Trang chủ/News/
Dallas’ Cooper Flagg has done nothing to diminish his chances of claiming the Kia Rookie of the Year award this season.
Yet several of his 2025 draft classmates have also started strong, signaling they could vie for the Wilt Chamberlain Trophy, the NBA’s annual honor for the league’s top newcomer.
Flagg remains the most recognizable rookie, thanks to his roots in Newport, Maine, a standout season at Duke, and his arrival as the consensus No. 1 pick. The Dallas Mavericks’ drama—trading franchise cornerstone Luka Dončić, drawing fan ire, and putting GM Nico Harrison under the microscope—only amplified the spotlight on Flagg when the lottery fell in Dallas’ favor.
Still, lower-profile prospects from last season have the chance to make a name for themselves this year, and this week’s debut Kia Rookie Ladder reflects that—Flagg sits no higher than fourth, a nod to the strong early showings of his peers.
Compared to the past two rookie classes, this crop may offer the best of both worlds. Two years ago, Victor Wembanyama arrived as a generational talent and ran away with the Kia Rookie of the Year. Last year, Stephon Castle emerged late from the Class of 2024, which had fewer immediate standouts.
Now, a deep pool of legitimate ROY contenders could push each other to even greater heights. Flagg is still the favorite, but just a few more weeks of surprises could have Las Vegas oddsmakers and analysts scrambling to update their predictions.
1. VJ Edgecombe, Philadelphia 76ers
Season stats: 22.3 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 5.5 apg
Draft pick: No. 3
The only thing that could temper the excitement around Edgecombe is the lingering memory of last year’s Sixers rookie standout, Jared McCain. McCain looked like an early Rookie of the Year frontrunner (15.3 ppg) before a torn meniscus in his left knee cut his season short after just 23 games. His recovery was further delayed following thumb ligament surgery in September. Naturally, the Sixers hope history doesn’t repeat itself—especially now that they’ve built such a dynamic backcourt pairing with Tyrese Maxey and Edgecombe. The Baylor product brings an elite blend of athleticism, length, and basketball IQ to the court. “I’m a student of the game,” Edgecombe said this week. “I know exactly where my shots are going to come from.”
2. Cedric Coward, Memphis Grizzlies
Season stats: 16.5 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 2.3 apg
Draft pick: No. 11
A draft sleeper usually refers to someone taken late in the first round or somewhere in the second. A steal, however, perfectly describes Coward — a player already making lottery teams regret letting him slip past the Top 10. The Grizzlies bucked the trend, moving up five spots to secure him despite concerns over a torn rotator cuff that limited the 6-foot-6 wing to just six games at Washington State last year. Now healthy, Coward has made the most of his opportunity, capitalizing on minutes created by teammates’ injuries and posting remarkable shooting numbers — 69.7% from the field and a scorching 64.3% from beyond the arc.
3. Dylan Harper, San Antonio Spurs
Season stats: 14.8 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 4.8 apg
Draft pick: No. 2
Five-time NBA champion Ron Harper was 42 when his son Dylan was born—meaning a father-son duo on the same roster was never in the cards. Still, Harper Sr.’s championship pedigree clearly lives on through the Spurs’ promising rookie. Dylan has wasted no time showcasing his maturity and versatility, ranking among the Top 5 rookies in seven different statistical categories. “I’m not trying to limit myself to one thing,” Harper said. “I just want to be an all-around player who can impact the game in every way.”
4. Cooper Flagg, Dallas Mavericks
Season stats: 13 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 2.5 apg
Draft pick: No. 1
A sore left shoulder against OKC on Monday sent Flagg to the bench — and reignited debate over coach Jason Kidd’s choice to start the rookie at point guard in Kyrie Irving’s absence. Was it a bold move to expand Flagg’s perspective, or did it stifle his natural aggressiveness by making him focus too much on facilitating? His rhythm noticeably improved once D’Angelo Russell slid into the lead guard role. Flagg’s standout showing came against Toronto, where he posted 22 points, four rebounds, four assists, and zero turnovers — joining Kobe Bryant as the only 18-year-olds to score 20+ without a single giveaway. And if that wasn’t impressive enough, he added a highlight-reel moment that had everyone talking.
5. Tre Johnson, Washington Wizards
Season stats: 14.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2 apg
Draft pick: No. 6
Joining a roster loaded with youth — eight players with a year or less of experience and 11 with two or fewer — Johnson has still managed to make his presence felt. The young guard etched his name alongside Kevin Durant as the only teenagers to open their NBA careers with three straight games of at least 16 points and two or more made threes. His remarkable efficiency and poise are already turning heads around the league.
6. Kon Knueppel, Charlotte Hornets
Season stats: 16 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 2 apg
Draft pick: No. 4
No rookie in NBA history ever hit more 3-pointers through his first four games than the Hornets’ new young forward. He made 16 of his 30 tries (53.3%) to top Sacramento’s Keegan Murray and Indiana’s Chris Duarte, each of whom hit 13 in their first four appearances. The season target: 206 by Murray three years ago.
7. Jeremiah Fears, New Orleans Pelicans
Season stats: 10.7 ppg, 2 rpg, 1.7 apg
Draft pick: No. 7
Fears’ first start against Boston wasn’t his best showing — just two points on 1-for-11 shooting with four turnovers in a tough loss. Still, veteran teammate Zion Williamson isn’t the least bit concerned. “Fears is already a pro’s pro,” Williamson said. “He’s a dog. Stuff like that doesn’t get to him — he’ll just come back the next day ready to work.” The 6-foot-4 guard showed flashes of his potential earlier in the season, putting up 17 points in just 18 minutes during his debut, a glimpse of the confidence and scoring spark that made him a top-10 pick.
8. Derik Queen, New Orleans Pelicans
Season stats: 10 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 1 bpg
Draft pick: No. 13
With frontcourt injuries sidelining Kevon Looney and Yves Missi, Queen was thrust into a starting role at center — and thrown straight into the fire against none other than Victor Wembanyama. Despite giving up nearly six inches, the rookie held his own across 35 grueling minutes in the Pelicans’ overtime loss to San Antonio. It was a true trial by fire, and Queen passed with poise. Teammate Jeremiah Fears praised his basketball intellect, saying, “Derik is really, really smart. He’s got a unique skill set and incredible IQ. He reads the floor, understands spacing, and his versatility helps us in so many ways.”
9. Collin Murray-Boyles, Toronto Raptors
Season stats: 9.5 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 1.5 spg
Draft pick: No. 9
Murray-Boyles has already made his mark with relentless defensive energy — the kind that keeps coaches up late figuring out how to get him more minutes. The South Carolina product is still developing his shooting touch, but he’s showing the instincts and hustle that define a true 3-and-D prospect. “If I’m open, shoot the ball,” he said confidently after returning from a forearm strain that sidelined him early in the season. While the shot continues to come along, Murray-Boyles has been a defensive spark plug and a disruptive presence on the court — exactly what Toronto’s young core needs.
10. Ryan Kalkbrenner, Charlotte Hornets
Season stats: 9.5 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 1 bpg
Draft pick: No. 34
Kalkbrenner has quietly become one of the Hornets’ most efficient rookie big men. The 7-footer from Creighton is a master of staying in his lane offensively, hitting 19 of 21 shots for an eye-popping 90.5% shooting rate. When projected over 36 minutes, he’s right on the cusp of a double-double (12.9 points, 9.9 rebounds), showcasing both consistency and efficiency. His smart positioning, clean finishing, and rebounding instincts have already started earning him fans among Hornets supporters.
