Entering the 2025/26 season, No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg was widely regarded as the favorite to become this season’s Rookie of the Year. However, through the first five-plus weeks this fall, one of his former Duke teammates, Kon Knueppel, has been the most impressive player from the NBA’s 2025 draft class.
Knueppel, who was selected fourth overall by the Hornets in June, has averaged 18.6 points per game in his first 18 NBA outings, posting an excellent .476/.417/.884 shooting line and chipping in 5.7 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 33.3 minutes per night. Outside of one game in the first week of the season, he has been a permanent fixture in the Hornets’ starting lineup and has already made a significant impression on his veteran teammates.
“He’s been great,” Hornets forward Miles Bridges said of Knueppel, per Roderick Boone of The Charlotte Observer. “(He’s) been our best player. He’s been consistent and he brings it every game, every day. That’s just the type of player he is, so it’s been great playing with him.”
Knueppel ranks first among NBA rookies in scoring and is among the league leader in three-pointers made — only Stephen Curry, Tyrese Maxey, Donovan Mitchell, and James Harden have made more outside shots than Knueppel (63), and none of those four veterans are knocking them down at a higher percentage than the Charlotte rookie is.
As Boone points out, BetOnline.ag now lists Knueppel as the betting favorite for this season’s Rookie of the Year award, but he’s hardly the only first-year player who has gotten off to a promising start.
Flagg has been a little up and down for the Mavericks, in part because he was asked to open the season as the team’s primary point guard. However, he has been shooting the ball more consistently as of late (above 50% in his past eight games) and has increased his scoring average to 15.9 PPG while also contributing 6.4 RPG and 3.1 APG.
No. 2 overall pick Dylan Harper missed some time due to a calf strain, but he has looked good in his seven appearances so far, averaging 13.0 PPG, 3.9 RPG, and 3.6 APG on .472/.375/.850 in a limited bench role for the Spurs (22.4 MPG). His overall plus/minus mark of +43 ranks second among rookies, despite the fact that he’s only played 157 minutes so far.
The top-ranked rookie in overall plus/minus is Sixers guard VJ Edgecombe at +44. The third overall pick is right behind Flagg in points per game (15.6) and has been an effective three-point shooter (.366 3PT%) while also leading all rookies in assists per game (4.2).
While the odds favor one of those top four picks in the draft earning Rookie of the Year honors, there are other legitimate contenders further down the 2025 draft board. Grizzlies forward Cedric Coward, for example, has earned a spot in Memphis’ starting lineup and has performed admirably in that role, with season-long averages of 13.7 PPG, 6.0 RPG, and 2.8 APG on .466/.375/.864 shooting.
In New Orleans, lottery picks Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen have been two bright spots amid a disappointing start for the Pelicans. Fears is averaging 15.1 PPG with a .453/.365/.786 shooting line, while Queen is filling up the box score with 15.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.1 blocks, and 1.0 steals per game in his past nine contests. Both players are currently part of New Orleans’ starting lineup.
Knueppel’s teammate Ryan Kalkbrenner (9.3 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 1.8 BPG, .802 FG%) and Jazz forward Ace Bailey (15.0 PPG on .532/.409/.714 shooting in his past seven games) are a couple more first-year players who have looked pretty good so far.
We want to know what you think. Who are your favorite players from the 2025 draft class? Which of these players do you expect to emerge as the Rookie of the Year favorite? Whose long-term futures are you most excited about?
Head to the comment section below to weigh in with your thoughts!
The strength of this year’s rookie class compared to last year is night and day. Derik Queen will end up being the best of the bunch IMO, if he can stay healthy.