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Every Grizzlies player to compete in the NBA Rising Stars Challenge

Parish Sharkey
Parish Sharkey

Beale Street Bears

Feb 5, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey (14) battles with Toronto Raptors forward Kelly Olynyk (41) during the third quarter at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images / Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images

NBA All-Star weekend is here and the Memphis Grizzlies are being represented in the events for the eighth consecutive season. The same eight seasons have seen the franchise being represented in the Rising Stars Challenge as well.

With rookies Zach Edey and Jaylen Wells making the Rising Stars Challenge, this marked the first time since the 2019-20 season that the Grizzlies have two players to make the teams. That season saw them have three players with Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Brandon Clarke making the teams.

Then-rookie Ja Morant and second-year Jaren Jackson Jr. were teammates on Team USA playing against their rookie teammate Brandon Clarke on Team World. With the new layout this season, the 28 players selected were split into four teams for a mini-tournament to decide who would compete with the NBA All-Stars on Sunday.

Just like their teammates Jaren Jackson Jr. and Ja Morant in 2020, Zach Edey and Jaylen Wells were selected to play on the same team. Their team also includes San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle which means Team Chris (Chris Mullin) has the top three rookies from the latest Kia Rookie Ladder.

In total, the Memphis Grizzlies will have 18 players to participate in the Rising Stars Challenge after tonight's festivities. That number goes to 25 players dating back to their days as the Vancouver Grizzlies. Seven players participated in the event twice (rookie and sophomore seasons).

List of Grizzlies players to play in the Rising Stars Challenge

Memphis Grizzlies:

  • 2024 - 2025: SF Jaylen Wells (Rookie)
  • 2024 - 2025: C Zach Edey (Rookie)
  • 2023 - 2024: SF Vince Williams Jr. (Sophomore)
  • 2022 - 2023: PF Kenny Lofton Jr. (Rookie)
  • 2021 - 2022: Desmond Bane (Sophomore)
  • 2019 - 2020 & 2020 - 2021: Ja Morant (Rookie and Sophomore)
  • 2019 - 2020 & 2020 - 2021: Brandon Clarke (Rookie and Sophomore)
  • 2018 - 2019 & 2019 - 2020: Jaren Jackson Jr. (Rookie and Sophomore)
  • 2017 - 2018: Dillon Brooks (Rookie)
  • 2008 - 2009 & 2009 - 2010: Marc Gasol (Rookie and Sophomore)
  • 2008 - 2009 & 2009 - 2010: O.J. Mayo (Rookie and Sophomore)
  • 2007 - 2008: Mike Conley Jr. (Rookie)
  • 2007 - 2008: Juan Carlos Navarro (Rookie)
  • 2006 - 2007 & 2007 - 2008: Rudy Gay (Rookie and Sophomore)
  • 2002 - 2003: Gordan Giricek (Rookie)
  • 2002 - 2003: Drew Gooden (Rookie)
  • 2001 - 2002 & 2002 - 2003: Pau Gasol (Rookie and Sophomore)
  • 2001 - 2002: Shane Battier (Rookie)

Vancouver Grizzlies:

  • 1999 - 2000: Mike Bibby (Sophomore)
  • 1999 - 2000: Michael Dickerson (Sophomore)
  • 1997 - 1998: Antonio Daniels (Rookie)
  • 1996 - 1997: Shareef Abdur-Rahim (Rookie)
  • 1996 - 1997: Roy Rogers Jr. (Rookie)
  • 1995 - 1996: Bryant Reeves (Rookie)
Parish Sharkey

Parish Sharkey

Parish Sharkey serves as the Memphis Grizzlies Beat Reporter for Bluff City Media and is the former Site Expert for Beale Street Bears. He is also a contributor for Titan Sized, covering the Tennessee Titans. He has previously written for SBNation's Grizzly Bear Blues and hosted their Starting 5 podcast from 2020 to 2023. That transitioned him to becoming the Memphis Hustle beat writer in 2023. His previous duties also include serving as the Memphis Tigers Beat Reporter and podcast host of Bluff City Buzzer for iHeartMedia in 2018. His hobbies include spending time with his wife, playing basketball, and watching sports (mainly football and basketball).