury replacement. Carrington will play for Tracy McGrady’s Team T-Mac.
Carrington, a guard for the Wizards, has been making his mark with a three-point shooting percentage of 39.3%, ranking him among the top NBA sophomores. He steps in for Alex Sarr on Team T-Mac.
Rising Stars Format
- The games are part of the NBA All-Star 2026 festivities.
- They are set to stream on Peacock on February 13.
- The winners of the Team Melo vs. Team T-Mac and Team Vince vs. Team Austin games will compete in the Castrol Rising Stars Championship.
The unexpected additions of Ace Bailey and Bub Carrington to the Rising Stars event have added a new level of excitement. Fans will be eager to see how these rising stars perform under the guidance of NBA legends Carmelo Anthony and Tracy McGrady.