Tue Feb 04 06:10:00 UTC 2025: **NBA Rising Stars to Shine in San Francisco; McClung Aims for Slam Dunk Three-peat**
SAN FRANCISCO – The NBA All-Star 2025 festivities will feature a showcase of young talent in the Castrol Rising Stars challenge on February 16th at the Chase Center. The tournament will feature a unique format: four seven-player teams, three comprised of NBA rookies and sophomores, and one team of G League standouts selected by the league.
Among the notable NBA players participating are Bilal Coulibaly, Amen Thompson, Zach Edey, and 2024 first-overall pick Zaccharie Risacher. The G League team will include several high-performing players, many of whom have demonstrated significant skills in the G League.
Meanwhile, Mac McClung, the reigning two-time Slam Dunk champion, will attempt an unprecedented three-peat in the 2025 AT&T Slam Dunk Contest. McClung, who initially gained prominence as a G League player, has since secured a two-way contract with the Orlando Magic. His success highlights the pathway for G League players to achieve NBA success.
Other notable G-League players selected for the Rising Stars game include several high-scoring players who’ve recently seen limited NBA minutes. Among them are: the Rockets’ Jalen Sheppard, who exploded for 49 points in a G-League game; the Trail Blazers’ Mouhamadou McGowens, currently the G-League’s leading scorer; and the Celtics’ JD Davison, a Maine Celtics standout. Also selected is the Timberwolves’ Josh Minner, whose impressive G-League Tip-Off Tournament performance earned him a spot. Rounding out the G-League team is Golden State’s Lester Quiñones and the Mexico City Capitanes’ Efeosa Pate.
The Rising Stars game promises an exciting display of future NBA stars and a chance to witness McClung’s quest for a historic third consecutive slam dunk title.
First Piper 