The National Basketball Association (NBA) on Monday unveiled four former players, who will serve as honorary head coaches for the Rising Stars Challenge at the 2025 All-Star weekend, Afrosport reports.
The list comprises three Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famers, as the trio of Tim Hardaway Sr., Chris Mullin, and Mitch Richmond are joined by Jeremy Lin.
Tim Hardaway Sr., Jeremy Lin, Chris Mullin and Mitch Richmond have been named honorary head coaches for the Castrol Rising Stars. All four played for the NBA All-Star 2025 host team, the @warriors. pic.twitter.com/GtRL50bIHj
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) February 3, 2025
The quartet are former Golden State Warriors players, with Mullin sitting third for the most games played in franchise history, behind only Stephen Curry and Draymond Green.
Hardaway, Mullin, and Richmond all played together at Golden State from 1988 to 91, while Lin played for the Warriors in 2010-11.
The Rising Stars game, which will feature 28 of the best rookies and sophomores in the league, is scheduled to take place on 14 February at Golden State’s Chase Center.
The event will feature a mini-tournament with four teams, including three consisting of NBA rookies and sophomores and one made up of G League players.
Three games will be played; the two semifinal games will be played to 40 points, and a championship game is set to reach 25 points. The winner of the Rising Stars Challenge will earn a place to compete as one of the four teams in the 2025 NBA All-Star Game on 16 February.
Full Player Pool for Rising Stars Challenge
Rookies:
- Carlton Carrington (Wizards)
- Dalton Knecht (Lakers)
- Zach Edey (Grizzlies)
- Yves Missi (Pelicans)
- Alex Sarr (Wizards)
- Stephon Castle (Spurs)
- Tristan da Silva (Magic)
- Jared McCain (76ers) [Injured]
- Zacharie Risacher (Hawks)
- Jaylen Wells (Grizzlies)
Sophomores:
- Victor Wembanyama (will not play)
- Keyonte George (Jazz)
- Scoot Henderson (Trail Blazers)
- Cason Wallace (Thunder)
- Gradey Dick (Raptors)
- Jaime Jaquez Jr. (Heat)
- Bilal Coulibaly (Wizards)
- Trayce Jackson-Davis (Warriors)
- Dereck Lively II (Mavericks) [Injured]
- Brandon Miller (Hornets) [Injured]
- Amen Thompson (Rockets)
G League Players:
- Reed Sheppard (Rio Grande Valley Vipers)
- Pat Spencer (Santa Cruz Warriors)
- Dink Pate (Mexico City Capitanes)
- Bryce McGowens (Rip City Remix)
- Mac McClung (Osceola Magic)
- Leonard Miller (Iowa Wolves)
- JD Davison (Maine Celtics)
Injury replacements for McCain, Lively, and Miller, as well as Wembanyama (who was selected as an All-Star)
- Anthony Black (Magic)
- Ausar Thompson (Pistons)
- Ryan Dunn (Suns)
- Toumani Camara (Trail Blazers)