Feb. 18, 2026, 1:02 p.m. ET
With the NBA All-Star break over, teams around the league now turn to the stretch run with approximately 26-29 regular-season games left on the 2025-26 schedule.
The revamped All-Star Game, featuring a U.S. vs. World format, saw its largest audience since 2011, averaging 8.8 million viewers across NBC, Peacock and Telemundo. The viewership peaked at 9.8 million between 7 and 7:15 p.m. EDT.
Two nights prior, viewers saw 28 of the top rookies, sophomores and G League players take the court for the Rising Stars Game. Philadelphia 76ers rookie VJ Edgecombe was the unanimous MVP of the showcase, totaling 23 points in two matchups to lead his team to the title.
Headlined by Edgecombe, along with the likes of Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel, the rookie class has dazzled throughout the season. The Rookie of the Year race appears to be pared down to just a few candidates after separating themselves from the pack.
Rookie Wire gathered the latest odds for the annual award from the BetMGM Sportsbook as the NBA returns to action on Thursday. The odds may fluctuate over the remainder of the season.
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Odds: +50000
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Odds: +50000
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Odds: +8000
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Odds: +400
Related Hornets’ Kon Knueppel earns high praise from Giannis Antetokounmpo
Odds: -800
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