Clippers rookie center Yanic Konan Niederhäuser dunks for Team Austin during a Rising Stars semifinal against Team Melo on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (Photo by Connor Terry, Contributing Photographer)
The Toronto Raptors’ Alijah Martin drives to the basket for Team Austin during a Rising Stars semifinal against Team Melo on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (Photo by Connor Terry, Contributing Photographer)
The San Antonio Spurs’ Carter Bryant dunks for Team Vince during an NBA Rising Stars semifinal against Team T-Mac on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (Photo by Connor Terry, Contributing Photographer)
The San Antonio Spurs’ Stephon Castle of Team Melo handles the ball during a Rising Stars semifinal against Team Austin on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (Photo by Connor Terry, Contributing Photographer)
The Chicago Bulls’ Matas Buzelis dunks for Team Vince during a Rising Stars semifinal game against Team T-Mac on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (Photo by Connor Terry, Contributing Photographer)
The Chicago Bulls’ Matas Buzelis dunks for Team Vince during a Rising Stars semifinal game against Team T-Mac on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (Photo by Connor Terry, Contributing Photographer)
The San Antonio Spurs’ Stephon Castle shoots for Team Melo during a Rising Stars semifinal against Team Austin on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (Photo by Connor Terry, Contributing Photographer)
The Philadelphia 76ers’ VJ Edgecombe drives to the basket for Team Vince during a Rising Stars semifinal against Team T-Mac on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (Photo by Connor Terry, Contributing Photographer)
The Houston Rockets’ Reed Sheppard of Team Melo shoots during a Rising Stars semifinal against Team Austin on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (Photo by Connor Terry, Contributing Photographer)
Clippers rookie center Yanic Konan Niederhäuser dunks for Team Austin during a Rising Stars semifinal against Team Melo on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (Photo by Connor Terry, Contributing Photographer)
The Portland Trail Blazers’ Donovan Clingan drives to the basket for Team Melo during a Rising Stars semifinal against Team Austin on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (Photo by Connor Terry, Contributing Photographer)
Fans celebrate a game-winning basket during the NBA Rising Stars four-team tournament on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (Photo by Connor Terry, Contributing Photographer)
Tracy McGrady gestures to fans during a game in the Rising Stars event on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (Photo by Connor Terry, Contributing Photographer)
The San Antonio Spurs’ Stephon Castle, of Team Melo, warms up before a Rising Stars game on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (Photo by Connor Terry, Contributing Photographer)
Chxrry sings the Canadian National Anthem during the NBA’s Rising Stars event on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (Photo by Connor Terry, Contributing Photographer)
Fans cheer during the NBA’s Rising Stars event on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (Photo by Connor Terry, Contributing Photographer)
Team Austin guard Alijah Martin (55) of the Toronto Raptors, right, shoots as Team Melo frontcourt Donovan Clingan (23) of the Portland Trail Blazers defends during an NBA basketball’s Rising Stars event Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Team T-Mac guard Kon Knueppel (7) of the Charlotte Hornets, right, shoots as Team Vince frontcourt Derik Queen (22) of the New Orleans Pelicans defends during an NBA basketball’s Rising Stars event Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Team Vince frontcourt Kyshawn George (18) of the Washington Wizards, right, shoots as Team T-Mac guard Cam Spencer (24) of the Memphis Grizzlies defends during an NBA basketball’s Rising Stars event Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Team Austin frontcourt Yanic Konan Niederhauser (14) of the LA Clippers shoots as Team Melo frontcourt Donovan Clingan (23) of the Portland Trail Blazers defends during an NBA basketball’s Rising Stars event Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Team T-Mac guard Kon Knueppel (7) of the Charlotte Hornets, right, passes while under pressure from Team Vince guard Egor Demin (8) of the Brooklyn Nets during an NBA basketball’s Rising Stars event Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Team Austin frontcourt Yang Hansen (16) of the Portland Trail Blazers shoots during an NBA basketball’s Rising Stars event Team Melo, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (Mark J. Terrill/Pool Photo via AP)
Team Vince frontcourt Carter Bryant (11) dunks during an NBA basketball’s Rising Stars event Team T-Mac, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Team Vince frontcourt Carter Bryant (11) of the San Antonio Spurs dunks as Team T-Mac guard Cam Spencer (24) of the Memphis Grizzlies defends during an NBA basketball’s Rising Stars event Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Team Vince guard VJ Edgecombe (77) of the Philadelphia 76ers, left, and Team Vince guard Cedric Coward (23) of the Memphis Grizzlies reach for a rebound during a final in NBA basketball’s Rising Stars event Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Team Melo frontcourt Donovan Clingan (23) of the Portland Trail Blazers, center, reaches for a rebound along with Team Austin frontcourt Yanic Konan Niederhauser (14) of the LA Clippers, top, during an NBA basketball’s Rising Stars event Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (Mark J. Terrill/Pool Photo via AP)
Team Vince guard VJ Edgecombe (77) of the Philadelphia 76ers, right, passes as Team Melo guard Jeremiah Fears (0) of the New Orleans Pelicans defends during a final in NBA basketball’s Rising Stars event Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Team Melo guard Dylan Harper (2) of the San Antonio Spurs, right, shoots as Team Austin guard Ron Harper Jr. (13) of the Boston Celtics defends during an NBA basketball’s Rising Stars event Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
NBA commissioner Adam Silver, right, talks to Clippers owner Steve Ballmer during the Rising Stars event on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (Photo by Connor Terry, Contributing Photographer)
Team Austin frontcourt Yanic Konan Niederhauser (14) of the LA Clippers dunks during an NBA basketball’s Rising Stars event against Team Melo, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (Mark J. Terrill/Pool Photo via AP)
Team Vince frontcourt Kyshawn George (18) of the Washington Wizards, left, grabs a rebound away from Team Melo guard Dylan Harper (2) of the San Antonio Spurs during a final in NBA basketball’s Rising Stars event Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Team Vince frontcourt Derik Queen (22) of the New Orleans Pelicans, right, shoots as Team T-Mac guard Jaylon Tyson (20) of the Cleveland Cavaliers defends during an NBA basketball’s Rising Stars event Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Team Vince guard VJ Edgecombe (77) of the Philadelphia 76ers, left, and Team Melo guard Jeremiah Fears (0) of the New Orleans Pelicans reach for a rebound during a final in NBA basketball’s Rising Stars event Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Team Vince guard VJ Edgecombe (77) of the Philadelphia 76ers, left, grabs a rebound as Team Melo guard Dylan Harper (2) of the San Antonio Spurs, center, and guard Stephon Castle (5) of the San Antonio Spurs reach for it during a final in NBA basketball’s Rising Stars event Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Team Melo frontcourt Donovan Clingan (23) of the Portland Trail Blazers, right, shoots as Team Vince frontcourt Derik Queen (22) of the New Orleans Pelicans defends during a final in NBA basketball’s Rising Stars event Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Team Vince guard VJ Edgecombe (77) of the Philadelphia 76ers celebrates during a final in NBA basketball’s Rising Stars event against Team Melo, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
From left, former NBA stars Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady and Carmelo Anthony pose together during the NBA Rising Stars tournament on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (Photo by Connor Terry, Contributing Photographer)
Philadelphia 76ers rookie VJ Edgecombe, center, and his Team Vince teammates celebrate after they defeated Team Melo in the NBA Rising Stars title game on Friday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (Photo by Connor Terry, Contributing Photographer)
Philadelphia 76ers guard VJ Edgecombe wins the Rising Stars event MVP award after leading Team Vince to the title on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (Photo by Connor Terry, Contributing Photographer)
Former NBA star Vince Carter celebrates after coaching his team to the Rising Stars title on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (Photo by Connor Terry, Contributing Photographer)
Philadelphia 76ers guard VJ Edgecombe, center, and his Team Vince teammates celebrate after defeating Team Melo in the NBA Rising Stars title game on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (Photo by Connor Terry, Contributing Photographer)
Team Melo honorary coach Carmelo Anthony, left, hands the trophy to Team Vince honorary coach Vince Carter after Carter’s team defeated Anthony’s team in a final in NBA basketball’s Rising Stars event Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Clippers rookie center Yanic Konan Niederhäuser dunks for Team Austin during a Rising Stars semifinal against Team Melo on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (Photo by Connor Terry, Contributing Photographer)
INGLEWOOD — VJ Edgecombe’s smile wouldn’t dissipate.
The Philadelphia 76ers rookie was speaking of his joy for basketball, the ability to provide for his family and the hot start to his first NBA season, building a profile for himself in the City of Brotherly Love. But on Friday night, after winning the Rising Stars MVP award following his 17-point semifinal performance and game-sealing plays in the championship game, Edgecombe could only think of one moment as his highlight since arriving in Los Angeles.
He grinned. And then fired off a name.
“I got to sit next to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar,” said Edgecombe, whose free throws sealed Team Vince’s 25-24 victory over Team Melo in the final, before pausing for emphasis. “That was fire.”
Edgecombe, 20, is averaging 14.9 points per game through the first 55 games of the NBA season, and the Bahamian guard raised his profile a bit more with his All-Star Weekend debut. Still, the chance to shake Abdul-Jabbar’s hand in Inglewood, sharing the story while sitting in a press conference room across from The Forum where the basketball icon perfected his skyhook, is his highlight.
Abdul-Jabbar, 78, a six-time NBA champion who retired well before Edgecombe was born, spoke with the Rising Stars players on Thursday night, discussing his basketball path, life experiences with the likes of Bruce Lee and the ways young players can use the NBA to enrich themselves and build their own brands if they invest in things like All-Star Weekend.
Playing the game of basketball, Edgecombe said, includes honoring the likes of the Lakers legend – and every player who has entered the league before him.
“He’s one of the greats of all time to ever touch a basketball, and to just be in the same room as him is a blessing,” Edgecombe said. “Him still showing love, even though he’s retired a long time ago, it means a lot. I have nothing but respect and love for Kareem and all the greats that come before me. … I’m grateful to be in the league.”
The games on Friday during the Rising Stars tournament featured the top selections of the 2024 and 2025 NBA draft classes. The teams were coached by a quartet of household NBA names – Carmelo Anthony, Tracy McGrady, Austin Rivers and Vince Carter – with the pre-game trash talk to enhance the atmosphere. But the noise, the showering of affection, was meant for one player; one player representing Rivers’ G-League team with an 11-point showing to kick off All-Star weekend.
“Ya-nic! Ya-nic! Ya-nic!” echoed the roughly few-hundred fans seated in The Wall, the extra-steep Clipper fans-only section at the Intiuit Dome.
Yanic Konan Niederhauser, the Clippers’ rookie center and 2025 first-round pick, provided the home faithful with a handful of highlights, scoring a team-high 11 points with three dunks during Team Austin’s 40-34 semifinal loss to Team Melo.
“The Wall was amazing, man,” the Swiss big man said. “It was so great. It felt so good playing in here, having that energy. It actually gave me more energy too for the game. It was great.”
The first game ended with a brother-on-brother iso as Dylan Harper (San Antonio Spurs) produced a combination of dribble moves like a DJ flipping through tracks, bullying his older brother Ron Harper Jr. (Boston Celtics) into the paint to seal the first-to-40 game with a mid-range jumper over him.
Edgecombe’s 17-point flurry in the second semifinal – playing hounding, intense basketball from the first tip and scoring the final 10 points for his squad – helped lead Team Vince to a 41-36 victory over Team T-Mac, which was paced by Cleveland Cavaliers wing Jaylon Tyson (10 points). And when push came to shove in the championship game, with the 25-point target score looming, Edgecombe took the ball into his own hands. The 6-foot-4 combo guard drove to the rim, and up went Portland Trail Blazers center Donovan Clingan to try and block his shot.
Clingan’s contact sent Edgecombe to the floor, and to the free-throw line, where he comfortably made two shots to secure the win.
“To be honest, there was no pressure,” Edgecombe said. “Coach Vince (Carter) was like, ‘Might as well, right?’ I was like, ‘why not?’”
The anticlimactic finish, in front of a sparsely-filled arena, could have been viewed as a dampened masquerade of All-Star basketball. But for Edgecombe – and the rest of the Rising Stars talent – Friday represented a first chance to be honored among the league’s best.
Edgecombe just so happened to have the skill, and smile, to back up the honor Friday night.
FLAGG DOWN
The Rising Stars game wasn’t a full showcase of the NBA’s top young talent because No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg dropped out of the game with an injury, as did Washington’s Alex Sarr and Memphis’ Cedric Coward.