Fan Rankings Home » NBA » Top 10 Best NBA Rookies 2025-2026 Rankings

The future of the NBA has arrived, and it’s wearing oversized draft caps and carrying the weight of franchise expectations on its shoulders. The 2025 NBA Draft class has been hailed as one of the deepest and most talented groups in recent memory loaded with some stars including Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel who each land atop the Top 10 NBA Rookies 2025-2026 rankings list.

This year’s draft class delivers a collection of prospects who combine elite athleticism, basketball IQ, and the kind of two-way versatility that modern NBA front offices covet. Headlining the list of talented rookies is Cooper Flagg of the Dallas Mavericks who lands 

What separates this class from recent rookie crops is the combination of polish and upside. The geographic spread of talent is equally impressive, with standout rookies landing in both large markets and smaller cities, ensuring that basketball fans across the country have reason to tune in and watch the next generation develop. From the buzz surrounding Dallas’s dynamic duo to the excitement building in New Orleans around their frontcourt pairing, this rookie class is already reshaping the league’s competitive landscape.

Whether you’re a die-hard fan tracking your team’s lottery pick or a casual observer curious about the league’s rising stars, the 2025-2026 rookie class is loaded with franchise game changing talents. Here is a look at the Top 10 NBA Rookies 2025-2026 Rankings:

Honorable Mention

Ace Bailey

Team: Utah Jazz

Position: Small Forward

Ace Bailey arrived in Salt Lake City with considerable hype as one of the draft’s premier athletes, and while he hasn’t disappointed, the talented Utah Jazz rookie just misses the Top 10 NBA Rookies 2025-2026 rankings list.

Standing at six-foot-nine with a seven-foot-two wingspan, Bailey possesses the kind of physical tools that make scouts salivate, combining elite vertical explosiveness with fluid lateral movement. Over his first 28 games of his NBA career, Bailey is averaging 10.5 points per game while also adding 3.3 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game.

When he’s on the court, you can see why Utah was willing to take a flyer on drafting him, even if the full package hasn’t come together consistently yet.

Ryan Nembhard

Team: Dallas Mavericks

Position: Point guard

As the Dallas Mavericks look to remain competitive while also rebuilding in the NBA Western Conference, the team was able to add multiple talented rookies.

As all eyes are on his teammate Cooper Flagg, Ryan Nembhard continues to put together a strong first season with the team. The former Gonzaga Bulldogs star is currently leading all rookies entering Christmas while averaging 5.5 assists per game. The production doesn’t drop off there as Nembhard has also added 8.1 points per game and 1.8 rebounds per game while averaging just over 20 minutes per game (20.8).

The Gonzaga product doesn’t wow you with highlight plays, but he makes winning basketball plays possession after possession, which is why head coach Jason Kidd has steadily increased his minutes.

Top 10 Best NBA Rookies

10. Tre Johnson

Team: Washington Wizards

Position: Shooting guard

Closing out the Top 10 NBA Rookies 2025-2026 rankings list is the talented Washington Wizards lottery pick Tre Johnson.

Johnson, who shined in his only season with the Texas Longhorns, has made the jump to the NBA strong while flashing his potential as a big time scoring threat within the league. The electric shooting guard from Texas has wasted no time putting points on the board, averaging just over fourteen points per game while displaying the kind of shot creation ability that typically takes years to develop. Through 20 games played this season, Johnson ranks seventh among the rookie class in scoring averaging 11.5 points per game.

The Wizards guard is also adding 3.2 rebounds and 1.4 assist per game while averaging 23.3 minutes per game. Johnson’s scoring talent makes him an exciting building block in DC while delivering the Wizards a potential game changer in the years ahead.

9. Maxime Raynaud

Team: Sacramento Kings

Position: Center

The Sacramento Kings’ decision to select Maxime Raynaud raised some eyebrows on draft night, but the French big man has quickly proven he belongs on an NBA floor.

At seven feet one inches tall with excellent touch around the basket, Raynaud has provided Sacramento with a legitimate scoring threat in the paint who can also space the floor with his improving three-point shot. His basketball IQ is advanced for a rookie, as he consistently makes the right reads in the pick-and-roll and has developed instant chemistry with teammates including Zach Lavine and Demar Derozan.

The talented big man is currently averaging 10 points per game to go along with 5.8 rebounds and one assist per game.

8. Dylan Harper

Team: San Antonio Spurs

Position: Shooting guard

One NBA team that is continuing to build a roster to compete both for an NBA Championship now as well as a roster to compete for the years to come is the San Antonio Spurs.

That trend continued during the 2025 NBA Draft after adding talented guard Dylan Harper to help deliver another key scoring weapon within the roster. The son of former NBA player Ron Harper has displayed the kind of basketball maturity that usually comes from veterans, not rookies fresh out of college. The first year rookie front the Rutgers Scarlet Knights has been strong on both ends of the floor averaging 12.6 points per game while also adding nearly one steal per game (.8) defensively.

In addition to those numbers Harper has averaged 3.2 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game delivering solid production while averaging 21.5 minutes per game. San Antonio’s patient development approach suits Harper perfectly, and he’s blossoming into a potential cornerstone alongside Victor Wembanyama.

7. Cedric Coward

Team: Memphis Grizzlies

Position: Shooting guard

As the NBA schedule reaches the final few games of the 2025 calendar year, it is hard to look past the talent of the 2025 NBA Draft class.

The class is loaded with talented weapons who can do it all with one of those rookies being Cedric Coward of the Memphis Grizzlies. Coward entered play on December 23rd, ranked fifth among the rookie class while averaging 13.5 points per game over 29 games played while averaging 27.1 minutes per game. The Grizzlies first round pick is also adding 6.2 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game to start off his rookie season strong.

As expectations are growing for Coward in his first season, Memphis doesn’t need Coward to be a star, just a reliable two-way contributor who can defend multiple positions and space the floor. In that role, he’s exceeding expectations and looking like a potential steal from the late lottery.

6. Ryan Kalkbrenner

Team: Charlotte Hornets

Position: Center

The Charlotte Hornets were one of a few teams around the NBA to land multiple generational talents within the 2025 NBA Draft.

One of those two talented rookies is Ryan Kalkbrenner who has been strong on both ends of the floor while being overlooked among the loaded rookie class. Despite not being as flashy as others in the class, the Hornets center is a force down low on the glass posting 6.4 rebounds per game while also being a strong shot blocker posting 1.8 blocked shots. His defensive awareness is well beyond his years, as he consistently makes the right rotations and communicates effectively with teammates, organizing Charlotte’s defense in ways that previous centers couldn’t.

Despite some growing pains, Kalkbrenner has established himself as a foundational piece for Charlotte’s future, providing the defensive anchor this young team desperately needed.

5. Jeremiah Fears

Team: New Orleans Pelicans

Position: Point GUard

Slamming the door on the top half of the Top 10 NBA Rookies 2025-2026 rankings list is one of the two talented members of the New Orleans Pelicans draft class in Jeremiah Fears.

The talented former guard of the Oklahoma Sooners has been stellar over his first 29 games during his rookie season averaging 15 points per game while averaging 27.2 minutes per game. Fears, who joins fellow rookie teammate Derik Queens among the best rookies in the NBA, has been difficult to guard, shooting 44.7 percent from the field while also connecting on 35.6 percent of his three point attempts on the season. In addition Fears has also filled the stat sheet each game averaging 1.3 steals, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game.

Fears’ combination of explosiveness, playmaking, and defensive tenacity has made him one of the steal picks of the entire draft, and New Orleans looks incredibly smart for selecting him.

4. Derik Queen

Team: New Orleans Pelicans

Position: Center

The upside of Derik Queen is as high as any rookie in the NBA and one that has the potential to continue to see him grow among the best players in the league

The six foot nine inch former Maryland Terps star has formed a dynamic rookie duo with Jeremiah Fears while delivering the New Orleans Pelicans a promising future for years to come. Over 30 games this season, Queen is averaging 13.2 points per game while also leading all rookies in rebounding posting 6.9 rebounds per game. The production doesn’t stop there as Queen has posted five double doubles, one triple double, while also adding 4.1 assists, one steal and nearly one blocked shot per game (.8).

Queen’s physical tools and skill set are undeniable, making him a cornerstone piece for New Orleans’ future alongside fellow rookie Fears.

3. VJ Edgecombe

Team: Philadelphia 76ers

Position: Shooting guard

VJ Edgecombe’s arrival in Philadelphia has injected youth and athleticism into a win-now roster, and the Baylor product has responded by playing with a maturity that belies his rookie status.

What makes Edgecombe special is his two-way impact, as he contributes meaningfully on both ends of the floor without needing plays specifically designed for him. Joining a team with a strong playoff caliber roster, Edgecombe has come into his own zone averaging 16 points per game over 35.1 minutes played per game this season. The former Baylor Bears guard is also averaging 5.5 rebounds and four assists per game as well 1.3 steals per game. His basketball IQ is evident in his decision-making, as he rarely forces bad shots and consistently makes the extra pass to find better looks.

For Philadelphia’s championship aspirations, Edgecombe has been exactly what they needed, a young, hungry player who elevates their defense while fitting seamlessly into their offensive system.

2. Cooper Flagg

Team: Dallas Mavericks

Position: Forward/Guard

The race for the 2025-2026 NBA Rookie of the Year may simply come down to two former Duke Blue Devils teammates.

One of those stars is Cooper Flagg who has made the transition to the NBA flawlessly while averaging 18.7 points per game over his first 29 games played while just being 19 years old.

After trading away talented guard Luka Doncic, the Mavericks were looking for a franchise caliber player and they have found it with Flagg. The former Blue Devils star is also averaging 6.3 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game. On the opposite end of the floor Flagg has been strong as a rookie posting 1.2 steals and just under a block shot per game (.8). 

What truly sets Flagg apart is his feel for the game, as he consistently makes winning plays whether that’s taking a charge, setting a screen, or making the extra pass. The future looks bright in Dallas with Flagg and fellow rookie Ryan Nembhard slowly developing into every night players in the NBA.

1. Kon Knueppel

Team: Charlotte Hornets

Position: Forward

When it comes to the top two rookies landing atop the Top 10 NBA Rookies 2025-2026 rankings list, both Kon Knueppel and Cooper Flagg are well deserving of the honor.

However, only one player can take the spot with Knueppel getting the slight edge leading into the final eight days of December. Knueppel, who was also Flagg’s teammate last season with the Duke Blue Devils is currently leading all rookies in scoring while averaging 19.4 points per game over his first 28 games in the league. The Hornets talented rookie also became the fastest player in the history of the NBA to reach 100 three points completing the accomplishment in 29 games surpassing the previous record of 41 games.

The production doesn’t stop just scoring as the Hornets forward has also averaged 5.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and just below one steal per game (.8). Charlotte has found their franchise cornerstone, a player who can build an offense around while also fitting seamlessly alongside other talented players. Knueppel’s combination of shooting, scoring, playmaking, and winning impact makes him the clear choice for the top spot

How would you rank the best NBA rookies entering the 2025-2026 NBA Season? Rank below to be added in the NBA Rookie Rankings.

• Top 10 NBA Point Guards 2024 Rankings
• Top 10 NBA Shooting Guards 2024 Rankings
• Top 10 NBA Small Forwards 2024 Rankings
• Top 10 NBA Power Forwards 2024 Rankings
• Top 10 NBA Centers 2024 Rankings