CASTROL RISING STARS POSTGAME

February 13, 2026

Yanic Konan Niederhauser

Team Austin

Press Conference

Team Melo 40, Team Austin 34

Q. Talk about the experience. First off, what was it like to get a chant from The Wall?

YANIC KONAN NIEDERHÄUSER: I wanted to start with that too. The Wall was amazing, man. It was so great. Felt so good playing in here, having that energy. It actually gave me more energy too for the game. It was great.

Q. You also made a three-pointer. We saw you working on that, doing the practice over here. Is that what's next for you, three-point shooting?

YANIC KONAN NIEDERHÄUSER: I've been working on it. If I get an opportunity to get a three in the game, I'll get it. It's about right time, right moment. I'm not going to force anything, but yeah.

Q. I don't know if you saw it, but Steve Ballmer was watching you courtside.

YANIC KONAN NIEDERHÄUSER: I saw Steve. Steve is a great person. I love him. It definitely made me hyped too.

Q. You had 11, game high. What was it like going on the floor in an All-Star Weekend scenario? It's a little bit different than a regular game?

YANIC KONAN NIEDERHÄUSER: It's definitely different. Teammates are going to play hard when you're playing with them. It was a nice experience, man. I loved it.

Q. What do you think about the Dunk Contest if they asked you?

YANIC KONAN NIEDERHÄUSER: Honestly, I would have done it this year if they asked me. I'm definitely, definitely excited. I want to do it one day, one year.

Q. What are you doing for the rest of this break?

YANIC KONAN NIEDERHÄUSER: I'm definitely going to watch the Dunk Contest, watch the All-Star Game, too. Other than that, enjoy the time with my family. Enjoy the time with my dog, yeah.

Q. What can you take from this? Obviously, it's different from being with your team, amongst your peers, but what can you take from this and apply it to the season?

YANIC KONAN NIEDERHÄUSER: Just being in the moment. I think this Rising Stars is really social. It's a humbling experience for me, too, because this is one day, one game. You just play to 40.

I enjoyed the whole day. That reminds me of what it means to be in the NBA. At the beginning it was like, wow, I'm in the NBA. I have all these games now. And you forget about that. Moments like this reminds me of where I'm at, what stage I'm at.

Q. Does it make you hungry for more?

YANIC KONAN NIEDERHÄUSER: Definitely, man. I want to do this every year, if I can. It definitely makes me hungry.

Q. You can't do Rising Stars every year.

YANIC KONAN NIEDERHÄUSER: Yeah, but All-Stars, yeah.