Basketball analysis: Ranking the best NBA rookies of the 2025-26 season so far

The 2025 NBA Draft was always going to be defined by the arrival of Cooper Flagg – yet, despite Flagg’s impressive start, he is far from the only rookie to make an impact.

Already hailed as one of the strongest draft classes in recent history, this group entered the league with high expectations, and several players have delivered. 

As the season reaches its midpoint following the All-Star Game break, a number of first-year players have already pulled ahead as influential starters.

The following rankings are based on overall performance, consistency, team impact, and long-term potential.

Here, Sports News Blitz writer Jake Reed looks at the top five NBA rookies so far this season.

5. Cedric Coward – Memphis Grizzlies

Fifth place is a bit of a tug-of-war this season, with my mind changing weekly, but Cedric Coward has had just enough flashes to grab it.

The Memphis shooting guard edges out the likes of Jeremiah Fears, Dylan Harper, Maxime Raynaud, and the original fifth draft pick, Ace Bailey.

Coward has been an intriguing rookie to watch on a Grizzlies team that has struggled for consistency and recently lost its best player in Jaren Jackson Jr.

Despite Memphis’ struggles, Coward has been a bright spark, averaging 13.3 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game.

The number 11 pick out of Washington State enjoyed a particularly strong December and January, and although his numbers have dipped slightly in recent weeks, his quality has already been made clear.

Coward plays with confidence, and while his performances have fluctuated, his best games hint at a future star wing.

Like an indie film that surprises at the box office, Coward is quiet and understated, then he steals the show with a moment that makes you sit up straight.

With more consistency and defensive refinement, he could climb even higher.

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4. Derik Queen – New Orleans Pelicans

Another position that has shifted throughout the season is fourth place, but Derik Queen is beginning to cement his spot with performances that show significant potential.

Selected 13th overall, Queen has played more like a top-five pick.

His minutes have dipped slightly in February, which has puzzled many Pelicans fans, yet his impact remains clear.

Averaging 12.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game, the 6ft 9in centre has at times dominated games.

His 33-point triple-double against the San Antonio Spurs in December remains one of the most eye-catching rookie performances of the season.

In addition, his true shooting percentage (TS%) – which measures scoring efficiency by accounting for field goals, 3-pointers, and free throws – sits at 55.5% for the season.

While this is not a major concern for a centre, it does highlight shooting as an area for improvement. 

Not every night is a blockbuster, but the best moments are worth the watch.

His size and playmaking ability have produced some of the strongest rookie displays this season, earning him fourth place.

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3. VJ Edgecombe – Philadelphia 76ers

This was the first ranking that required little debate, with VJ Edgecombe landing exactly where he was drafted.

Edgecombe stamped his authority as a top-three rookie after his 34-point performance against the Boston Celtics. 

This was the third-most points ever scored by a player on their NBA debut, behind only Frank Selvy and Wilt Chamberlain.

His season has been a roller coaster, but the highs have been worth the ride: a fast start, a November dip, a December surge, and a slight slowdown in recent weeks.

While this raises questions about consistency, it is not unusual for a rookie, especially when his best nights regularly exceed 20 points.

Edgecombe is not the most efficient scorer, posting a true shooting percentage of 52% and a field-goal percentage of 42.3%, which drops to 38.3% over his last 10 games.

However, he has already shown he can perform in big moments.

Consistency? Maybe not. But when he’s on form, he’s impossible to ignore.

Just ask Team Vince – at last weekend’s All-Star Weekend, he won Rising Stars MVP after hitting two game-winners to lead the team to the tournament title.

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2. Kon Knueppel – Charlotte Hornets

If Edgecombe is making headlines with clutch scoring, Knueppel is rewriting the rookie shooting record books.

Knueppel has arguably been the most polished offensive rookie this season.

He has already broken records, becoming the fastest player in NBA history to reach 100 career three-pointers, doing so in just 29 games.

With that kind of shooting ability, comparisons to Stephen Curry have already begun, and Knueppel is on pace to challenge several three-point records currently held by Curry.

There’s still a long way to go, but when Knueppel’s on the court, threes practically rain, so the potential of another elite shooter is hard to ignore.

Charlotte fans, keep them umbrellas handy.

Knueppel is averaging 18.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game.

His true shooting percentage of 64.6% places him above players such as Curry, Kevin Durant, Victor Wembanyama, and Anthony Edwards.

The former Duke standout has moreover slotted seamlessly into a Charlotte side stacked with shooting talent. 

His ability to stretch the floor through movement and spacing has opened opportunities both for himself and his team-mates, and his consistency has made him one of the league’s most reliable rookies.

The only reason he does not top this list is the two-way dominance of the player ranked above him.

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1. Cooper Flagg – Dallas Mavericks

From the opening weeks, the number one pick, a former Duke team-mate of Knueppel, has looked the real deal.

Cooper Flagg joined a Mavericks team featuring All-Star talent in Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis, but injuries to Irving and the departure of Davis quickly changed the situation. 

Dallas’ 19-35 record cannot be placed on Flagg.

He has been forced into a leading role and has delivered repeatedly, recording several 30-point performances.

While his scoring may be higher than other rookies because he’s Dallas’ primary option, his ability to consistently deliver is impossible to ignore.

At 19, most of us were figuring out how to cook something better than beans on toast or noodles, but Flagg is rewriting NBA history.

Flagg is averaging 20.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game, with that figure rising to 25.3 points per game over his last 10 outings.

His 49-point performance against the Charlotte Hornets is the highest-scoring game ever by a teenager in NBA history.

He has also become the youngest player to record four consecutive 30-point games.

The only other rookie to achieve at least 30 points and five rebounds in four straight games was Michael Jordan, company that underlines just how special Flagg’s start to his career has been.

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