2025-26 NBA Rookie Discussion Thread

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Which 3 players will lead the ROY race this season? (listed in order of post-draft betting odds)

Cooper Flagg, Mavericks
168
29%
Tre Johnson, Wizards
57
10%
Ace Bailey, Jazz
53
9%
Dylan Harper, Spurs
64
11%
V.J. Edgecombe, 76ers
110
19%
Kon Knueppel, Hornets
41
7%
Derik Queen, Pelicans
13
2%
Jeremiah Fears, Pelicans
14
2%
Cedric Coward, Grizzlies
17
3%
Other (Clifford, Demin, Bryant, Richardson, Newell, Clayton Jr., Gonzalez, etc. - poll is limited to 10 options)
46
8%
 
Total votes: 583

Trey24
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Re: 2025-26 NBA Rookie Discussion Thread 

Post#501 » by Trey24 » Yesterday 5:36 am

Still being absolutely blown away by Kon on a nightly basis.

2000 people were in the crowd to see him tonight in a homecoming game on the road.

Normally rooks fall flat on their face in these moments but this guy seems to rise up in them

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Re: 2025-26 NBA Rookie Discussion Thread 

Post#502 » by Handlez » Yesterday 5:41 am

Who would've thought Kon was the chosen one all along?
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Re: 2025-26 NBA Rookie Discussion Thread 

Post#503 » by MMyhre » Yesterday 5:48 am

Coward is likely out with foot soreness, so that might explain why his shooting and play has been worse lately. Boring, as he was set to start the next game.
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Re: 2025-26 NBA Rookie Discussion Thread 

Post#504 » by Duke4life831 » Yesterday 5:56 am

Handlez wrote:Coop 13 attempts in 48 minutes is diabolical.

Trade everyone.

And he was 8-13, so it’s not like he was having a horrible shooting night.

Don’t get me wrong, he needs to be more aggressive and he has been really bad at adjusting whenever he gets kind of iced out of the offense, he kind of just disappears off into the corner for minutes straight.

But at some point Kidd needs to step in and call some sets designed for Cooper and keep him in the game. Because this is a team that is filled with nothing but guys that want to jack up shots and are not good at it haha
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Re: 2025-26 NBA Rookie Discussion Thread 

Post#505 » by TheProfessor » Yesterday 7:19 am

I have never seen some use screens as well as Kon outside of Steph... Kon looks like the most awkward athlete in the game but finds the angle every time.
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Re: 2025-26 NBA Rookie Discussion Thread 

Post#506 » by Thaddy » Yesterday 10:10 am

Kon is the ROTY easily. He's the best shooting prospect I've seen since Curry. It's crazy how people thought he'd dropped or be a bust. Shamefully I was wrong in that manner.
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Re: 2025-26 NBA Rookie Discussion Thread 

Post#507 » by PlatinumState » Yesterday 10:45 am

Thaddy wrote:Kon is the ROTY easily. He's the best shooting prospect I've seen since Curry. It's crazy how people thought he'd dropped or be a bust. Shamefully I was wrong in that manner.


So far I agree but its been 12 games. We need to relax
Last year Jared McCain was the runaway roy after 23 games and then he got injured for the season
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Re: 2025-26 NBA Rookie Discussion Thread 

Post#508 » by hardenASG13 » Yesterday 2:57 pm

Trey24 wrote:Still being absolutely blown away by Kon on a nightly basis.

2000 people were in the crowd to see him tonight in a homecoming game on the road.

Normally rooks fall flat on their face in these moments but this guy seems to rise up in them

Read on Twitter
?t=phhRLAAGjwiVC0H6PR_vng&s=19


I was high on Kon based on what I saw of him in college (said the Spurs should pick him at 2 in the draft thread, although Harper also looks like a hit for the Spurs).Guy is a baller. Stronger than many people realized, tough going to the rim, elite NBA shooter, and does a whole lot more than catch and shoot. Just a winning player.
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Re: 2025-26 NBA Rookie Discussion Thread 

Post#509 » by Castle Black » Yesterday 4:39 pm

Yea Knueppel is special man. Would kill for a player like this playing beside Wemby. Charlotte got a good one.

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Re: 2025-26 NBA Rookie Discussion Thread 

Post#510 » by zero rings » Yesterday 5:11 pm

Kon is now up to 18/6/3 on 62% TS with a +5.5 on/off. He's already the best player on the Hornets imo, and once they realize that and get rid of some of these me-first clowns (Bridges, Mann), he's going to look like an All-Star.

I'm at the point where I'd take him #1 in a redraft.
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Re: 2025-26 NBA Rookie Discussion Thread 

Post#511 » by penggemar » Yesterday 9:52 pm

Evel Knueppel continues to impress.
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Re: 2025-26 NBA Rookie Discussion Thread 

Post#512 » by FarBeyondDriven » Today 6:14 am

Knueppel - 8 points on 3-10 with 5 turnovers
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Re: 2025-26 NBA Rookie Discussion Thread 

Post#513 » by doogie_hauser » Today 6:36 am

Castle Black wrote:Yea Knueppel is special man. Would kill for a player like this playing beside Wemby. Charlotte got a good one.

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I remember he was a pretty unpopular pick amongst Hornets fans at the time (least on Twitter and Reddit)

I have to admit I have been surprised and delighted by KK, I didn't think he would be this good, composed and confident at NBA level so soon.

Amazing Rookie Class so far (apparently next season's will be even better)
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Re: 2025-26 NBA Rookie Discussion Thread 

Post#514 » by JHFVF07 » Today 10:52 am

FarBeyondDriven wrote:Knueppel - 8 points on 3-10 with 5 turnovers


Well OKC defense does this to you, other day they made Luka looks like Westbrook on a bad night!
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Re: 2025-26 NBA Rookie Discussion Thread 

Post#515 » by Castle Black » Today 2:40 pm

FarBeyondDriven wrote:Knueppel - 8 points on 3-10 with 5 turnovers


Bad game against the best defense in the league (statistically one of the best defenses of the 21st century). It happens. They made Steph Curry and Luka both look like scrubs earlier this week too.
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Re: 2025-26 NBA Rookie Discussion Thread 

Post#516 » by FarBeyondDriven » 58 minutes ago

Castle Black wrote:
FarBeyondDriven wrote:Knueppel - 8 points on 3-10 with 5 turnovers


Bad game against the best defense in the league (statistically one of the best defenses of the 21st century). It happens. They made Steph Curry and Luka both look like scrubs earlier this week too.


just trying to remain balanced. If we're going to get gushing ROY predictions every time he has a good game largely due to playing on a bad team, getting high usage and in losses, we should also feel comfortable giving criticisms when he does poorly against a good team that actually tries to stop him otherwise we're just cringe fanboys
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Re: 2025-26 NBA Rookie Discussion Thread 

Post#517 » by Jamaaliver » 17 minutes ago

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