On a night filled with potential, it was Spurs rookie Stephon Castle and his team who rose to the occasion. Coached by two-time Olympic champion Chris Mullin, the squad secured victory in the NBA Rising Stars Challenge, earning a spot in Sunday’s All-Star Game. As Team Candace Parker, they will face off against Shaq’s OGs—an exciting matchup that will see rookies and sophomores take on the likes of LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant.

While many have expressed enthusiasm for this new format, Warriors veteran Draymond Green isn’t among them. Green believes the inclusion of the Rising Stars diminishes the prestige of the All-Star Game.

ESPN journalist Marc J. Spears shared insights from a conversation with the former All-Star, revealing Green’s dissatisfaction with the format. “One All-Star from last year told me he didn’t like this because what does the All-Star team that plays against the Rising Stars have to gain?” Spears reported. “He’s like, we’re supposed to beat them. If we lose, we look bad.”  Spears went on to elaborate on Green’s viewpoint, stating, “These young guys, if they’re on the Rising Stars team, they don’t deserve the privilege of playing on Sunday. And I truly understand that. He felt like it cheapened what Sunday would be.”

Green’s stance underscores the long-standing belief that earning an All-Star spot is a major achievement, one that shouldn’t be diluted by including younger, less experienced players. However, the NBA is actively working to revitalize the event, and not everyone shares Green’s skepticism. Here’s what they have to say.

How other All-Stars view the change

As the league experiments with new ways to bring excitement back to the All-Star Game, Green’s criticism stands in contrast to the perspectives of other players. Milwaukee Bucks star Damian Lillard sees the Rising Stars’ participation as a potential boost to the competition. “I think one thing about a team full of young players is they’re going to come out there, and they’re going to play with some energy. They’re going to play fast. I think that’ll probably heighten the competition. So we’ll see,” Lillard told CBS Sports.

Kevin Durant echoed similar sentiments, embracing the shift. “It’s different from what we’re used to, but it’s basketball at the end of the day. I think guys will go out there and try to play, impress the fans, stay healthy, and give a good show.”

Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokić also believes the format will foster competitiveness, offering a fresh dynamic to the event. “Maybe [it will improve the competitivness],” Jokic said. “We will see. I think it’s definitely something that we’ve worked to change and it’s worth a try. We’ll see how the players will react and how it’s going to be.”

While Green remains unconvinced, the league deserves credit for attempting to inject new energy into the All-Star festivities. The true impact of the Rising Stars’ involvement remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the debate around the new format is far from over. With contrasting opinions from some of the NBA’s biggest names, all eyes will be on the court to determine whether this change elevates or diminishes the All-Star Game experience.