NBA Rising Stars: Odds, Picks, Best Bets & How to Watch

• The NBA’s Rising Stars headline All-Star Friday night
• The event features four teams, with the winner earning a spot in Sunday’s All-Star Game mini-tournament
• See the NBA Rising Stars odds, picks, best bets and how to watch, below

The best freshmen and sophomores in the NBA get the spotlight tonight in the 2025 Castrol Rising Stars. The event, which headlines NBA All-Star Friday, is set for 9 pm ET at the Chase Center, in San Francisco, CA, and will be broadcast on TNT. This year’s format features two semifinal contests, followed by a championship game. The winner will advance to Sunday’s All-Star Game mini-tournament, to take on the NBA All-Stars.

NBA Rising Stars Odds

Team C is favored by 2.5 points in the opener versus Team T, while Team M is laying 4.5 points to Team G League in the second semi. Team C, T and M are made up or first and second-year NBA players, while Team G is comprised of the best talent in the NBA’s developmental league. The first team to 40 points will win each semifinal game, while the final will be the first team to 25 points.

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NBA Rising Stars Picks

• 2 Pick Parlay: Team C moneyline + Team M moneyline (+160) at FanDuel

From a talent and continuity perspective, Team C and Team M stand above the rest. Team M is led by the Thompson twins, Amen and Ausar, with the former being the best player in the competition. They also boast teammates Bub Carrington and Bilal Couliably from Washington, and the Pelicans Yves Missi. The New Orleans big man is one of the surprise rookies of the season, leading all freshmen in rebounding.

There’s some concern who will run the offense, but when in doubt give the rock to Amen. The Houston sophomore is a stat stuffer with elite athleticism. He averaged a double-double in January, shooting 56% from the floor. Thompson’s put up multiple 20-point efforts this month, and is fresh off his second triple-double in 11 games.

While the Thompson twins are two of the better sophomores in the event, Team C dominates the rookie class. NBA ROY odds favorite Stephon Castle is the centerpiece, followed by Jaylen Wells and Zach Edey. The trio represent three of the top-five rookie of the year contenders, and will generate production inside and out. Team C also boasts Keyonte George, who is one of the best pure scorers of the competition.

George has a sick handle, a smooth jump shot, and a bag full of tricks. He averages 17 points a night for Utah, and can singlehandedly take over in this type of format.

The two rosters we’re fading meanwhile, are uninspiring. Team T is full of second-year players, but none whose talent jump off the page. The G-League squad is highlighted by last year’s number three pick Reed Sheppard, but the rest is a group without legit NBA prospects.

NBA Rising Stars Outright Odds

As for the outright winner, we’ll roll with Team C at +210 odds. The squad is a more complete unit, with defined roles. Castle will run the point, and will be flanked by shooters in George, Wells and Dalton Knecht. Edey can dominate down low, making it hard to poke holes in the roster.

As entertaining as Team M will be, it will be chaotic, with more of a playground feel. As mentioned, the team is short on ball handlers and doesn’t possess anything close to the shooting talent of Team C.

• NBA Rising Stars Best Bets: Team C to win the tournament (+210) at FanDuel