Category: Basketball

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — If it takes the young upstarts of the NBA, the eventual stars-to-be, to reinvigorate the NBA All-Star break, then we owe them considerable gratitude.

The NBA’s Rising Stars set the tone Friday, Feb. 13 in an engaging and entertaining showcase that culminated with a stellar performance from Philadelphia 76ers rookie VJ Edgecombe to carry Team Vince — as in Vince Carter — to the Rising Stars championship. And as the NBA All-Star Game has faced widespread criticism for its lack of competitive spirit, let’s hope that the league’s biggest stars draw inspiration from its “Rising” ones.

In the semifinal round, Edgecombe scored his team’s final 10 points to win and carried Team Vince with 23 combined points across both games, including a pair of clutch, game-winning free throws in the championship.

“I appreciate people tuning in, even to the Rising Stars game,” Edgecombe told reporters after the game. “We just tried to make it fun, make it competitive, where it’s worth your time.”

Edgecombe wasn’t alone. On the whole, the entire crop of 28 first- and second-year players who participated Friday in the Rising Stars Game established a baseline spirit of competition that has been painfully absent from the supposed gem of the weekend, the actual All-Star Game.

Did the Rising Stars unleash relentless, playoff-level competition? No, of course not. They didn’t need to. What matters here is that they didn’t do the bare minimum. They didn’t sleepwalk and loaf through the exhibition in a way that insults fans investing their time and capital in the experience.

This is what’s crucial for the survival of the NBA All-Star Game, and the All-Star games of all the major domestic sports leagues, if we’re being honest. There’s a way to strike a balance of elevated competition without compromising safety or risking injury.

This was what the four coaches of the Rising Stars — Carter, Carmelo Anthony, Tracy McGrady and Austin Rivers — preached to their players.

“(The message) was compete hard but be smart,” Rockets guard Reef Sheppard, who played for Team Melo, told reporters. “This All-Star Weekend is supposed to be fun. At the same time, don’t go out there and just run around. Compete and play, but be smart and have fun.”

Said second-year Bulls forward Matas Buzelis, another emerging NBA star and one who combined to score 10 points across the two mini-games for Team Vince: “We weren’t trying to just lay back and cruise.”

The only shame Friday night was that, understandably, NBC prioritized its Olympic coverage for its primetime national broadcast and was forced to relegate the Rising Stars showcase to streaming-only broadcast Peacock, meaning a chunk of fans missed the showcase.

Several players said they noticed the handful of NBA All-Stars who spent their Friday night in the cosmopolitan city of Los Angeles court-side at the Intuit Dome, taking in the Rising Stars competition.

Donovan Mitchell of the Cavaliers, Scottie Barnes of the Raptors, De’Aaron Fox of the Spurs and Tyrese Maxey of the 76ers were all in attendance. All were shown on the jumbotron to applause from the fans in attendance.

It was this last player who, in part, inspired Edgecombe.

“Tyrese is my dog, man,” Edgecombe said. “I was like, he ain’t coming to watch if I ain’t going to play hard. So I was like, I’m going to play hard so at least it’s not a waste of his time.

“I know he has a whole lot of stuff he could probably be doing right now, especially being an All-Star. Tyrese is my dog. I love him.”

Here’s to hoping Maxey and his fellow All-Stars take after these young players to give fans the showcase they deserve.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Rising Stars set the tone for NBA All-Star Weekend with fun showcase

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Trent Middleton Jr. scored on a driving layup, got fouled and made a free throw with 4.5 seconds remaining, lifting North Carolina A&T over Hampton 71-70 in the HBCU Classic on Friday night as part of NBA All-Star weekend.

It was the Aggies' first lead since they scored the game's first basket.

Jalyke Gaines-Wyatt's potential tying floater just missed at the buzzer.

Middleton's defense was key over the final 57 seconds. He had consecutive steals that led to baskets by the Aggies (10-14, 3-10 Coastal Athletic) after they trailed by eight with nearly six minutes to go.

Lewis Walker led the Aggies with 18 points, including four straight free throws that tied the game at 68-all. Middleton finished with 15 points, including 6 of 7 free throws, and Will Felton added 12 points off the bench on 5-of-6 shooting.

Hampton (12-14, 6-7) was outscored 9-2 over the final 43 seconds, getting just two free throws by Gaines-Wyatt. He and Xzavier Long led the Pirates with 17 points each. Elijah Kennedy had 13 points off the bench. They had five players in foul trouble, including Long and Josh Ogundele who fouled out.

The neutral court matchup counted as a conference game for the schools that traveled over 2,500 miles to play in Kia Forum, the former home of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Both schools brought their bands, cheerleaders and mascots. The Pack Drumline that plays for Chicago Bulls and Chicago Sky games entertained before the game while Black fraternities and sororities showed off their dance moves. Chloe Bailey sang “Lift Every Voice and Sing” and the national anthem.

The HBCU Classic started five years ago during Black History Month to highlight historically Black colleges and universities as part of NBA All-Star weekend.

___

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

Not many people would have guessed that the Boston Celtics would be buyers at this year’s trade deadline, especially after shedding Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis’s contracts to get under the second apron. Some timely breakouts put the Celtics in a position to compete, however, even while the team significantly reduced their payroll.

Brad Stevens and the rest of the front office worked some of the finest financial magic I’ve ever seen. As of June 15, 2025, Boston’s projected salary and tax bill was $540 million. As of today? $186.5 million. They have ducked the second apron, the first apron, and even the luxury tax entirely, all while being holding the second-best record in the Eastern Conference at 35-19.

They might have even managed to somehow improve the roster at the deadline in the process. By trading Anfernee Simons for Nikola Vucevic, they do lose a big scoring punch, but they fill a need and add a new dimension to their offense by bringing in a low-post presence who can also stretch the floor. The guard depth may have taken a hit, but with Payton Pritchard catching fire back in his sixth-man position, and the hopeful impending return of Jayson Tatum, they found a creative way to balance the roster out.

Boston wasn’t the only team to make a big move this year, though. The East was active at the deadline, so, who do the Celtics have to keep an eye?

(Standings, records, and transactions as of Feb 13, 2026)

Risers:

Each of these teams made moves to improve their current roster to varying degrees. Time will tell if the impact reflects the ambition, but on paper these teams got better.

Cleveland Cavaliers, 4^th (34-21) – Cleveland was the only Eastern Conference team that made a drastic win-now move at the deadline. Seemingly dissatisfied with the fit of Darius Garland next to Donovan Mitchell, as well as his inconsistent availability, the Cavs found themselves looking for a change. Luckily for them, James Harden continued his tradition of requesting a trade shortly after joining a new team, stating that he wanted to be in situation where he could contend. Garland and Harden had nearly identical contracts, which worked out perfectly for both teams, neither of which could take in more salary due to their cap restrictions. Cleveland sent out a second-round pick with Garland to sweeten the deal, likely due to Garland’s injury history.

The Cavs made a couple more minor moves as well, dumping Lonzo Ball’s contract on the Utah Jazz for some cap relief, tossing in two second-rounders to incentivize Utah. They also sent De’Andre Hunter to the Sacramento Kings in exchange for Keon Ellis and Dennis Schroeder, saving themselves a bit more money. Cleveland downsized quite a bit, and still find themselves above the second apron, but they did bring in several impactful players in the process. They’ve won both of their games after the deadline with all of their new additions making contributions, especially Harden. Things are trending up for the Cavs, though we’ll have to see how things play out when we have a larger sample size.

New York Knicks 3^rd, (35-20) – New York had a fairly simple trade deadline, sending out Guerschon Yabusele to the Bulls, and forwarding their return of Dalen Terry to the Pelicans in exchange for Jose Alvarado. New York also attached two second-round picks to send out along with Terry in that deal. Alvarado is a dog who adds in some extra intensity and defense to the Knicks backcourt. The move likely came in response to the news that Deuce McBride will likely miss the remainder of the regular season, thinning their guard depth. Alvarado may not be a star, but he’s the type of player who can make one or two plays that turn the tide in a playoff game. It was ultimately a subtle, low-cost way for New York to get better.

Toronto Raptors, 5^th (32-23) – Speaking of subtle, low-cost ways to get better, Toronto made two minor moves. First, they traded away Ochai Agbaji and a second-round pick for Chris Paul in a three-team deal. Agbaji was seeing his role diminish as Toronto is loaded with talent on the wings, so it was more of a dump than anything. Paul was told that he doesn’t have to report to the team, and will likely be sent to the buyout market in the future.

Following this deal, Toronto picked up Trayce Jackson-Davis from the Warriors in exchange for another second-round pick. Davis provides some much-needed size for size for Toronto given Jakob Poeltl’s inconsistent availability. Davis, still on his rookie deal, is a valuable addition with his defensive instincts, and his above-average vision and playmaking at his position. This move doesn’t turn Toronto into an instant contender, but it does push them in the right direction.

Charlotte Hornets, 9^th (26-29) – Charlotte made a lot of small moves at the deadline, but either waived, or passed along several of the players they acquired in separate deals. In the end, they managed to bring in Coby White from Chicago, Xavier Tillman from Boston, and three second-round picks for the cost of Collin Sexton, Mason Plumlee, and cash considerations.

White is a player that a lot of teams had their eye on, but not many were willing to spend for. That allowed Charlotte to get him for a bargain, adding another offensive punch to a team that’s found their first solid stretch in years, going on a 9-game win streak. Charlotte is trending in the right direction, and White helps them move things along, opening the door for them to compete in the play-in tournament, and potentially even secure their first playoff-berth in quite some time.

Negligible:

These are teams that didn’t make any significant moves at the deadline, if at all. It’s hard to assess if that was the right decision at this point, but time will tell.

Detroit Pistons 1^st, (40-13) – Detroit hasn’t had many struggles this year, but if there’s one thing they needed, it was more shooting. They did manage to pick up someone they hope will boost their offense in Kevin Huerter, though he’s seeing a career-low in efficiency from beyond the arc this season, shooting 30.6% from three on about 5 attempts per game. The move netted them a first-round pick, but it also cost them Jaden Ivey, who has a high upside, but never found his role in Detroit. If Huerter manages to pick his shooting back up, this could be a great win-now way to round out the roster for the Pistons, but otherwise, they could very well have just sold low on a promising guard.

Miami Heat, 8^th (29-27) – For Miami, it was another year where Pat Riley fell asleep on the couch. The Heat didn’t make a single transaction, though it was rumored that they were pursuing Giannis Antetokounmpo and Ja Morant. Rumors don’t mean a thing if they don’t come true, though. The Heat will certainly go back to their pursuit of a star in the offseason, but they won’t be getting any reinforcements this season. While they have been slightly above expectations, they seem to be doomed to another play-in tournament appearance this year.

Milwaukee Bucks, 12^th (23-30) – Speaking of rumors not amounting to anything, Milwaukee only made one deal at the deadline, and it didn’t involve any Antetokounmpos. It seems as though the Bucks weren’t serious about making any significant deals, and wanted to stir up drama to gauge interest. They flipped Cole Anthony and Amir Coffey, two guys who weren’t important to the team, for Ousmane Dieng and Nigel Hayes-Davis, two more guys who probably won’t be important to the team.

Giannis, Bobby Portis, and Kyle Kuzma all survived the deadline, likely to be shopped again when teams have more assets in the offseason. It’s hard to see the Bucks being competitive this year, especially if Giannis continues to miss time. The team seems to have communicated that their goal is to put a competitive roster around him in hopes of retaining him, though. The Bucks did have the chance to add Cam Thomas from the buyout market, and will be relying on his scoring punch to turn their season around.

Orlando Magic, 7^th (28-25) – Orlando has been hitting a rough patch this year. Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs have both been in and out of the lineup due to various injuries, disrupting any opportunities for the team to find a rhythm. Anthony Black has been stepping up nicely to fill in for Suggs, but Paolo Banchero has really struggled to find any consistency with his scoring.

Tyus Jones was having an underwhelming season himself after being brought in to help control the offense, so the only move Orlando made at the deadline was to dump Jones for cash. This created the path for them to sign Jevon Carter from the buyout market. Carter likely won’t turn things around for the Magic, but his arrival, along with Franz Wagner’s return, Orlando could start to gain some momentum. They certainly have a lot of problems to work through first, though.

Philadelphia 76ers, 6^th (30-24) – The Sixers had a mostly quiet deadline, opting to shed salary and free up a couple of roster spots so they could convert Dominick Barlow’s two-way contract into a standard deal. They did, however, decide to dump Jared McCain to the Oklahoma City Thunder, as if those guys needed any more cheap, young prospects. In return, Philadelphia did net a decent number of picks, one first and three second rounders.

Daryl Morey, President of Basketball Operations in Philly, decided to take some shots once the deadline passed, aiming at two of his team’s former players. He stated that the team “definitely sold high” on McCain, implying that he wouldn’t amount to much in the league. He also said that he wasn’t worried about what other teams in the East did at the deadline, saying that there were no “needle-movers,” likely a shot at James Harden, who just joined the Cavaliers at the deadline. Harden and Morey used to be the best of friends, but things turned sour when the two rejoined, and then ultimately split up again in Philly just a couple seasons ago.

What Morey didn’t seem to account for, is the fact that they themselves did not move the needle. With Joel Embiid still load-managing, and Paul George being suspended for 25-games for violating the league’s drug policy, the Sixers could find themselves slipping into the play-in, or lower. Embiid is quietly having a great season, Tyrese Maxey certainly earned his All-Star selection, and VJ Edgecombe is having an outstanding rookie year, but if Embiid’s health takes a turn again, it may end up being another wasted year for Philly.

Brooklyn Nets, 13^th (15-38) – Brooklyn served more as a facilitator to help other teams meet their cap goals, but they managed to pick up a couple of second round picks and interesting players in the process. They took on Ochai Agbaji from Toronto, Hunter Tyson from Denver, and even worked with the Celtics by taking on Josh Minott’s minimum contract to help Boston duck the tax.

Brooklyn also waived Cam Thomas, likely an indicator that he didn’t have enough trade interest, but potentially still an addition by subtraction for the Nets. Overall, they didn’t add on any significant assets, and their future depends on what they can accomplish in the offseason. This year, they’ll be focusing on their draft position.

Long Game:

These are teams who aren’t going to see any positive impact this year, but weren’t in the running anyways, and have set themselves up nicely either financially, from a talent perspective, or even both.

Atlanta Hawks, 10th (26-30) – Atlanta has had one of the most significant mid-season roster turnarounds that I’ve seen, and they seemingly improved in the process. The first move, one that came well before the deadline, was swapping Trae Young for C.J. McCollum and Corey Kispert from the Wizards. It seemed like it was in both party’s interests for Atlanta and Trae to part ways, and while on paper it may seem like a big loss of talent, Kispert and McCollum have meshed very well in Atlanta, and are much more available. Additionally, McCollum’s expiring contract provides some more future flexibility to improve the roster.

Atlanta also dumped two contracts in separate deals, Vit Krejci and Luke Kennard being shipped out for Gabe Vincent, Duop Reath, and three second-round picks. Krejci and Kennard were both legit contributors for the Hawks, but it seemed Atlanta valued the picks higher, as Reath and Vincent are both on expiring deals, Reath being waived to open up a roster spot as he was already injured and sidelined for the remainder of the season.

The Hawks made a couple more consequential moves, though. They picked up Jock Landale from the Jazz (originally in Memphis,) to add to their frontcourt depth, while sending Kristaps Porzingis’s expiring contract to Golden State in return for Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield. Hield’s contract is guaranteed through 2027, with a player option in 2028, a slightly cheaper and more secure way to replace Kennard.

Kuminga, however is the real wildcard here. We haven’t gotten the chance to see much of him in Golden State due to the coaching decisions of Steve Kerr. Kuminga also picked up a knee injury the last time he suited up, so he has yet to make his Atlanta debut. It’s hard to tell how he fits into their puzzle at this point, but he’s a young prospect with a seemingly high upside at a low-risk cost, given that the second year of his deal is a team option. It’s too early to tell how Atlanta’s moves will pay off for this season, but they have given themselves a fresher look at the future, with some added flexibility.

Chicago Bulls, 11^th (24-31) – Bulls fans, rejoice. Chicago’s front office may have held on to their assets for far too long, but the team finally committed to a well overdue reset. They got some interesting prospects back in the process too, including Rob Dillingham, Jaden Ivey, and Nick Richards, along with vets such as Anfernee Simons, Collin Sexton, and Guerschon Yabusele. They’re not going to be competitive this year, and for their sake, that’s a good thing. They didn’t pick up any firsts, but they did bring in a number of second-round picks to help them with the impending rebuild.

Washington Wizards, 14^th (14-39) – Washington may have seen the most drastic turnaround of any team this season, though the impact won’t be felt until next year. They somehow managed to pick up Trae Young and Anthony Davis for pennies on the dollar. What did it cost them? The expiring contracts of CJ McCollum and Khris Middleton, Marvin Bagley, Corey Kispert, two first-round picks (neither of which was theirs to begin with), and a few second-rounders.

However you feel about Young and Davis at this point in their careers, Washington seized an opportunity that could completely change the course of their franchise. If it doesn’t work out, they remain at the bottom of the barrel for a few more years, nothing new. But if it works? They could instantly become contenders next year, especially with the addition of a top pick in this year’s draft. Yes, Davis’s health will forever be a concern, but IF you get a good year out of him, the ceiling gets raised astronomically. Big if, I know, but a gamble worth taking for a franchise who previously had little direction.

Indiana Pacers, 15^th (15-40) – Indy took a big swing by bringing in Ivica Zubac from the Los Angeles Clippers. Zubac will make an immediate impact for them, but they don’t want that just yet, especially since they leveraged their first-round pick from this year as part of the trade. It’s a big gamble, especially with the protections they put on the pick: 1-4 protected, and 10-30 protected. That means the Pacers are either going to have to greatly improve their winning pace, or tank like you’ve never seen before, as landing the 5^th through 9^th pick would have it convey to LA instead.

There’s no doubt that a trio of Haliburton – Siakam – Zubac will be tough to contend with next year, especially if they add in a lottery pick from this stacked upcoming draft. Losing that pick could be devastating, though. Expect Indy to make their best effort to remain at the bottom standings, but watch out for them next year.

After three exciting games, Vince Carter’s team rose to the top in the Rising Stars Challenge on Friday night at Intuit Dome, defeating Carmelo Anthony’s team 25-24 in the championship game of the four-team competition during NBA All-Star weekend.

Philadelphia 76ers rookie shooting guard VJ Edgecombe was named most valuable player after making the tying and winning free throws. He scored six points in the final and netted the deciding points in both of his team’s games.

“No pressure,” Edgecombe said after he was fouled on a drive to the basket with Team Carter trailing 24-23. He swished the first of two attempts at the foul line, then calmly hit the second to end the first-to-25 points finale. “Free throws are precious and we needed them to win the game. We all wanted to compete. I hate losing. My teammates found me, I had open shots and I made them.”

One of the most thrilling moments for Edgecombe came before the tournament even started when he met Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

“I got to sit with him and shook his hand,” Edecombe said. “We didn’t have a conversation but he’s one of the greats of all time and just him showing love even though he retired a long time ago means a lot.”

In the first semifinal, Team Melo took an early 12-4 lead but found itself trailing 30-26 to the G League squad coached by former NBA player Austin Rivers. Houston’s Reed Sheppard made a corner three-pointer that gave his team a 34-32 lead before San Antonio’s Dylan Harper ended the sprint to 40 points with a 15-foot jumper to seal Team Melo’s 40-34 triumph. Portland’s Donovan Clingan led the way with nine points for the victors.

The game pitted Ron Harper Jr. (Main Celtics) matched up against San Antonio rookie and younger brother Dylan Harper of Team Melo, who was drafted No. 2 by San Antonio. They are the sons of five-time NBA champion Ron Harper Sr.

Yanic Konan Niederhäuser of San Diego, the Clippers’ G League affiliate, had 10 for the G Leaguers.

Then, Team Vince clinched a berth to the final with a 41-36 triumph over Team T-Mac, with Edgecombe scoring 17 points, including a long fallaway jumper that put Carter’s squad over the threshold.

Cavaliers guard-forward Jaylon Tyson led Tracy McGrady’s group with 10.

“I’m glad we got the win for him,” Edgecombe said of Carter, an eight-time All-Star who played 22 seasons in the NBA. “He told us ‘why not play hard?’ He had a lot of energy, he told us to go, go, go… and we fed off that, especially late in the first game.”

Having three Hall of Fame coaches this year added prestige to what was established as the Rookie Challenge in 1994 that featured two teams of first-year players. The name was changed to Rising Stars Challenge in 2012 to include second-year players, and the current tournament-style format was adopted four years ago. Since 2023 it has featured 28 players — seven G League players along with 21 rookies and sophomores.

Read more:Complete coverage: NBA All-Star Weekend 2026

Rounding out Team Carter were Derik Queen (New Orleans), Kyshawn George (Washington), Matas Buzelis (Chicago), Egor Dёmin (Brooklyn), Jaylen Wells (Memphis) and Carter Bryant (San Antonio).

“It was a “cool experience,” Team T-Mac guard Jaylon Tyson of the Cavaliers said. “I wish we could’ve played a full game.”

Team Melo entered as the favorite despite the absence of Dallas forward Cooper Flagg, who Anthony had drafted No. 1 for the mini-tournament, but was ruled out Wednesday due to a left foot sprain and replaced by Utah’s Ace Bailey, who was chosen fifth overall in the 2025 NBA Draft and was the only player in the top nine not drafted to one of the Rising Stars teams.

Edgecombe hopes he gets to play in the Sunday game someday.

“It would be a true blessing to be an All-Star one day,” he said. “I won’t take it for granted.”

As the Rising Stars Challenge was tipping off at the Clippers’ home arena, the Celebrity Game was ending two miles up the road at Kia Forum, former home of the Lakers.

San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama tossed the jump ball, with rapper GloRilla winning the opening tip against reality TV star Taylor Frankie Paul.

The score was tied 55-55 with four minutes left before “double-time” scoring helped Team Giannis, coached by Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts, beat Team Anthony, coached by comedian Anthony Anderson, 65-58.

Emmy-winning actor and comedian Rome Flynn scored 17 points and had four assists to win his second straight MVP.

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

OXFORD, Ohio (AP) — Brant Byers scored 21 points, Peter Suder had 20 and 23rd-ranked Miami University beat Ohio 90-74 on Friday night to remain the lone unbeaten team in Division I.

Eian Elmer added 15 points for the RedHawks (25-0, 11-0 Mid-American Conference), who tied the single-season school record for victories set last season.

Jackson Paveletzke led Ohio (13-13, 7-6) with 22 points and Javan Simmons scored 12. The Bobcats struggled on 3-pointers, making only 5 of 21 while the RedHawks were 9 of 18 from beyond the arc and 21 of 28 on free throws.

Byers, Suder and Almar Atlason had six rebounds apiece as the RedHawks had a 38-29 advantage on the boards.

Miami had a 43-35 lead at halftime before steadily pulling away. It opened the second half on a 7-2 run, including five points by Byers, who finished 13 of 16 from the foul line.

The largest lead was 83-63 with four minutes remaining.

The game was close for the first 15 minutes. The RedHawks were up 30-26 before getting some breathing room with an 11-4 run to extend their lead to 41-30 with 1:58 remaining in the first half.

Miami tied a school record for single-game home attendance with a sellout crowd of 10,640 at Millett Hall. It was the same crowd figure for the Jan. 31 game against Northern Illinois.

Up next

Ohio: Hosts Ball State on Tuesday night.

Miami: At UMass on Tuesday night.

___

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

Team Vince won the 2026 NBA Rising Stars championship on Friday night with Washington Wizards guard Kyshawn George contributing in both contests.

In the semifinals, Team Vince played Team T-Mac which also featured Wizards guard Bub Carrington and forward Tre Johnson. In that contest, Team Vince won 41-36 with George scoring 4 points and VJ Edgecombe leading the way with 17 points for the victors. For Team T-Mac, Johnson scored 8 points while Carrington also scored 2 more.

In the other semifinal, Team Melo beat Team Austin, 40-34.

The final had Team Vince facing off against Team Melo and won 25-24. George scored 2 points while Edgecombe led again with 6 points. Edgecombe also won the Rising Stars MVP award.

It’s good to see one of the Wizards’ younger players come away with some hardware leaving the Rising Stars challenge. From hereon, Washington won’t really be part of All-Star Weekend. So I hope you enjoy Valentine’s Day tomorrow and the long weekend which includes President’s Day on Monday.

The rationale for the Cleveland Cavaliers’ decision to trade Darius Garland to the Los Angeles Clippers for James Harden has been dissected ad nauseam. The team believes that they have a small window to win this season. Harden makes them a better team during that time.

Garland last played an NBA game on Jan. 14 in the Cavs win over the Philadelphia 76ers. He left that game with a right great toe injury. The team announced on the following day that the injury would be re-evaluated in seven to 10 days.

That latest injury was to the opposite toe as the one that Garland injured at the end of last season. The injury to the left great toe is what required him to miss multiple playoff games and led to surgery over the summer.

Garland returned to the court early this season, but never quite looked right. The speed and ability to move side-to-side simply weren’t at the level we saw last season, and he admitted as much at times.

Apparently, the initial injury to the left great toe is going to keep him out “indefinitely” with the Clippers, according to The Athletic’s Law Murray.

Murray recently wrote:

He (Garland) mentioned in his Clippers introduction that he is “back on the court, working out, doing all the things I love to do. Just waiting on the green light — I’m ready to hoop.” (Lawrence) Frank (Clippers President of Basketball Operations) said that the Clippers will change Garland’s injury designation to reflect that the right foot toe sprain that has kept him out for nearly four weeks has healed, while Garland’s still-sore, surgically repaired left foot toe will keep him out indefinitely.

“We are going to manage this correctly, OK?” Frank said. “We are not gonna skip any steps. Because we think the short-term investment will lead to long-term rewards. … We’re gonna get it right and take as long as it takes. But we’re very confident that by taking the time now, it’s gonna give him a long runway. He’s only 26, and we want to see him playing at a high level for a long time.”

As more news comes out, it becomes clear that Garland’s toe was a major factor in why the trade was executed and why the Cavs had to add a second-round pick to make it all work.

So far, the deal has gone well for the Cavs. Harden has played phenomenally, but it is disappointing that the Cavaliers weren’t able to have Garland healthy when they needed him during the last postseason, and that he still isn’t quite 100%.

VJ Edgecombe, the crunch-time machine, got after it once again on the national stage!

On Friday evening during the Rising Stars event, Edgecombe played for Vince Carter and Team Vince as part of the All-Star Weekend festivities. When I say this is the most unimportant basketball activity that the beloved Sixers rookie has undertaken in years, I truly mean it, but Edgecombe showcased the skills that have endeared himself so much to Philadelphia and that have everyone believing he will soon be a great NBA player.

In the semifinals matchup with Tracy McGrady’s Team T-Mac, Edgecombe dropped 17 points, including multiple threes, a downright beautiful finger roll and a mid-range jumper that made it a 41-36 game to have Team Vince advance to the championship round. Edgecombe scored Team Vince’s final 10 points on the road to a matchup against Carmelo Anthony’s Team Melo.

🚨 VJ EDGECOMBE FOR THE WIN 🚨 pic.twitter.com/ShduedLrKQ

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) February 14, 2026

As Edgecombe heated up in the semifinals, Peacock commentator Reggie Miller remarked that Edgecombe was coming for the event’s MVP Award. That was the vibe and he was ultimately proved correct!

I was ready to be completely dismissive of this night entirely, writing that Edgecombe’s winning style of basketball probably wouldn’t gel well with first-time teammates rather than being in a more cohesive, season-long situation, but Edgecombe was a crunch-time maestro to open things up, playing more spirited basketball than anyone out there.

In the championship bout that was a race to hit or eclipse 25 points, Edgecombe wasn’t as pronounced as a scorer or ball-handler initially. He did the “little things,” once more pushing the ball in transition, working as a handy passer and playing all out defensively. Edgecombe made his scoring impact known once again, however, when things mattered the most. Edgecombe fought for an offensive rebound and put-back bucket that had Team Vince take a 23-22 lead late over Team Melo. It was pure effort with Edgecombe barreling through traffic. It was the type of energy that Sixers fans are already accustomed to seeing on a nightly basis with the rookie.

with the put-back! 😤 pic.twitter.com/mZy2NkUzZO

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) February 14, 2026

Driving to the basket for the win with Team Melo soon taking a 24-23 lead, Edgecombe was fouled and sent to the charity stripe. Edgecombe, naturally, sank both shots, giving Team Vince the 25-24 win.

I know the common refrain is that All-Star Weekend has been mightily diluted, but it was a blast watching Edgecombe do his thing. Let’s keep it rolling with Tyrese Maxey taking part in the three-point contest and the All-Star Game itself the next few days!

Nets rookie Egor Demin showed what he could do for Team Vince en route to winning the 2026 Rising Stars Championship on Friday night in Los Angeles.

For Demin and Team Vince -- coached by Nets legend Vince Carter -- the tournament began with a 41-36 win over Team T-Mac (the target score was 40). In the game, Demin scored just two points on 1 of 3 shooting, but came down with two rebounds, dished two assists and came up with one steal in his nine minutes of play. 

Team Vince advanced thanks to the heroics of Phillies rookie VJ Edgecombe, who scored 17 points. Edgecombe scored 10 straight, including the game-winner, to help the team get to the finals against Team Melo. 

In the Finals, Demin didn't factor too much down the stretch. He scored a quick bucket, going 1-for-2 with two rebounds and a block in four minutes of play but it was Edgecombe again with the heroics. In a back-and-forth game, the Sixers guard won the game for Team Vince. Down 24-23 (target score was 25 points), Edgecombe drove to the basket and was fouled by Trail Blazers center Donovan Clingan. Edgecombe knocked down both free throws to win the game.

Edgecombe won MVP of the tournament.

DËMIN DUNK!!! pic.twitter.com/TMK9qh5G5X

— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) February 14, 2026

Egor findin' his teammates 🤝 pic.twitter.com/mXa9qs3Ab8

— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) February 14, 2026

yessirrrr @whoisegor3! pic.twitter.com/Ya49KNn17u

— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) February 14, 2026

Cleveland Cavaliers wing Jaylon Tyson had a strong showing in the Rising Stars game on Friday evening. He led Team T-Mac in points (10) and rebounds (5) in their loss to Team Vince.

The format for this competition is a mini-tournament. The two teams played a game to 40 points, with the winner advancing to the final. Since Tyson’s team lost, his night was over after one mini-game.

Tyson performed well. He kept his team in the game with timely scoring and rebounding. He also provided some resistance on the defensive end, which is about as much as you can ask for in this All-Star game setting. It was a solid outing for the second-year Cavalier.

His highlights of the night were a nice alley-oop to Miami Heat center Kel’el Ware and a smooth Euro-step to keep his team within striking distance down the stretch.

🫡 HE GOT THAT TO GO.@jaylontyson | @NBAAllStar | #LetEmKnowpic.twitter.com/WeVHsACgcg

— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) February 14, 2026

Donovan Mitchell was there to support his teammate with a front-row seat. He called for the MVP award for Tyson before the game even started, and cheered for him every opportunity he had from courtside.

Jaylon Tyson MVP‼️

— Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) February 14, 2026

Tyson’s team didn’t have an answer for Philadelphia 76ers rookie V.J. Edgecombe. He provided a game-high 17 points on 6-8 shooting to help lead Team Vince to the victory.

Team Vince went on to defeat Team Melo in the final game of the Rising Stars mini-tournament.

Mitchell is the lone representative for the Cavs for the remainder of NBA All-Star Weekend. He’ll be participating in the 3-Point Contest on Saturday and will be on one of the two US teams in the All-Star Game on Sunday.

The rumors about LeBron James returning to the Cleveland Cavaliers after this season have been somewhat non-stop since he played against his former team last month. Since then, there was a report that the Cavs would welcome James back, The Athletic said a return to Cleveland would be the “obvious destination,” veteran reporter Jason Lloyd said LeBron will be playing in Cleveland next season if anywhere, and Donovan Mitchell and James Harden are rumored to be recruiting him.

We have one more rumor to add to that list.

On Friday, ESPN’s Tim McMahon said on NBA Today that there’s “rampant speculation” around the league that James will sign with Cleveland for a potential retirement tour this summer.

Tim MacMahon on LeBron James:

There is rampant speculation around the league that this summer there's going to be a reunion and potentially a retirement tour for the ages back home again with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

pic.twitter.com/Ma4MWU4a4x

— Jaylon Tyson Fan Club (@IsaacOkoroFan) February 13, 2026

At this point, it feels like LeBron will be returning home to Cleveland unless he retires after this season. What that would look like from a salary perspective remains to be seen.

The Cavs are currently over the second apron. They would not have access to the full mid-level exception unless they got under both aprons and then cut additional salary to carve out a spot for that exception. There’s also the possibility of a sign-and-trade if the Cavs get below the first apron. Or, James could opt to sign for a minimum contract.

It’s pointless to speculate too much on the finances at this point. There’s numerous scenarios for making this work from a cap perspective. If both sides want James to play in Cleveland, they’ll find a way to make it happen as they did back in 2014.

Even though LeBron is 41 years old, he’s still playing at an exceptionally high level. He recorded a triple-double in his last outing in the Los Angeles Lakers‘ win over the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday. On the season, James is averaging 22 points, 7.1 assists, and 5.8 rebounds on .502/.305/.746 shooting splits in a mostly supporting role alongside Luka Doncic.

We’ll see how this plays out. In the meantime, we can rest assured that there’s going to be plenty more rumors about James returning to Cleveland between now and July.

The Kings’ season is only getting worse. 

Sacramento’s Zach LaVine is set to undergo season-ending surgery on his right hand after the All-Star break, according to NBA insider Chris Haynes. 

LaVine, who turns 31 in March, is the Kings’ leading scorer, averaging 19.2 points per game on 47.9 percent shooting and 39 percent from 3-point land.

The oft-injured scorer was limited to just 39 games this season before being shut down with his upcoming surgery.  

Coming off one of the best seasons of his career, having averaged 23.3 points per game on career-bests 44.9 percent from three and 51.1 percent overall, LaVine’s game took a step back this year. 

LaVine ends the 2025-26 season having averaged his fewest points per game since his fourth year in the league in 2017-18. 

His -8.0 plus-minus was also the worst of his career.  

LaVine was traded by the Bulls to the Kings before last year’s trade deadline in a three-team deal that sent De’Aaron Fox to the Spurs. 

The injury is the latest blow in what has been a disastrous season in Sacramento. 

The Kings went into the All-Star break at 12-44, the worst record in the NBA. 

They’re riding a 14-game losing streak heading into the festivities, tied for the longest such streak in the league this season. 

It’s the first full season under head coach Doug Christie, who replaced new Knicks head coach Mike Brown in December 2024.

Despite rumors that the team was shopping him, LaVine stayed in Sacramento through this year’s deadline. 

LaVine has a $48.9 million player option for the 2026-27 season.

The Knicks won’t have any participants in either the Slam Dunk Contest or the 3-point shooting competition Saturday night at All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles, but the organization will be represented in an event that is returning to the NBA showcase after a 10-year absence.

The Shooting Stars is back for the first time since 2015, and a Knicks squad featuring current All-Stars Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns will be joined by team executive and former All-Star Allan Houston among four teams competing in the returning event Saturday night at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif.

First introduced in 2004, the Shooting Stars features the three players on each team attempting shots of different difficulty and point levels at seven locations from around the court.

The top two of the four teams will advance beyond the opening round and square off in the championship round.

Each team will consist of two current NBA players and one league “legend,” with this year’s groups representing a specific NBA team (the Knicks), as well as All-Star connections, college affiliations and one with family ties.

Interestingly, Houston also was part of the previous all-New York squad to win this competition, with then-Knicks guard Landry Fields and Cappie Pondexter of the Liberty in 2012.

In addition to the Brunson/Towns/Houston trio, wing Scottie Barnes of the Raptors will join forces with Chet Holmgren of the Thunder and Pistons great Richard Hamilton on Team All-Star.

The others will be Team Cameron with former Duke players Jalen Johnson (Hawks), Kon Knueppel (Hornets) and Corey Maggette and Team Harper featuring Dylan Harper (Spurs) and Ron Harper Jr. (Celtics) with their father, Ron Harper Sr.

Saturday’s other events include the annual Slam Dunk Contest, although Mac McClung will not be taking part after winning the event each of the previous three years.

This year’s competitors will include Carter Bryant of the Spurs, Jaxson Hayes of the Lakers, Keshad Johnson of the Heat and Jase Richardson of the Magic.

Brunson had participated in the 3-point contest in each of the previous two years, getting knocked out in the first round both times, but the All-Star starter will not be in the eight-player field this weekend.

The eight contestants will be Devin Booker (Suns), Damian Lillard (Trail Blazers), Knueppel (Hornets), Tyrese Maxey (76ers), Donovan Mitchell (Cavaliers), Jamal Murray (Nuggets), Norman Powell (Heat) and Bobby Portis (Bucks).

Lillard, a two-time winner in 2023 and 2024, has not played this season for Portland after suffering a torn Achilles in the playoffs last spring with the Bucks. Tyler Herro of the Heat took the trophy one year ago.

The All-Star Game on Sunday also will come with a new format, with the players split into three teams: two rosters of American players and one “World” team.

Towns was born in New Jersey, but he will play for the World squad because he represents the Dominican Republic in international play.

---

The Nets were represented Friday night in the Rising Stars tournament by rookie lottery pick Egor Dëmin, the first of their record five first-round picks at No. 8 overall.

The 6-foot-8 Dëmin, who is averaging 10.8 points and 3.3 assists in 46 games (39 starts) for Brooklyn, scored four points in 12:28 over two games for Vince Carter’s team, which defeated Carmelo Anthony’s squad, 25-24, in the championship game.