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

[Jamaaliver]

Well...this is unexpected.

Spoiler:

Read on Twitter

[jasonxxx102]

Ace Bailey looks outmatched on the floor.

A guy who didn’t have the handle to beat future accountants and personal trainers was going to dominate the NBA with his “tough shot making”

lol nobody saw this coming

[basketballRob]

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

He could end up beating out Tyus Jones eventually. Jones has a one year deal, and I assume Jase will get all his minutes next year. Penda started getting rotation minutes, and he looked good in a small stretch in the last game playing center.

Sent from my SM-G998U1 using RealGM mobile app

[PlatinumState]

Ace Bailey looks outmatched on the floor.

A guy who didn’t have the handle to beat future accountants and personal trainers was going to dominate the NBA with his “tough shot making”

lol nobody saw this coming

I think Ace is just gonna take time to develop. Type of player to explode and figure things out after 2-3 seasons

[bonita_the_frog]

Cooper Flagg = 21 of 21 free-throws
When is the last time a rookie has done this?

[Handlez]

Coop is the greatest FT shooter of all time.

ROY.

[doogie_hauser]

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 media has a lot to blame for the expectations on Flagg. best young White American prospect since Larry Bird.

Zach Lowe and Bill Simmons were absolutely ridiculous in their pre season hype train on Copper, saying he was a sure bet ready to go stud since Lebron.

At any rate, Copper is improving/getting better with every passing game, as others have said, Jason Kidd and his poor coaching/player management is not helping his cause at Dallas (which i feel is a reason Kidd will be fired before Christmas, possibly along with Nico)

Right now VJ Edgecombe has to be favourite for Rookie of The Year, he and Maxey are really making Philly fun to watch again (despite the annoying Embiid)

It's an cliche bur VJ really has that Mamba/Kobe confidence and winning mentality in him. He is very brash and unafraid of any opponent or team

But the season is still young enough for Flagg to possibly overtake him.

I love Harper too but I just can't see him winning ROTY in a sixth man role.

[41Dirk41]

Kidd & Nico vision will ruin the Flagg ROY season... I can understand why he was so scared during the rigged lottery.

Dallas is the worst place for a rookie.

[dballislife]

mvp always goes to winners, it is sga followed by wemby right now

[LordCovington33]

Flagg’s attraction, imo, was his high floor.

[LordCovington33]

mvp always goes to winners, it is sga followed by wemby right now

Wrong thread?

[MMyhre]

Flagg is shooting an abysmal 26.1 % from 3-10 feet, that's also where he takes the most shots. Gotta finish more of those or get more shots at the rim instead and he is right back in the race. I think he will adapt.

[MMyhre]

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.

https://youtu.be/VSyVP2SyhCo?si=pj7gc7D03bi-OGVJ
Castle is a better defender and rim scorer/rim attacker. I think both have All NBA potential, but Castle is more likely to get a big sophomore leap, and be the Spurs third or maybe second best player by the end of the year.

[ORLMagicGirl15]

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

He’s been pretty good with the time that he was given but I guess we want to watch Tyus get abused by the opponent players. I don’t get why Mosley isn’t getting him any time either.

[MrBigShot]

Edgecombe looks like a seasoned 3rd or 4th year player hitting his stride after several years of development & off season work. Except he's only a few weeks into his career.

[Handlez]

K2 is for real.

And everyone laughed at the pick.

Haters wrecked.