Hawks rookie Zaccharie Risacher, the first pick in last year’s NBA draft, will be one of 28 participants in the Rising Stars challenge during NBA All-Star weekend Feb. 14-16 in San Francisco.
Risacher has averaged 10.5 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.2 assists over 40 games this season. He also is one of only three rookies to average at least 10 points, three rebounds and one assist per game this season.
He joins 20 other first- and second-year players, as well as seven NBA G League players, in the three-game mini-tournament format.
Four teams of seven players will compete in the mini-tournament.
The NBA has unveiled a new format for the All-Star game. The winning Rising Stars team will play in the All-Star game mini-tournament Feb. 16 against the NBA All-Stars. TNT analyst and former WNBA player Candace Parker will serve as honorary GM of the Rising Stars champion, known as Team Candace.
Risacher joins De’Andre Hunter (2021, game not played) and Trae Young (2019, 2020) as one of three current players to have been selected as a Rising Star while a member of the Hawks.
Teammates Bogdan Bogdanovic (2018, 2019), Dyson Daniels (2024, did not play because of injury and 2022, member of G League Ignite) and Clint Capela (2016) also have been named Rising Stars. Former Hawks wing AJ Griffin participated in the challenge at the 2022 All-Star weekend in Salt Lake City.
Here are the participants of the 2025 Rising Stars challenge.
Rookies
Bub Carrington (Guard | Washington Wizards)
Stephon Castle (Guard | San Antonio Spurs
Tristan da Silva (Frontcourt | Orlando Magic)
Zach Edey (Frontcourt | Memphis Grizzlies)
Dalton Knecht (Guard | Los Angeles Lakers)
Jared McCain (Guard | Philadelphia 76ers)
Yves Missi (Frontcourt | New Orleans Pelicans)
Zaccharie Risacher (Frontcourt | Atlanta Hawks)
Alex Sarr (Frontcourt | Washington Wizards)
Jaylen Wells (Guard | Memphis Grizzlies)
Sophomores
Bilal Coulibaly (Guard | Washington Wizards)
Gradey Dick (Guard | Toronto Raptors)
Keyonte George (Guard | Utah Jazz)
Scoot Henderson (Guard | Portland Trail Blazers)
Trayce Jackson-Davis (Frontcourt | Golden State Warriors)
Jaime Jaquez Jr. (Frontcourt | Miami Heat)
Dereck Lively II (Frontcourt | Dallas Mavericks)
Brandon Miller (Guard | Charlotte Hornets)
Amen Thompson (Guard | Houston Rockets)
Cason Wallace (Guard | Oklahoma City Thunder)
Victor Wembanyama (Frontcourt | San Antonio Spurs)
G League
JD Davison (Guard | Maine Celtics)
Mac McClung (Guard | Osceola Magic)
Bryce McGowens (Frontcourt | Rip City Remix)
Leonard Miller (Frontcourt | Iowa Wolves)
Dink Pate (Guard | Mexico City Capitanes)
Reed Sheppard (Guard | Rio Grande Valley Vipers)
Pat Spencer (Guard | Santa Cruz Warriors)
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