Stephon Castle Leads Team C to Victory in Castrol Rising Stars, Secures All-Star Game Spot
A thrilling night at the 2025 Castrol Rising Stars saw Team C, powered by San Antonio Spurs rookie Stephon Castle, secure a dominant 25-14 win over Team G League in the final. Castle, who was named Rising Stars MVP, contributed 12 points and two assists to help Team C earn their place in the 74th annual All-Star Game on Sunday.
Castle was instrumental in Team C’s comeback, scoring eight consecutive points at one point and assisting Utah Jazz’s Keyonte George with the game-winning 3-pointer from the left wing. The victory came after a 17-2 run that overturned an early four-point deficit.
In the first semifinal, Team C built an early double-digit lead, and although Team T made a late push, Castle sealed the win with a step-back jumper from the right elbow, making Team C’s fifth attempt at the game-winning shot. Team C shot an impressive 61%, with George adding 10 points. Team T’s Gradey Dick led all scorers with 12 points.
The second semifinal was a nail-biter, with Bryce McGowens of the Portland Trail Blazers hitting a 3-pointer to give Team G League a 40-39 win over Team M. McGowens and Minnesota Timberwolves’ Leonard Miller, who combined for 26 points, kept Team G League in the game after Team M struggled with free throws. Amen Thompson of the Houston Rockets led Team M with 10 points.
The victory in the Rising Stars event marks a major achievement for Team C, which included players like Castle, George, and Memphis Grizzlies’ Trayce Jackson-Davis. Team G League’s standout performers included McGowens, Miller, and JD Davison.
The winning team will now take part in a mini-tournament at the All-Star Game on Sunday, February 16, where they will compete against the NBA All-Stars. TNT analyst and WNBA legend Candace Parker will serve as the honorary GM for Team Candace, the Rising Stars champion.
The Castrol Rising Stars event features an exciting format with three seven-player NBA teams and one G League team. Each semifinal will be won by the first team to reach 40 points, with the championship game going to the first team to score 25 points.
Team C Roster:
- Stephon Castle (San Antonio Spurs)
- Keyonte George (Utah Jazz)
- Trayce Jackson-Davis (Golden State Warriors)
- Jaylen Wells (Memphis Grizzlies)
- Dalton Knecht (L.A. Lakers)
- Zach Edey (Memphis Grizzlies)
- Ryan Dunn (Phoenix Suns)
The Coaches:
- Tim Hardaway (Team T)
- Chris Mullin (Team C)
- Mitch Richmond (Team M)
- Jeremy Lin (Team G League)
With the win, Team C now has its eyes set on the mini-tournament and the chance to compete against the NBA’s best.
