NBA rookie rankings show Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel locked in a pretty tight battle for the top spot. Both of these guys are former Duke teammates, which is kinda cool, and they’re putting up historic numbers for their age and class.
You see YouTube Shorts videos already asking, “Is Cooper Flagg already the GOAT rookie?” And honestly, it’s not a crazy question. These two are just playing at another level right now, from sharpshooting specialists to generational talents.
Knueppel’s Record-Breaking Shooting
Kon Knueppel, playing for the Charlotte Hornets, is having a truly historic season. He’s averaging 19.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.5 assists. But it’s his shooting that’s really special. He’s hitting 42.8% from three-point range and 89.7% from the free-throw line.
He actually just hit his 100th three-pointer in only his 29th game. That broke the old record by 12 games, which is just wild. This 20-year-old is on pace to shatter Keegan Murray’s rookie three-point record of 206. If he plays 75 games, he’s looking at 270 threes. If he plays all 82, it could be 295, putting him in the top 15 all-time for a single season, rookie or not.
Knueppel isn’t just a shooter, though. He’s pretty efficient for a guard, shooting 47.8% from the field. The last rookie guard to average 19 points on at least 46% shooting was Mitch Richmond back in 1989. So yeah, Knueppel is doing something special.
He also fits really well into what the Hornets’ front office wants. They’re trying to play like the Celtics, with lots of drive-and-kick plays. Knueppel makes super quick decisions, whether that’s firing a shot, driving, or passing to an open teammate. He recently rolled his ankle against the Orlando Magic, so that’s something to watch.
Flagg Finds His NBA Groove
Cooper Flagg, with the Dallas Mavericks, is ranked just above Knueppel right now. He’s averaging 19.5 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 3.9 assists. It wasn’t always this smooth for him, though. He had a bit of a slow start, kinda like his lone season at Duke. In his first 10 NBA games, he averaged 13.9 points on 40% shooting. People started to wonder if he could really be a top scorer in the league. But he quickly answered those questions.
In the 22 games leading up to his 19th birthday on December 21, Flagg really broke out. He averaged 22.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 4.3 assists. He even dropped a monster 42-point game against the Utah Jazz, becoming the first 18-year-old in NBA history to score over 40.
He also had a 33-point, nine-rebound, nine-assist masterpiece against Denver, and then 27 points on Christmas against the Golden State Warriors. USA Today reported on his surge just before Christmas. Dallas is playing him more next to other guards now, which helps him get into off-ball actions and transition.
He’s also using his left hand a lot more and getting more comfortable with contact, which lets him get to the rim easier. Flagg declared for the draft after one season at Duke, where he was named first-team All-American, according to AOL.
The Rest of the Talented Rookie Class
While Flagg and Knueppel are in their own tier, this 2025 draft class has a lot of depth. There are seven players this year who would have likely topped the Rookie of the Year race at this point last season. The 2026 class is getting a lot of hype, but the 2025 group might have more long-term role players. Here’s how the top 15 look right now, based on performance in the NBA so far:
| RANK | PLAYER | TEAM | PTS | REBS | ASSTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cooper Flagg | Dallas Mavericks | 19.5 | 6.4 | 3.9 |
| 2 | Kon Knueppel | Charlotte Hornets | 19.3 | 5.1 | 3.5 |
| 3 | VJ Edgecombe | Philadelphia 76ers | 15.5 | 5.4 | 4 |
| 4 | Dylan Harper | San Antonio Spurs | 11.9 | 3.3 | 4.2 |
| 5 | Derik Queen | New Orleans Pelicans | 13.5 | 7 | 4 |
| 6 | Cedric Coward | Memphis Grizzlies | 13.5 | 6.2 | 2.9 |
| 7 | Jeremiah Fears | New Orleans Pelicans | 14.8 | 3.6 | 3.1 |
| 8 | Ryan Kalkbrenner | Charlotte Hornets | 8.7 | 6.4 | 0.6 |
| 9 | Maxime Raynaud | Sacramento Kings | 10.6 | 6 | 1.1 |
| 10 | Tre Johnson | Washington Wizards | 11.6 | 3 | 1.6 |
| 11 | Egor Demin | Brooklyn Nets | 9.3 | 3.1 | 3.4 |
| 12 | Ace Bailey | Utah Jazz | 10.5 | 3.3 | 1.6 |
| 13 | Will Richard | Golden State Warriors | 8.1 | 2.9 | 1 |
| 14 | Hugo Gonzalez | Boston Celtics | 4.4 | 3.2 | 0.6 |
| 15 | Sion James | Charlotte Hornets | 6.8 | 3.2 | 1.6 |
V.J. Edgecombe for the 76ers, Dylan Harper for the Spurs, and Derik Queen and Jeremiah Fears for the Pelicans are all having strong seasons. Edgecombe is a huge energy guy, and the Sixers really feel his impact defensively.
Queen and Fears even earned starting spots for New Orleans. Queen had a wild 33-point triple-double against the Spurs, which is pretty impressive. A YouTube Shorts video highlighted several of these players as “generational talents.”
Maxime Raynaud’s Unexpected Impact
One cool story is Maxime Raynaud from the Sacramento Kings. He was drafted at No. 42, which is pretty late. He didn’t even go to the big French basketball academy. But this Stanford math major just keeps getting better.
He’s stepped right into the starting center role because Domantas Sabonis is injured, and he’s thriving. Over his last 13 games, Raynaud is averaging 15.5 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 1.5 assists, shooting 57% from the field and 43% from three. He’s got amazing hands and a high basketball IQ, especially with his timing rolling to the rim. It seems like the Kings got a steal.
The Rookie of the Year race is definitely one to watch as the season continues. Flagg and Knueppel are leading the way, but many others are making a real impact too. It’s a deep and exciting class.
Annsly Raena 
Soureesh Datta 
Sagnik Banerjee