This year, the Race for Rookie of the Year is off to a strong start. If many young players have not yet had their chance in their respective teams, around ten talents are already enchanting the Great League at the start of the 2025-26 season. After a month of competition and a good ten matches played per franchise, it’s time to take a first look at the fight for this trophy.
Honorable mentions
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- Tre Johnson and his 11 points average in the Washington Wizards basketball mush.
- Will Richard, the superb surprise of the Golden State Warriors.
- Collin Murray-Boyles, the pivot of the future of the Toronto Raptors?
- Ace Bailey, who is heating up during the Utah Jazz’s latest games.
- Dylan Harper and his big start to the season at the San Antonio Spurs before being hampered by an injury.
7 – Derik Queen (New Orleans Pelicans)
Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images
- Stats : 10.4 points / 6.2 rebounds / 2.6 assists / 1.0 steal / 47% shooting
- With : 2 victories – 12 defeats
Derik Queen is not a modern interior and that’s all of its charm. His skills with his back to the basket are wonderful and have already impressed Tim Duncan. Arriving in the NBA with the weight of Joe Dumars’ transfer on his shoulders, the pivot was able to quickly get rid of it to prove his value. He is gaining momentum and the arrival of James Borrego at the head of the team could well be excellent news for him. He started the last two games as a starter.
6 – Ryan Kalkbrenner (Charlotte Hornets)
Photo by Jacob Kupferman/GettyImages
- Stats : 9.9 points / 7.1 rebounds / 2.2 blocks / 81% shooting
- With : 4 victories – 10 defeats
Charles Lee surprised many NBA observers by choosing to make the former Creighton pivot, selected in the second round of the Draft, a starter from the start of the season. A decision that bears fruit. Moussa Diabaté enjoys himself from the sidelines and Ryan Kalkbrenner impresses with his accuracy and great maturity. He does what he knows how to do, without frills and it works as evidenced by his 17 points, 9 rebounds and 3 blocks at 8/8 shooting against Milwaukee.
5 – Cedric Coward (Memphis Grizzlies)
Photo by Brandon Dill/AP
- Stats : 14.3 points / 6.4 rebounds / 2.9 assists / 48% shooting / 41% from distance
- With : 4 victories – 11 defeats
Cedric Coward is Memphis’ only ray of sunshine. Everything is going wrong in Tennessee between Ja Morant’s moods, Jaren Jackson Jr’s average start to the season and the lack of Desmond Bane. But the Grizzlies proved once again that they were excellent in the Draft, the Front Office set its sights on this physical and skillful winger, so consistent since his debut in the NBA. It’s very simple, in 15 games, he has always scored more than 7 points and passed the 10 mark 13 times. His biggest feat remains his 27 units at 9/13 shooting against the Pacers.
4 – Jeremiah Fears (New Orleans Pelicans)
Photo by Harry How/Getty Images
- Stats : 15.3 points / 2.9 rebounds / 2.8 assists / 1.7 steal / 45% shooting
- With : 2 victories – 12 defeats
Just ahead of the “Coward”, the “Fears” and yet neither shows the slightest anxiety during their NBA debut. Scouts knew his magnificent handle, but surely did not imagine that the Chicago native’s scoring qualities would translate so quickly into the Big League. Jeremiah does not hide, even at the end of matches and very regularly finds his shooting positions. He sometimes already carries the attack with all his frankness on his shoulders. Fears arrived a month ago and is already the Pelicans’ best guard.
3 – Cooper Flagg (Dallas Mavericks)
Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images
- Stats : 15.5 points / 6.3 rebounds / 3.1 assists / 1.3 steal / 46% shooting
- With : 4 victories – 11 defeats
The expectations around him are excessive. Cooper Flagg arrived in a very complicated context within a franchise still marked by the transfer of Luka Doncic and whose main stars are multiplying injuries. Since the start of the season, the rookie has already played in all positions (except that of pivot) and has not been put in the best conditions. However, it manages to impact the meetings almost every evening and to show certain extraordinary flashes which make it, even today, the greatest potential of this vintage.
2 – V.J. Edgecombe (Philadelphia Sixers)
Photo by Francois Nel/GettyImages
- Stats : 15.5 points / 5.7 rebounds / 4.3 assists / 1.2 steal / 41% shooting
- With : 8 victories – 5 defeats
VJ Edgecombe has not been the most consistent rookie since the start of the season, but he is certainly the one who has made the most impression. His first week was absolutely sensational with 34 points from the start against the Celtics and 26 against the Magic. Since then, the Sixers back has calmed down a bit, but continues to show in sequences, the fire he has in his legs and the talent he has in his hands. He has established himself as an indisputable starter for a team that wins matches, what more could you ask for?
1 – Kon Knueppel (Charlotte Hornets)
Photo by Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images
- Stats : 17.6 points / 7.0 rebounds / 2.7 assists / 47% shooting / 40% from distance
- With : 4 victories – 10 defeats
Those who only saw Kon Knueppel as a shooter at the time of the Draft are already biting their tongues. The MVP of the last Summer League confirms in the NBA. He has had an exceptional start to the season which is already pushing some fans to question the expected hierarchy of the team. The winger is skillful, as expected, but also shows great driving qualities. In defense, it’s good too, the former Duke fights for rebounds and does not suffer from the physical comparison with the monsters of the Big League. He became, in one month, the new hope of an entire franchise.
