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
185
29%
Tre Johnson, Wizards
57
9%
Ace Bailey, Jazz
53
8%
Dylan Harper, Spurs
65
10%
V.J. Edgecombe, 76ers
112
17%
Kon Knueppel, Hornets
66
10%
Derik Queen, Pelicans
24
4%
Jeremiah Fears, Pelicans
15
2%
Cedric Coward, Grizzlies
20
3%
Other (Clifford, Demin, Bryant, Richardson, Newell, Clayton Jr., Gonzalez, etc. - poll is limited to 10 options)
46
7%
 
Total votes: 643

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Re: 2025-26 NBA Rookie Discussion Thread 

Post#641 » by bonita_the_frog » Tue Dec 2, 2025 4:34 am

Dallas 131 @ Denver 121
Cooper Flagg 24 points on 10-19 fielding, with 8 rebounds, 2 steals and 1 block
Mindboggling.
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Re: 2025-26 NBA Rookie Discussion Thread 

Post#642 » by dirkules_41 » Tue Dec 2, 2025 4:51 am

Duke4life831 wrote:Ya the fact Flagg is this good at 18 is pretty ridiculous.

Just imagine what he’s going to look like in 10 years when he’s still in his 20s. I mean hell, just wait until his 3pt shot starts to drop

This is what I’m very excited for. He’s eventually gonna learn how to knock down the 3 at a nice clip. He’s got the shot and the mechanics already. That in turn will open up so much more opportunity in the other areas of playmaking and driving, post up etc
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Re: 2025-26 NBA Rookie Discussion Thread 

Post#643 » by dirkules_41 » Tue Dec 2, 2025 5:27 am

Our 2 way rookie Ryan Nembhard also with a remarkable game tonight.
28 points on 12-14 shooting, 4-5 from deep, 10 assists and 0 turnovers. We’ve seen flashes of this in the summer league and preseason but this game was great.
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Re: 2025-26 NBA Rookie Discussion Thread 

Post#644 » by Mavrelous » Tue Dec 2, 2025 6:29 am

A big white guy and a Candian guard dominated in Denver, CO, Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray also played in that game.
Defense wins draft lotteries!
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Re: 2025-26 NBA Rookie Discussion Thread 

Post#645 » by Ice Man » Tue Dec 2, 2025 12:58 pm

dirkules_41 wrote:Our 2 way rookie Ryan Nembhard also with a remarkable game tonight.
28 points on 12-14 shooting, 4-5 from deep, 10 assists and 0 turnovers. We’ve seen flashes of this in the summer league and preseason but this game was great.


I liked Nembhard when I saw him in pre-season and disliked every other Mavs guard. That still holds.

OK, to return to the topic at hand, the combination of AD at center & Nembhard at guard permits Cooper be Cooper. He has driving room because the Mavs aren't playing twin towers, and he has a guard that will actually pass him the ball.
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Re: 2025-26 NBA Rookie Discussion Thread 

Post#646 » by Karate Diop » Tue Dec 2, 2025 7:09 pm

We have a tendency to unfairly judge a pick based on how the player looks today, but from the limited flashes we've seen from Egor, Powell and now Wolf the Nets might actually be cooking something once their bodies catch up to the NBA grind.

I'm pleasantly surprised with the three of them and still not out on Traore who I always felt would need the most time to develop...
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Re: 2025-26 NBA Rookie Discussion Thread 

Post#647 » by Duke4life831 » Tue Dec 2, 2025 11:12 pm

Read on Twitter


Them Duke boys are looking good to start the year
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Re: 2025-26 NBA Rookie Discussion Thread 

Post#648 » by PlatinumState » Yesterday 9:27 am

Edgecombe and Coward have really teetered off lately.
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Re: 2025-26 NBA Rookie Discussion Thread 

Post#649 » by Ice Man » Yesterday 12:36 pm

PlatinumState wrote:Edgecombe and Coward have really teetered off lately.


After Dennis Smith Jr., I learned my lesson about drawing any conclusions at all from a guy's first 3 weeks in the NBA. I had already learned to ignore summer league performances, but then added very early in the rookie season to that list.

Not that I am predicting that either of those guys will suffer DSJ's fate. Just saying.
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Re: 2025-26 NBA Rookie Discussion Thread 

Post#650 » by peZt » Yesterday 1:39 pm

Dylan Harper would probably be the ROY if he played 30mpg on a worse team
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Re: 2025-26 NBA Rookie Discussion Thread 

Post#651 » by Trey24 » Yesterday 3:25 pm

Read on Twitter
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Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month with the first Late Night appearance in Bobcats franchise history with the Tonight show appearance last night.
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Re: 2025-26 NBA Rookie Discussion Thread 

Post#652 » by Ice Man » Yesterday 3:56 pm

peZt wrote:Dylan Harper would probably be the ROY if he played 30mpg on a worse team


Yes, so far he's been the best per-minute rookie, but with only 218 minutes played, it's a pretty small sample size.
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Re: 2025-26 NBA Rookie Discussion Thread 

Post#653 » by Bornstellar » Yesterday 6:47 pm

peZt wrote:Dylan Harper would probably be the ROY if he played 30mpg on a worse team

He's a beast. It's a blessing to have him backing Fox now because it ensures 48 minutes of elite ball handling. Kid has some serious playmaking chops too. I can't wait to see him develop. He certainly doesn't play like a teenager
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Re: 2025-26 NBA Rookie Discussion Thread 

Post#654 » by The Master » Yesterday 11:05 pm

Ice Man wrote:
peZt wrote:Dylan Harper would probably be the ROY if he played 30mpg on a worse team


Yes, so far he's been the best per-minute rookie, but with only 218 minutes played, it's a pretty small sample size.

Yeah, if these games are representative of his true level as a player - he'll become a superstar sooner or later. Potential for three-level scoring, elite playmaking and handles, big upside on defense - sometimes his stretches from the bench are otherworldly when you realize that he's only 19.

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Re: 2025-26 NBA Rookie Discussion Thread 

Post#655 » by Chuck Everett » Today 1:47 am

Noa Essengue out for the year with a shoulder injury. Bulls just have bad luck with the draft.
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Re: 2025-26 NBA Rookie Discussion Thread 

Post#656 » by G R E Y » Today 3:17 am

Read on Twitter
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The Spurs Way Ever Onward

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Re: 2025-26 NBA Rookie Discussion Thread 

Post#657 » by doogie_hauser » Today 3:53 am

Cooper Flagg is officially now living up to the hype.

What a clutch, dynamic game winning performace v the Heat.

The kid finally realizes how good he is/will be.

AD.mentoring him on court like a proud big brother made me smile !
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Re: 2025-26 NBA Rookie Discussion Thread 

Post#658 » by penggemar » Today 3:55 am

Maxime Raynaud with 25 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal and 1 block.
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Re: 2025-26 NBA Rookie Discussion Thread 

Post#659 » by dballislife » Today 4:16 am

cooper looks like hes passing kon soon for ROY
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Re: 2025-26 NBA Rookie Discussion Thread 

Post#660 » by dirkules_41 » Today 4:59 am

Strong games again by both Cooper and Nembhard

Coop: 22 and 6 reb
Nemby: 15 and 13 assists with only 1 TO

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