Several players from the 2026 NBA Rising Stars event took part in a Reddit AMA session during NBA All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles, answering questions from the league’s online community.
The casual forum gave fans a chance to hear directly from young talents about their journeys to the NBA and the challenges they face at the professional level. Among the Rising Stars present were rookies and second-year players drafted into the Castrol Rising Stars mini-tournament.
When asked about the toughest part of transitioning from college or international basketball to the NBA, Brooklyn Nets guard Egor Dëmin pointed to the overall speed and physicality of the league, a common theme among emerging players.
Several participants reflected on their personal development before turning pro. Miami Heat forward Keshad Johnson said he would have enjoyed his high school years more instead of focusing heavily on rankings, while Atlanta Hawks forward Zaccharie Risacher shared that hard work and enjoyment of the game are what matter most.
Source: Washington Wizards
Players also discussed influences and memories that shaped their careers. Washington Wizards’ Kyshawn George mentioned he would have liked to play alongside Jamal Crawford, citing his entertaining style. A few Rising Stars pointed to legendary figures like Michael Jordan when asked who they would have liked to play with.
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Jaylon Tyson said consistency from season to season, especially maintaining strong shooting percentages, is one of the hardest parts of life in the NBA.
Off the court, Cam Spencer of the Memphis Grizzlies noted that starting a nonprofit to help veterans and military families has been one of his proudest accomplishments.
Other Rising Stars shared how they spend their downtime, with Memphis forward Jaylen Wells mentioning video editing and his nonprofit aimed at uplifting underserved communities.
The Reddit AMA offered a glimpse into the personalities and perspectives of the league’s future stars ahead of Friday night’s Rising Stars showcase and the weekend’s other All-Star events.
