With familiar faces and family around, Grizzlies leading scorer Jaren Jackson Jr. felt right at home with his selection to play in the 2025 Western Conference All-Star Game in San Francisco on Sunday, Feb. 17.
“I just saw my dad out there. He was hyped. He was with my uncle. My uncle is in, so that was dope. My mom, I’ve been seeing her at my appearances, so that’s been dope, and my friends are here. It’s a party. I think that’s the takeaway, it’s nice to see everybody smiling. It’s nice to see everybody just enjoying their time out here. It’s huge. It’s huge,” said Jackson.
It is the second time the 6’11” power forward has been named an All-Star. He was also selected by NBA coaches to be a reserve in 2022. The first time around, teammate Ja Morant made the trip too. However, this year rookie starters Jaylen Wells and Zach Edey are on hand with their selections to the 2025 Castrol Rising Stars Challenge.
There is a chance the pair could face Jackson on Sunday, after Team C knocked off a team of G League players to win the championship round. The winner of the Challenge will face a team of All-Stars during a mini-tournament on Sunday, Feb. 16.
Jackson has his fingers crossed at the potential opportunity.
“I want to dunk on both of them, for sure. I can’t wait. I want to – as soon as they won the game, I definitely said, I have my eyes on y’all. I’m watching y’all. So, I got them.”
“I want to dunk on both of them, for sure. I can’t wait.
Jaren Jackson Jr. on going against rookie teammates Zach Edey and Jaylen Wells
Wells played high school basketball at Folsom High School, nearly 100 miles from the Bay Area. A first round pick out of Washington State, he began his college career at Sonoma State University before transferring. In January, the Bay Area school announced this will likely be the Seawolves’ final season.
“It was sad because it happened so abruptly,” said Wells.
Jackson will team up with Anthony Edwards (Timberwolves), Jalen Brunson (Knicks), Jalen Williams (Thunder), Darius Garland (Cavaliers), Evan Mobley (Cavaliers), Cade Cunningham (Pistons) and Tyler Herro (Heat). Their team’s name is Kenny’s Young Guns, after TNT host and NBA player Kenny Smith.
Team Smith will play fellow TNT host Charles Barkley’s team. Team Charles Global Stars’ players include Nikola Jokic (Nuggets), Trae Young (Hawks), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder), Victor Wembanyama (Spurs), Pascal Siakam (Pacers), Alperen Sengun (Rockets), Karl-Anthony Towns (Knicks) and Donovan Mitchell (Cavaliers).
Team C will face the Shaquille O’Neal-coached OG’s. Led by LeBron James, the team includes Stephen Curry, Jayson Tatum, Kevin Durant, Damian Lillard, James Harden, Jaylen Brown and Kyrie Irving. Tipoff is at 7:20 p.m.
Kenny’s Young Guns will play Charles Global Stars at 8:10 pm.
The first team to reach 45 points will be the winner.
The championship game will begin at 9 p.m. The first to 25 points will take the crown.
The Rising Stars Challenge was the first taste of All-Star Weekend festivities in San Francisco for Wells and Edey. The pair received an extension on their West Coast vacation after Team C knocked off Team G League 25-14 on Saturday, Feb. 15.
With a new format this year, Wells and Edey join their Team C teammates as they square off against NBA All-Stars in a mini-tournament on All-Star Game Sunday, Feb. 17.
The winner of the championship round was the first team to reach 25 points. Spurs rookie Stephen Castle poured on 12 points to lead Team C. Edey had two points and two rebounds in 3:48 minutes of play, while Wells was held scoreless. The contest lasted just over seven-and-a-half minutes.
Other members of the Team C roster include former UT Volunteer rookie Dalton Knecht of the Los Angeles Lakers, Keyonte George of the Utah Jazz, Trayce Jackson-Davis from Golden State and Ryan Dunn of the Phoenix Suns. They are coached by 2010 NBA Hall of Fame inductee Chris Mullin.
Forward Dink Pate and center Leonard Miller scored five points apiece in the loss. Other members of the G League squad include JD Davidson, Mac McClung, Bryce McGowans, Reed Sheppard and Pat Spencer.
A member of the Osceola Magic on a two-way contract with the Orlando Magic, McClung won the 2025 NBA Slam Dunk Contest on Friday, Feb. 15. He is the only player to win the award for the third consecutive year.
In the opening round, Team C topped the Tim Hardaway-coached Team T, 40-34, to advance to the championship game. The first team to reach 40 points was the winner.
Wells and Edey started both games.
The All-Star Game tips-off at 7 p.m. on TNT.
