2025-26 NBA Rookie Discussion Thread

[pepe1991]

Coward is the most efficient rookie ive ever seen

Grizzlies rookies are usually efficient because they're always asked to play a well defined and much smaller supporting role.

Not to say they are not good players, but it is not a coincidence they look more impressive as rookies than they do later on.

Around 18,5% usage.
8 games is small sample, but Coward's shot selection is simply very good. Guy picks his spots, never seems to be in rush and is well composed.

Last rookie who i felt comfortable proclaiming "good player " so fast was Castle, after like 8 min vs Magic in preseason. You simply know when player is good, if you watch nba & basketball for very long time.

This draft class is very, very good. With several players that look like future stars, even outside of Flagg, who was prodigy with all the high expectations.

[wemby]

Coward is the most efficient rookie ive ever seen

Grizzlies rookies are usually efficient because they're always asked to play a well defined and much smaller supporting role.

Not to say they are not good players, but it is not a coincidence they look more impressive as rookies than they do later on.

Around 18,5% usage.
8 games is small sample, but Coward's shot selection is simply very good. Guy picks his spots, never seems to be in rush and is well composed.

Last rookie who i felt comfortable proclaiming "good player " so fast was Castle, after like 8 min vs Magic in preseason. You simply know when player is good, if you watch nba & basketball for very long time.

This draft class is very, very good. With several players that look like future stars, even outside of Flagg, who was prodigy with all the high expectations.

Picking your spots is good but it isn't a luxury every rookie is afforded, It's one thing when you're part of an organized offense and you don't need to create or force anything, but most high picks end up with oversized roles in desperate, tanking teams and and then you'll hear to no end how much they suck because "they're inefficient".

That was the prevalent discourse in these very boards last year surrounding the same rookie "you felt comfortable proclaiming was good", and that nuance about role and efficiency is something most choose to overlook: you can't simply judge efficiency disregarding context, you couldn't last year with Castle and you can't this year with Coward, that's how you end up with people arguing for the likes of Jaylen Wells for ROY.

[Jamaaliver]

Perfect match of scheme and prospect...

Read on Twitter

[MMyhre]

Grizzlies rookies are usually efficient because they're always asked to play a well defined and much smaller supporting role.

Not to say they are not good players, but it is not a coincidence they look more impressive as rookies than they do later on.

Around 18,5% usage.
8 games is small sample, but Coward's shot selection is simply very good. Guy picks his spots, never seems to be in rush and is well composed.

Last rookie who i felt comfortable proclaiming "good player " so fast was Castle, after like 8 min vs Magic in preseason. You simply know when player is good, if you watch nba & basketball for very long time.

This draft class is very, very good. With several players that look like future stars, even outside of Flagg, who was prodigy with all the high expectations.

Picking your spots is good but it isn't a luxury every rookie is afforded, It's one thing when you're part of an organized offense and you don't need to create or force anything, but most high picks end up with oversized roles in desperate, tanking teams and and then you'll hear to no end how much they suck because "they're inefficient".

That was the prevalent discourse in these very boards last year surrounding the same rookie "you felt comfortable proclaiming was good", and that nuance about role and efficiency is something most choose to overlook: you can't simply judge efficiency disregarding context, you couldn't last year with Castle and you can't this year with Coward, that's how you end up with people arguing for the likes of Jaylen Wells for ROY.

The Grizzlies are 25th in offensive rating, and they suck. It's not like he is in a super organized offense, he plays smart, team basketball. If anything he should be more selfish with the tools he has at his disposal, but that will likely come with time. I'd rather have a smart rookie who plays within himself, than a baboon who tries to force everything too soon. He also leads all rookies in free throw attempts, so it's not like he is too passive.

I also want him to take more shots, but showing basketball intelligence and unselfishness is not a bad thing, even if it can be if he plays like it for too long and starts deferring to worse players than himself.

[MMyhre]

Coward is the most efficient rookie ive ever seen

Grizzlies rookies are usually efficient because they're always asked to play a well defined and much smaller supporting role.

Not to say they are not good players, but it is not a coincidence they look more impressive as rookies than they do later on.

Jaylen Wells had a 48.4 ts % in his first 6 games. Man he looked impressive because of the system!
GG Jackson had a 52.2 ts % in february with 26 min per game in his rookie season.
Grizzlies don't even have that many draft picks in recent years so idk what examples you are comparing Coward to here, you just have to realize that he is better than they were.

GG Jackson had a 47,4 ts % in college.
Jaylen Wells had a 58.5 ts % in college.
Coward had a 67.7 ts % in college.

It's almost like one player is on a completely different level than the others, and using the system, which is 25th in offense in the league on a stinky team, is a pretty low hanging fruit to use as a reason for him looking good..

If he was on the 13-14 Spurs I would get that he could look better than he was. On the dead Grizzlies? Nah.

[Capn'O]

Derik Queen pulled off some dervish passes last night.

I'm pushing "The Blizzard" for his nickname. Because Dairy Queen.

[G R E Y]

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

[Handlez]

Coop showing flashes.

Mavs should trade AD while he still has value and give Coop the keys.

[BigGargamel]

Ryan Kalkbrenner quietly balling. almost 4 stocks per game and making 80% of his shots. I always thought he had starting center potential. Already very good at what he does.

[amcoolio]

Ryan Kalkbrenner quietly balling. almost 4 stocks per game and making 80% of his shots. I always thought he had starting center potential. Already very good at what he does.

Two things that can unlock his potential - getting stronger (NBA weight room should solve this) and 3 PT shooting (he showed some in college, but shot is still a little slow). But yeah, he's been super impressive as a day 1 starter at a tough position in the NBA right now. He also has good IQ, which is sorely needed for this team (actually all of Charlottes rookies are probably all the smartest players on the team, as rookies lol)

[bonita_the_frog]

Rookie LeBron vs. Flagg per 36 minutes:
19.1 points 15.7
5.0 rebounds 7.2
5.4 assists 3.0
1.5 steals 1.2
0.7 blocks 0.7
3.1 turnovers 2.3
.417 field .394
.290 threes .290
.754 frees 1.000

[FrightCoward]

Will Richard dropped 30 last night, by the way. Dude is going to make a long career out of being a 3 and D player who always makes the right play. His TS % is over 80 currently, albeit in limited playing time.

[Bob8]

Rookie LeBron vs. Flagg per 36 minutes:
19.1 points 15.7
5.0 rebounds 7.2
5.4 assists 3.0
1.5 steals 1.2
0.7 blocks 0.7
3.1 turnovers 2.3
.417 field .394
.290 threes .290
.754 frees 1.000

Maybe you should tried with Luka too.

[sikma42]

Thoughts on Flagg:

- Offensively: looks better than I thought he would as a rookie. He's hitting shots and will become an even better finisher when he gains strength. He also looks like a good passer at the power forward position. Once he gets back to what he does well (pick and roll player who makes decisions in short roll; mid post; transition) he will be a perennial all star player.

-Defensively - his motor has been concerning but he seems okay here, albeit im a bit concerned compared to my expectations. He seems like he's learing game by game and he may be downloading now and then eventually he'll go full tilt there. The tools are there so we'll see.

Overall, imo he looks good.

[MMyhre]

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

They need to source claims like this. Not buying it