2025-26 NBA Rookie Discussion Thread

[bonita_the_frog]

VJ Edgecombe last 4 games:
10.3 points per game
.300 field
.214 threes

Rookies go through these ups and downs. This is why you don't rely on rookies to help win games.

But Dallas can maybe rely on Flagg because he's improving week-by-week, instead of slipping early the way VJ is or hitting the wall

[zero rings]

So even Tatum, a top 5-8 player and MVP candidate has never done it but Kon might? That last 1% in TS with those other numbers is really the differentiator. Many have hit most of those numbers but all at the same time, less than 10 ever.

I could see Kon having a one-off season like Herro did last year where he pretty much put up a 24/5/5 season at 60 TS% but that's a far cry from 27/7/5 with 60 TS%. But any skilled player given high usage in today's NBA could put up those numbers if their defense was ignored and wins weren't a priority.

The difference is Kon has shown he's a good defender so far. Best in the class according to the metrics

He might honestly have a higher ceiling than Brandon Miller already

omg you actually believe this He's a turnstyle. "metrics" as it pertains to advanced stats in the NBA lack context and are easily manipulated to defend narratives. Just actually watch the games. If guys are blowing right by you or shooting over you at will and you're missing rotations it doesn't matter what laughable metrics say. There's really no reason for people being hyperbolic about Kon. Be happy he looks to be a rotational player that is so far justifying his draft spot. There's really no need to elevate him because he's putting up numbers on huge usage in losses in today's NBA.

And what is your assessment of his defense based on? The way he looks? His combine measurements?

Kon has been a solid defender at every level he’s played at so far. The numbers AND the eye test back it up. He’s smart, he’s strong, and he moves his feet very well.

Just admit that you were wrong about the kid pre-draft and move on. It’s not a big deal

[zero rings]

Imagine telling people before the draft that there will be a white ROY but its gonna be Knueppel and not Flagg lmao

I’m not surprised. There were many games last year where Kon looked like the best player on Duke, and he has a more NBA ready body and game.

Coop needs to get a lot stronger imo. His style of bully ball doesn’t really work at his current weight.

[BAMAFREAK]

How does everyone feel about Coward?
Player comp?
Ceiling, floor?

[GiggitySmalls]

How does everyone feel about Coward?
Player comp?
Ceiling, floor?

Memphis for a gem with him. He's got potential to make a handful of all star games. Not perennial but 2 to 4 all star games.

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[TheProfessor]

Imagine telling people before the draft that there will be a white ROY but its gonna be Knueppel and not Flagg lmao

I’m not surprised. There were many games last year where Kon looked like the best player on Duke, and he has a more NBA ready body and game.

Coop needs to get a lot stronger imo. His style of bully ball doesn’t really work at his current weight.

Coop just needs Kryie. I see Coop having the best second half of all the rookies.

[Castle Black]

Read on Twitter

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[PlatinumState]

Finally a big game from Ace. Cedric's percentages seem to have come to reality. VJ has been sucking lately

Watch on YouTube

[Ice Man]

Coop just needs Kryie.

That would help, but more than that he just needs the ball. When he was "point guard," Kidd stuck him in the corner and had him watching the game while he teammates went iso. However (and rather strangely), now that he is not "point guard," Coop is actually getting the ball -- which is why he has had 15 or more shots in 3 of his past 4 games, after not ever reaching that mark during his first 7.

He's definitely making some rookie mistakes on offense, bricking his 3s and missing too many bunnies, but for the most part he looks as if he belongs out there. He just needed not to be frozen out of the offense.

[MMyhre]

How does everyone feel about Coward?
Player comp?
Ceiling, floor?

Ceiling - Dwyane Wade light with much better shooting & more size/length. So what I mean by that is that I don't think he has the instincts or talent that Wade had in terms of driving/ball handling, disrupting on defense, and finishing in all ways, but he is similar in terms of being an athletic combo guard with a crazy wingspan for his height, that can finish at the rim with ease due to his incredible physical package. He is just not as dynamic or developed as Wade was, and I don't think he will be as electrifying as Wade was at his best, but he is also a way better jump shooter and bigger/longer so he has his own advantages to make up for what he lacks in those areas, and he could still improve those things, he is just further behind than Wade was at this age. So basically an MVP level player, a combo guard that can do it all, but will not be elite as a playmaker or ball handler, but super elite at shooting, finishing and should be a very positive defender once he starts figuring out how to use his length & athleticism more. Just a very, very interesting player to me.

Floor - Very hard for me, I am going to say... Ben Gordon with more size/length? So a really good shooter, catch & shoot player that isn't too good at handling the ball or playmaking, with low defensive instincts. Sub-All Star/Fringe All Star due to being a good/efficient scorer. I have to say I don't see this happening, I think he is too good already, but thats like absolute worst case scenario.

What I will say about Coward is that he is just... too nice? He never dunks it viciously, screams or gets fired up. Wade dunked everything & he went right at you and never stopped, Coward prefers to go controlled & slow it down a bit for a layup. The guy had the 4th best sprint time, 5th best standing vertical, the 8th best max vertical in the draft, and only 14 forwards had a longer standing reach than him as a guard... yet he plays too nice, he is freaky athletic and long, if he starts getting more aggressive and understanding how to use his tools more... he will be a **** problem! So yeah idk yet about the mentality/instincts, but the ceiling is hiiigh... very high.

[The4thHorseman]

Wrong thread

[MMyhre]

The Memphis Grizzlies are -14.6 worse per 100 possessions when Cedric Coward sits.
He is in the 99th percentile for shooting guards in defended field goal attempts with 12.9, and has a -4 % dfga difference, good for 88th percentile in the league.

He had some worse shooting nights against tough defenses like OKC, Knicks & Rockets, but thats to be expected as a rookie. He still finds ways to contribute like with 5 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks last night & he is in the 95th percentile as a rebounder for shooting guards, he is averaging 7.9 rebounds (2.1 offensive) per 36 minutes.

Hopefully he can learn from these experiences, and we are due for a big game from him soon again. Just gotta trade Morant already

[amcoolio]

17/9/3 blocks for Kalkbrenner tonight on 100% shooting. He's shooting 82% on the season

[NO-KG-AI]

Derik Queen can play. Zion in or out, he needs to be playing big minutes. Fit might hit snags, but he’s too talented and smart not to play. Dumars reign is off to a goofy start, but the two draft picks he targeted look like real gems.

Queen and Knueppel might be the two prospects i had the most hesitance about near the top half of the draft. Shows what I know.

[Dan Z]

Derik Queen can play. Zion in or out, he needs to be playing big minutes. Fit might hit snags, but he’s too talented and smart not to play. Dumars reign is off to a goofy start, but the two draft picks he targeted look like real gems.

Queen and Knueppel might be the two prospects i had the most hesitance about near the top half of the draft. Shows what I know.

Queen seems like a smart player. How do you think he fits with Zion?

[NO-KG-AI]

Derik Queen can play. Zion in or out, he needs to be playing big minutes. Fit might hit snags, but he’s too talented and smart not to play. Dumars reign is off to a goofy start, but the two draft picks he targeted look like real gems.

Queen and Knueppel might be the two prospects i had the most hesitance about near the top half of the draft. Shows what I know.

Queen seems like a smart player. How do you think he fits with Zion?

Not perfect, but he’s just a lot better thsn the other bigs already. He’s a great passer, and he can switch pretty well on defense, and Zion plays pretty well with none shooting bigs as long as they can screen well.

I’d try to stagger them a lot so Queen gets more opportunity on ball… but I’d play him enough that overlapping minutes are inevitable. He’s just much more impactful than Missi, Looney, etc. getting Karlo more burn might help he and Zion a lot

[FarBeyondDriven]

Derik Queen can play. Zion in or out, he needs to be playing big minutes. Fit might hit snags, but he’s too talented and smart not to play. Dumars reign is off to a goofy start, but the two draft picks he targeted look like real gems.

Queen and Knueppel might be the two prospects i had the most hesitance about near the top half of the draft. Shows what I know.

You should still have hesitancy. Offense was never the issue with either. Everyone is entranced by offensive counting stats which really depend on usage above everything else. Everyone drafted can play. There are guys on competitive teams drafted the past few seasons as good as most and they're not doing anything because they get no minutes. Then you have offense only guys like Kon and Queen getting heavy minutes on bad teams due to injuries. Same thing happened with McCain last season when Maxey went down. In 8 starts before Maxey came back (he himself was later injured) he was putting up 24/3/4 which is better than any rookie this season. This season, he's seemingly completely blocked because they've decided VJ Edgecomb should be starting over him despite a pretty brutal November which has seen him put up 11/5/3 shooting 26% from three. McCain didn't forget how to play. The dozens of rookies drafted in the past few drafts didn't either. It all comes down to usage and luckily for Kon and Queen they're currently getting minutes/touches but like with McCain last year, on pretty average/bad teams. Just some context to consider before becoming prisoners of the moment.

[AFM]

Watch on YouTube

BABY JOKIC

[NO-KG-AI]

Derik Queen can play. Zion in or out, he needs to be playing big minutes. Fit might hit snags, but he’s too talented and smart not to play. Dumars reign is off to a goofy start, but the two draft picks he targeted look like real gems.

Queen and Knueppel might be the two prospects i had the most hesitance about near the top half of the draft. Shows what I know.

You should still have hesitancy. Offense was never the issue with either. Everyone is entranced by offensive counting stats which really depend on usage above everything else. Everyone drafted can play. There are guys on competitive teams drafted the past few seasons as good as most and they're not doing anything because they get no minutes. Then you have offense only guys like Kon and Queen getting heavy minutes on bad teams due to injuries. Same thing happened with McCain last season when Maxey went down. In 8 starts before Maxey came back (he himself was later injured) he was putting up 24/3/4 which is better than any rookie this season. This season, he's seemingly completely blocked because they've decided VJ Edgecomb should be starting over him despite a pretty brutal November which has seen him put up 11/5/3 shooting 26% from three. McCain didn't forget how to play. The dozens of rookies drafted in the past few drafts didn't either. It all comes down to usage and luckily for Kon and Queen they're currently getting minutes/touches but like with McCain last year, on pretty average/bad teams. Just some context to consider before becoming prisoners of the moment.

Derik Queen is averaging 21 minutes right now. Willie Green was yanking him for huge parts of the game and not bringing him back in despite very hot starts. He’s forced his way into the lineup by dominating in the 4th quarter and playing so well that he’s forcing Green’s hand.

He missed like all of training camp and preseason with a wrist injury. I was super worried about a slow start. He’s just straight killing it inside.

Like I said, I dunno where his floor ultimately lands, but he was a very good freshman, and he’s started as a very good creator for himself and others on the ball despite just coming in cold. He’s just finding ways to put the ball in the hoop.

You can call it putting up numbers on a bad team, but despite the coach being hesitant to rely on him, he keeps coming in and swinging momentum in a big way. What more can you ask for?

[MMyhre]

Coward with a bad game, he seems to slow himself down too much when driving to the rim, he stops his momentum instead of taking it with him like this play from Wade:

Watch on YouTube

He has no business getting denied by Derrick White coming full speed to the rim like he did last night, but he is a bit awkward in terms of his movement towards the rim/knowing how and when to move explosively to the rim. He needs to get stronger and more decisive going to the rim, right now he slows himself down instead of increasing his power on his jump/speed and is easier to defend.

He plays a bit too safe, slow and controlled right now, uses the "slow step" move way too much, when he needs more speed & power on his drives to the rim.