2025-26 NBA Rookie Discussion Thread

[UcanUwill]

Flagg is fine, but he also struggles a lot.

I don't think it's possible to overstate how bad his situation is. Dallas started PJ, Klay, and Max Christie yesterday. Every guard/wing on my Bulls has a higher career average for assists than any of those guys (except for our new acquisition Okoro, who is yikes). So when Flagg stands on the perimeter at Dallas he just watches. Those guys don't pass. And he can't really play inside, because AD and Lively are already there.

All that said, yes I do think at times his youth shows and that he doesn't look as ready as, say, VJ and Harper. But man, was he dealt a poor hand.

I think Flagg is fine. Even in his situation he is showing enough that he could be great. I think the problem with Flagg is the hype behind him, not him. People talked about him like he would be getting 20 and 10 day one and lead a team like Lebron. People just need to relax and let him marinate.

I am not saying Flagg is bad or anything, but he is not the best rookie so far. Just said that, because I really didn't get why Flagg was such overwhelming ROY favorite. I love Flagg, but this class was great and beside usual suspects there are always some out of nowhere rookies who shine, it was just weird to me how everyone assumed Flagg will just run away with it, even if he wins ROY, it will be a fight. Even guys like LeBron and Victor had to fight hard for ROY.

[The Master]

Harper will be Spurs 2nd best player by Christmas. I think the first week has made it clear, in no way should they be trading Harper for a win-now star. I would've said yes if he showed potential but was still too raw to help the Spurs win in the first 1-2 years. But he is already their player who gets the most out of Wemby and only getting better and more comfortable

Yeah, Harper is an ultimate player for the Spurs - not only his upside is on All-NBA level territory, he also complements Wemby as a player so well already, there's a reason why Spurs are so great with him on the floor despite Harper being only 19: he'll be a great slasher, great playmaker on pick and rolls, very good shooter (considering his shooting motion) and decent offball player, oh, and it seems he can be very good defensively as well. There's nothing more you could ask for from Dylan at this stage of his career. These last 2-3 games were really an utter perfection from decision-making and efficiency perspectives.

[PlatinumState]

Suprising that Jase Richardson isnt getting any burn, he killed in preseason

[Bornstellar]

Harper will be Spurs 2nd best player by Christmas. I think the first week has made it clear, in no way should they be trading Harper for a win-now star. I would've said yes if he showed potential but was still too raw to help the Spurs win in the first 1-2 years. But he is already their player who gets the most out of Wemby and only getting better and more comfortable

I think him overtaking Fox in that time period is probably not going to happen. But he looks like the best non-Wemby draft pick SA has made since Tony Parker (unless you count Leonard but he was technically drafted by Indy). I have been really impressed with his vision and the control he plays with. He does not seem like a rookie at all, which is not entirely unexpected considering who his dad is. His D has also been a pleasant surprise. But he has been amazing and one of the big reasons Spurs are 5-0 so far. And he's doing this off the bench. Kid has been super impressive and will no doubt be an all-star in a few years