NBA Rising Stars Game Results and MVP Winners (1994-2026)

The NBA Rising Stars competition began in 1994 as a showcase for the league's top first-year players. Originally known as the Rookie Challenge, the event has undergone several format changes, including East versus West, rookies versus sophomores, USA versus World, and a four-team tournament featuring some of the NBA's most promising young talent.

The game has been part of NBA All-Star Weekend for more than three decades, giving fans an early look at future stars. Players such as Allen Iverson, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Carmelo Anthony, John Wall and Cade Cunningham have earned MVP honors during the event's history.

The following tables list the results and MVPs from every year of the competition, including the 1999 cancellation and the 2021 season when no Rising Stars game was played.

Beginning in 2022, the Rising Stars event adopted a tournament format featuring four teams coached by former NBA players or other basketball personalities. The teams compete in semifinal games before the winners meet in a championship game.

Because this format includes multiple games, the results below show the championship matchup and final score, along with the other teams participating in the tournament.

In 2015, the Rising Stars competition introduced a USA versus World format. Young American players faced a roster of international talent, reflecting the growing global influence on the NBA.

The 2021 game was not held because of changes to All-Star Weekend during the COVID-19 pandemic.

From 2012 through 2014, the league replaced the traditional rookies-versus-sophomores matchup with teams selected by prominent former NBA stars. Shaquille O'Neal and Charles Barkley served as team general managers in 2012 and 2013, while Grant Hill and Chris Webber took over in 2014.

Beginning in 2000, the Rookie Challenge matched the NBA's top first-year players against the league's best second-year players. The sophomore team won most of the early meetings, although the rookies produced several notable victories.

During this era, future NBA stars including Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant, Tyreke Evans and John Wall earned MVP honors.

The first NBA Rookie Challenge was held during the 1994 All-Star Weekend in Minneapolis. The inaugural game featured Team Phenoms against Team Sensations, with Penny Hardaway earning MVP honors.

From 1996 through 1998, the game used an Eastern Conference versus Western Conference format. The 1999 event was canceled along with All-Star Weekend because of the NBA lockout.

1997 – Allen Iverson: Iverson earned Rookie Challenge MVP honors during All-Star Weekend in Cleveland, adding to an impressive first NBA season that would end with him winning Rookie of the Year.

2009 – Kevin Durant: Durant earned MVP honors while representing the Oklahoma City Thunder, demonstrating the scoring ability that would later make him one of the NBA's most accomplished offensive players.

2012 – Kyrie Irving: Irving won the award during the first year of the drafted-team format, helping Team Chuck defeat Team Shaq in Orlando.

2015 – Andrew Wiggins: Wiggins earned MVP honors in the first USA versus World game, helping Team World defeat Team USA in Brooklyn.

2022 – Cade Cunningham: Cunningham became the first MVP of the four-team tournament era as Team Barry won the Rising Stars championship in Cleveland.

2025 – Stephon Castle: The San Antonio Spurs rookie helped Team Chris Mullin defeat Team G League in the championship, earning MVP honors during All-Star Weekend in the Bay Area.

2026 – VJ Edgecombe: The Philadelphia 76ers rookie led Team Vince Carter to the Rising Stars championship in Los Angeles, including the game-winning free throws against Team Carmelo Anthony.

1994-1995: The original Rookie Challenge featured teams made up of first-year NBA players.

1996-1998: Rookies competed in Eastern Conference versus Western Conference matchups.

1999: No game was played because of the NBA lockout.

2000-2011: Rookies faced sophomores in a traditional exhibition game.

2012-2014: Former NBA stars selected the rosters for two opposing teams.

2015-2020: Team USA faced Team World.

2021: No game was held.

2022-2026: The event used a four-team tournament with semifinal games and a championship game.

Explore more NBA All-Star records and historical results in the NBA All-Star History Index, the NBA Rookie All-Stars List, and the All-Star Participants Directory.

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