2025-26 NBA Rookie Discussion Thread

[GiggitySmalls]

So through roughly 15 games kon is the ROY so far. Didn't see it coming and was against the pick as a Hornets fan. Ill happily eat crow because it tastes delicious if its served the way Kon is serving it. Kid is a straight up baller!!!

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[Trey24]

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God has Blessed the Hornets with Kon. Unbelievable. We have to get the ball in his hands more.

[amcoolio]

Kon isn't just a shooter, he is so crafty with the ball and is able to get shots with the ball in his hands. He has blown by some athletic defenders, something I never saw coming. He's what I thought Tre Johnson would be. And I don't see any athletic limitations limiting him in the future. He's on a Devin Booker-type path already.

I pray that Brandon Miller gets healthy. He and Kon would form a pretty good combo. Thank the lord Charlotte finally got some decent luck in the draft, where they've been historically unlucky and bad.

[CptCrunch]

This dude KK is insane. At times I had stated that he looked like Duke's best player over Cooper for many games last year. But I didn't think he would translate this well in the NBA dropping Luka-ish stats near 30/triple doubles with better driving, defense and shooting.

We thought his ceiling was Desmond Bane, but it seems that's his floor.

Duke is gonna farm all the KK brothers

2027 Class - Kager (6-8)
2028 Class - Kinston (6-5)
2029 Class - Kash (6-2)
2030 Class - Kidman (5-9)

Plumlees will have nothing on the Knueppels

[PlatinumState]

Dairy Queen is that dude

[turnaroundJ]

can't find any stats but Kon looks like one of those top percentile deceleration guys. with that strength, mass, shooting and craftiness, what he's doing seems very sustainable.

[Ferulci]

So through roughly 15 games kon is the ROY so far. Didn't see it coming and was against the pick as a Hornets fan. Ill happily eat crow because it tastes delicious if its served the way Kon is serving it. Kid is a straight up baller!!!

Sent from my SM-S936U using RealGM mobile app

I'm very happy to eat crow on Kon. I thought he would be a bust and so far he's comfortably the ROY. Happy for Hornets fanbase that you got that pick right, you guys deserve some W.

[donato]

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[NO-KG-AI]

Once again want to reiterate that I can remember saying that I wanted Jeremiah Fears at our #7 pick, but that I’d be ok with anyone, except I’d be upset with picking Kon or Derik Queen

[peZt]

Yeah Derrick Queen is the real deal. Need to add another element to the Sengun-Sabonis-Jokic Pokemon evolution line. is there something abouv Charizard now?

Still stupid trade. You could've gotten Queen without offering an unprotected first in one of the most stacked drafts of all time.
Imagine having Queen and Peterson instead of just Queen. Wouldve been possible

[BAMAFREAK]

Queen and Kon are examples of guys with elite instincts and actual skills, not just insane or outlier raw talent or measurements. Give me guys like that all day over these athletic marvels with no clue of where to be on the court.

[Duke4life831]

can't find any stats but Kon looks like one of those top percentile deceleration guys. with that strength, mass, shooting and craftiness, what he's doing seems very sustainable.

Yes that’s another thing, there is nothing about Kon’s start where you think, “okay but this aspect of his game will crash down to earth at some point.”

It’s not like he’s shooting 57% from 3 or something like that. He’s shooting 88% from the line, he shot 91% at Duke last year. He’s shooting 40% from 3, just like his FT shooting, he shot 40% last year at Duke and he’s as high level of a shooting prospect in the class. Ya the 3pt shot may drop and move from say 37%-40%. But Kon being a 40% 3pt shooter really shouldn’t be all that surprising.

[dn0774]

Yeah Derrick Queen is the real deal. Need to add another element to the Sengun-Sabonis-Jokic Pokemon evolution line. is there something abouv Charizard now?

Still stupid trade. You could've gotten Queen without offering an unprotected first in one of the most stacked drafts of all time.
Imagine having Queen and Peterson instead of just Queen. Wouldve been possible

Didn't reporting indicate that the Pels were offering their 23rd pick + '26 pick as early as Toronto @ 9 and to each subsequent team with ATL @ 13 finally taking the deal? Why did 4 teams (at least) apparently decline it if it was so lopsided? If the Pels were that confident in Queen being an overlooked top tier prospect why not take the gamble? The 23rd pick value is actually quite low (and carries a longer guaranteed contract to boot).

To be clear, I think it was an overpay (should've had significant protections aka top 4 or something), but I enjoy challenging my pov or consensus pov as an exercise. I would've loved to see the Pels big board before the draft started, really wonder where they ultimately had Fears and Queen overall.

[MMyhre]

Watch on YouTube

I mean he is just cooking Jokic 1v1 all game, special talent.

[jasonxxx102]

can't find any stats but Kon looks like one of those top percentile deceleration guys. with that strength, mass, shooting and craftiness, what he's doing seems very sustainable.

Yes that’s another thing, there is nothing about Kon’s start where you think, “okay but this aspect of his game will crash down to earth at some point.”

It’s not like he’s shooting 57% from 3 or something like that. He’s shooting 88% from the line, he shot 91% at Duke last year. He’s shooting 40% from 3, just like his FT shooting, he shot 40% last year at Duke and he’s as high level of a shooting prospect in the class. Ya the 3pt shot may drop and move from say 37%-40%. But Kon being a 40% 3pt shooter really shouldn’t be all that surprising.

I agree about it being sustainable, but where's the leap? To me he looks like he's just going to be this really good player who's a fringe all-star for most of his career.

[Duke4life831]

can't find any stats but Kon looks like one of those top percentile deceleration guys. with that strength, mass, shooting and craftiness, what he's doing seems very sustainable.

Yes that’s another thing, there is nothing about Kon’s start where you think, “okay but this aspect of his game will crash down to earth at some point.”

It’s not like he’s shooting 57% from 3 or something like that. He’s shooting 88% from the line, he shot 91% at Duke last year. He’s shooting 40% from 3, just like his FT shooting, he shot 40% last year at Duke and he’s as high level of a shooting prospect in the class. Ya the 3pt shot may drop and move from say 37%-40%. But Kon being a 40% 3pt shooter really shouldn’t be all that surprising.

I agree about it being sustainable, but where's the leap? To me he looks like he's just going to be this really good player who's a fringe all-star for most of his career.

I mean right now his Time Per Possession is just 2.2, which is currently 4th on the team for main rotation guys. And his USG% is just 21.2%, which is 5th on the team.

So just from a USG and on ball standpoint, there is a ton of room to grow. So really the question going forward will be, can he keep up this kind of play as a consistent #3 option, then as a consistent #2 option, then the final one, can he be a legit #1 option.

[jasonxxx102]

Yes that’s another thing, there is nothing about Kon’s start where you think, “okay but this aspect of his game will crash down to earth at some point.”

It’s not like he’s shooting 57% from 3 or something like that. He’s shooting 88% from the line, he shot 91% at Duke last year. He’s shooting 40% from 3, just like his FT shooting, he shot 40% last year at Duke and he’s as high level of a shooting prospect in the class. Ya the 3pt shot may drop and move from say 37%-40%. But Kon being a 40% 3pt shooter really shouldn’t be all that surprising.

I agree about it being sustainable, but where's the leap? To me he looks like he's just going to be this really good player who's a fringe all-star for most of his career.

I mean right now his Time Per Possession is just 2.2, which is currently 4th on the team for main rotation guys. And his USG% is just 21.2%, which is 5th on the team.

So just from a USG and on ball standpoint, there is a ton of room to grow. So really the question going forward will be, can he keep up this kind of play as a consistent #3 option, then as a consistent #2 option, then the final one, can he be a legit #1 option.

I think a sped up version of the Deni progression is the dream scenario. I still don't know if Deni can be the best player on a good team but that's kind of what I was thinking

[Trey24]

I agree about it being sustainable, but where's the leap? To me he looks like he's just going to be this really good player who's a fringe all-star for most of his career.

I mean right now his Time Per Possession is just 2.2, which is currently 4th on the team for main rotation guys. And his USG% is just 21.2%, which is 5th on the team.

So just from a USG and on ball standpoint, there is a ton of room to grow. So really the question going forward will be, can he keep up this kind of play as a consistent #3 option, then as a consistent #2 option, then the final one, can he be a legit #1 option.

I think a sped up version of the Deni progression is the dream scenario. I still don't know if Deni can be the best player on a good team but that's kind of what I was thinking

i would be willing to bet that Kon to this point has leaped past what you thought he would be at his ceiling and you are trying to come to terms with it by saying he will never be a star even though you say he could make a few all STAR teams so I'm not sure what the point of bringing up Deni is. Kon is light-years ahead of Deni at this point in their development. If he improves as much as Deni has since rookie year you are talking about a perennial all NBA talent.

[Duke4life831]

I agree about it being sustainable, but where's the leap? To me he looks like he's just going to be this really good player who's a fringe all-star for most of his career.

I mean right now his Time Per Possession is just 2.2, which is currently 4th on the team for main rotation guys. And his USG% is just 21.2%, which is 5th on the team.

So just from a USG and on ball standpoint, there is a ton of room to grow. So really the question going forward will be, can he keep up this kind of play as a consistent #3 option, then as a consistent #2 option, then the final one, can he be a legit #1 option.

I think a sped up version of the Deni progression is the dream scenario. I still don't know if Deni can be the best player on a good team but that's kind of what I was thinking

Ya Id like to see what Kon could do in the role Deni currently has.

Time Per Possession of 5. Deni leads Portland there, so plenty of on ball time, while also not getting near that 6.5+ of heavy heavy on ball. And a USG of 28. And ya that style of play is pretty transferable to most teams. Where on a bad team he can be your #1 option. But he isnt some heliocentric style of guy that needs to dominate the ball. Can still be a very valuable and star quality guy on a 4.5 Time Per Possession and 26-27 USG%.

Ill also say one raw stats counting area I do think Kon has a lot of room to improve is the assists to turnovers. Right now its close to 1:1, I do think Kon has a lot of room and potential in that area. Dont get me wrong, not saying he could lead the league in assists. But I think he can be a solid 6 assists on 2.5:1 assist to turnover ratio kind of guy.

[jasonxxx102]

I mean right now his Time Per Possession is just 2.2, which is currently 4th on the team for main rotation guys. And his USG% is just 21.2%, which is 5th on the team.

So just from a USG and on ball standpoint, there is a ton of room to grow. So really the question going forward will be, can he keep up this kind of play as a consistent #3 option, then as a consistent #2 option, then the final one, can he be a legit #1 option.

I think a sped up version of the Deni progression is the dream scenario. I still don't know if Deni can be the best player on a good team but that's kind of what I was thinking

i would be willing to bet that Kon to this point has leaped past what you thought he would be at his ceiling and you are trying to come to terms with it by saying he will never be a star even though you say he could make a few all STAR teams so I'm not sure what the point of bringing up Deni is. Kon is light-years ahead of Deni at this point in their development. If he improves as much as Deni has since rookie year you are talking about a perennial all NBA talent.

So are you saying Kon is a perennial all-nba talent? Just want to be clear.

because I think that's crazy