top 5 rookies of the 2025-26 nba season
The talent and pure energy from this season’s draft class have been revitalizing, and it just seems to get better every year. History is constantly being made, records being broken. Going forward with Boozer, Dybantsa, Acuff, Peterson, and more - the trend is only looking to grow stronger. That being said, the performance put on by this season’s first-years is tough to rank, given that most other years any of these guys could have been number one. That being said, let’s get into it.
Honorable MEntions
Nikola Topic, Derik Queen, Dylan Harper, Maxime Raynaud, Collin Murray-Boyles.
#5 Ace Bailey
72 GP | 13.8 PPG | 4.2 RPG | 44.3% FGM | 34.4% 3PM
Young, energetic and explosive, he looks to rebuild Utah basketball with other young stars in JJ Jr. and Lauri Markkanen. He has shown to be able to step up when the rest of his team is suffering injuries, he can handle the level of athleticism the NBA requires and he can work around all parts of the game. Honestly, this might be a hot take but besides Flagg and Knueppel - he has the highest ceiling in the draft class.
#4 VJ Edgecomb
75 GP | 16 PPG | 5.6 RPG | 4.2 APG | 1.4 SPG | 35.4% 3PM
Imagine Ace Bailey, but better adjusted to the league like he had already been playing a year or two. There we go, that’s VJ Edgecomb. He has had amplified opportunities to take over in Philly with Maxey and Embiid both having injury bouts. He also has an opportunity to make a statement in the playoffs, something most other rookies don’t have a chance to do. Extremely well rounded and explosive young guy, and a perfect backcourt match for Maxey.
#3 Jeremiah Fears
82 GP | 14.3 PPG | 3.7 RPG | 3.4 APG | 1.2 SPG
It may be a little confusing to see Fears ahead of Edgecomb and Bailey, but it really comes down to the longevity. This guy played ALL 82 games in the NBA season, starting in over half of them. Furthermore, he turned it up the last half of the season when he was able to lock down some more minutes. He surpassed 20 points 6 of his last 10 games (21, 21, 28, 36, 36, 40) averaging 37.3 PPG across the last three of the seasons. He didn’t burn out, he got hungrier. His career may not be greater than the rest of the guys on this list, but his rookie campaign was undeniably impressive.
#2 Kon Knueppel
81 GP | 18.5 PPG | 5.3 RPG | 3.4 APG | 47.5% FGM | 42.5% 3PM
I think little to no description here is needed. First rookie to ever lead the league in threes, breaking multiple other franchise and rookie records. Brought an insane amount of life to a dead Hornets squad and gave them an honest shot at a playoff run (until they collapsed during the play-in). Either way, putting up these kind of numbers while never missing a game in your FIRST year - remarkable.
#1 Cooper Flagg
70 GP | 21 PPG | 6.7 RPG | 4.5 APG | 1.2 SPG | 46.8% FGM
I personally like Kon a little more, however it’s hard to put Flagg anywhere but number one. He had FOUR 40+ point games as a rookie. That’s twice as many as Donovan Mitchell, Anthony Edwards, Larry Bird or Elgin Baylor. He also had a 50-point game, the most by a rookie in a fair while. If it weren’t for the minor injury keeping him out for 12 games, I think he would have had undeniably the best campaign. He had much more opportunity where he landed, but he used it and made a statement every day he took the court.