NBA Rookie of the Year 2025-26 Season: Latest Power Rankings as Cooper Flagg Barely Holds Onto Top 5 Spot

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The NBA’s Rookie of the Year (ROY) race, simply over every week into the 2025-26 season, shouldn’t be remotely what everybody anticipated it to be. No. 1 decide Cooper Flagg started his profession with the expectations of a generational expertise. Some even in contrast his hype to LeBron James’s in 2003.

The Dallas Mavericks fan base considered him as their savior within the aftermath of the notorious Luka Doncic commerce, which nonetheless haunts the group. However, 5 video games later, Cooper Flagg has but to have his second, whereas his friends have hit the bottom operating, some even producing historic performances.

V.J. Edgecombe, the No. 3 select of Baylor, is the runaway Rookie of the Year ladder race chief following a dream begin. Former Washington State product Cedric Coward has seemed just like the steal of the draft.

Dylan Harper, an untouchable asset in commerce talks, is proving the San Antonio Spurs proper. He’s already placing concern in rivals’ minds on the ceiling of his partnership with Victor Wembanyama.

All’s not misplaced for Cooper Flagg, however it may take an distinctive effort from the Dallas Mavericks’ interim place to begin guard to cowl some floor.

With that mentioned, this is how he and different rookies stack up within the first version of Sportskeeda’s weekly NBA ROY rankings.

NBA Rookie of the Year 2025-26 Season: Latest Power Rankings for Oct. 30, 2025

#5 Cooper Flagg, Dallas Mavericks

Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg in action vs. the OKC Thunder (Image Source: IMAGN) — Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg in motion vs. the OKC Thunder (Image Source: IMAGN)

GP 5 | PPG 13.4 | RPG 6.2 | APG 2.8 | SPG 0.8 | BPG 0.6 | TOV 2.6

FG 41.0% | 3-PT 26.7% | FT – 100.0%

Cooper Flagg has handled probably the most adversity of any rookie within the 2025-26 NBA season. The Mavericks have requested No. 1 decide to guide the Dallas Mavericks’ level of assault as their major ball-handler and playmaker. So, not solely is he studying the ropes of being an expert participant, however Flagg can be adapting to taking part in a brand new place full-time.

It’s been a piece in progress, and one of many major explanation why his manufacturing barely stands out in comparison with his rivals within the ROY race. Nevertheless, the place Flagg positive factors an edge is his maturity and talent to regulate. The 18-year-old has proven flashes of a generational prospect who can impression the sport throughout.

Unlike most rookies, Flagg can match up along with his veteran friends bodily on each ends. He is superb as a play finisher and getting downhill.

It’s clear as day that Flagg is significantly better than the numbers, which is seen when Dallas has playmakers on the courtroom with him, together with respectable spacing. Without that, Flagg has been put in a disadvantageous state of affairs, resulting in his inefficient capturing splits.

#4 Kon Knueppel, Charlotte Hornets

Kon Knueppel in action during Charlotte Hornets vs. Washington Wizards (Image Source: IMAGN) — Kon Knueppel in motion throughout Charlotte Hornets vs. Washington Wizards (Image Source: IMAGN)

GP 4 | PPG 16.0 | RPG 4.3 | APG 2.0 | SPG 0.5 | BPG 0.0 | TOV 2.0

FG 52.3% | 3-PT 53.3% | FT 50.0%

No. 4 decide Kon Knueppel’s ROY odds have improved considerably. Not many would have put him forward of his former Duke teammate Cooper Flagg, however after 4 video games, there are only a few arguments in opposition to it.

Knueppel is usually a high 1.0% shooter within the NBA and switch into the 3-point sniper that everybody craves however cannot have. Knueppel discovered the underside of the online on 16 of his first 30 makes an attempt from vary. He has already made historical past along with his uber-efficient run from past the arc, eclipsing the report for many made 3s in 4 video games to start out an NBA profession.

On the floor degree, it looks as if Knueppel’s a one-trick pony along with his capturing. But that is not all. The former Duke product has proven potential as an on-ball creator, off-the-bounce scorer and on-ball defender.

As he continues to adapt to the professionals, with extra reps, Knueppel might emerge as among the finest prospects of the draft, carving out a prolonged NBA profession.

#3 Dylan Harper, San Antonio Spurs

Dylan Harper #2 (R), in action during Spurs vs. Nets (Image Source: IMAGN) — Dylan Harper #2 (R), in motion throughout Spurs vs. Nets (Image Source: IMAGN)

GP 4 | PPG 14.8 | RPG 5.3 | APG 4.8 | SPG 1.0 | BPG 0.0 | TOV 2.0

FG 47.8% | 3-PT 33.3% | FT 85.7%

No. 2 decide Dylan Harper hasn’t taken lengthy to return the religion the San Antonio Spurs positioned in him within the offseason. Despite rostering De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle, the Spurs had no intentions of lacking out on Harper. Alongside Cooper Flagg, he was thought-about a surefire All-NBA prospect. Four video games in, it isn’t troublesome to see why.

The former Rutgers star has been an exceptional on-ball scorer and shot creator, already choosing aside defenses like a veteran NBA participant. Through 19 video games (per Spurs author Paul Garcia), Harper has the second most drives (41), most passes (16), and most assists (seven) with solely three turnovers.

Harper’s driving and courtroom imaginative and prescient have everybody in awe, fearing what’s to return from him because the 19-year-old positive factors extra expertise.

Harper’s additionally made it to the NBA historical past books, turning into the youngest participant to report at the very least 20 factors, 5 rebounds and 5 assists with out committing a turnover throughout San Antonio’s 118-107 win over Brooklyn on Sunday.

#2 Cedric Coward, Memphis Grizzlies

Cedric Coward in action for the Grizzlies against the Pacers (Image Source: IMAGN) — Cedric Coward in motion for the Grizzlies in opposition to the Pacers (Image Source: IMAGN)

GP 5 | PPG 16.0 | RPG 3.8 | APG 2.0 | SPG 1.0 | BPG 0.6 | TOV 0.8

FG 65.1% | 3-PT 64.7% | FT 92.9%

No. 11 decide Cedric Coward isn’t just in ROY conversations, but additionally for the NBA’s underdog story of the yr. The former Division III faculty participant’s ascension has carried over to the professionals. Memphis could have stunned a couple of by choosing him with its first-round decide, however it’s benefiting with Coward already being decisive on the courtroom.

He’s off to a scorching begin with an absurd 81.4% true capturing common, which will not probably maintain, however there’s each likelihood he could possibly be one of many league’s greatest 3-and-D gamers. Coward’s a microwave scorer off the bench, averaging 16.0 ppg in simply 24.4 mpg.

After spending three years in faculty, he is translating his really feel for the sport within the NBA. On offense, Coward makes use of his quickness and stability nicely in transition. He’s a really perfect weapon for out-of-bounds after timeout performs as a consequence of his positioning, excessive IQ and shotmaking. Coward additionally reads defenses nicely when attacking the rim.

Despite the unbelievable capturing splits, a big quantity of Coward’s reward has come for his pure defensive instincts, which he has paired nicely along with his 7-foot-2 wingspan, 8-foot-5 standing attain and 38.5-inch max vertical.

It makes Cedric Coward the right piece for the Grizzlies, which they’ve wanted alongside Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. for a very long time. With such traits, he can be a match on any roster, given the sport’s present calls for from 3-and-D wings.

#1 V.J. Edgecombe, Philadelphia 76ers

V.J. Edgecombe celebrates with Tyrese Maxey (Image Source: IMAGN)

GP 4 | PPG 22.3 | RPG 5.8 | APG 5.5 | SPG 1.5 | BPG 0.5 | TOV 2.0

FG 47.1% | 3-PT 42.9% | FT 78.6%

No. 3 decide V.J. Edgecombe has put the NBA world on discover after the primary 4 video games of his rookie season. Edgecombe has carried out at an elite degree, probably even taking part in higher than he ever did on the faculty degree. Flat-out some of the athletic gamers within the league, the previous Baylor star has proven he is acquired far more to his recreation than simply his bodily instruments.

He introduced his arrival, dropping 34 factors, seven rebounds and three assists within the 76ers’ comeback win over arch rivals the Celtics, capturing 50.0%, together with 5 3s. He topped LeBron James’ report for many factors within the first quarter in an NBA debut with 14. Edgecombe additionally grew to become the primary guard to common 25 factors, 5 rebounds and 5 assists within the first three video games.

Nobody appears to have seemed as comfy because the 19-year-old on this rookie class, which has been key to the Sixers’ unbeaten begin with a restricted Joel Embiid and injured Paul George on the sidelines.

V.J. Edgecombe is getting it carried out on each ends. While his protection hasn’t at all times been on level, he is leaned on his athleticism to cowl up for it and proven a knack for bettering on his lapses.

As the one rookie to common at the very least 20/5/5 as of the debut version of our ROY energy rankings, there is not any doubt that Edgecombe has jumped out forward of his friends, unparalleled.