NBA rookie rankings: 10 players to watch ahead of the playoffs

is tanking major conversation Executives across the league set their sights on ultra-talented guys in the NBA 2026 draft class. And for good reason: They may look to the league’s current rookie class to see how a promising young player can improve the team’s long-term outlook.

first four players selected 2025 draft The best rookies this season have been, and as regular season Toward the end, it’s time to evaluate the entire class.

We’ve already ranked the top 10 newcomers twice this season, once in november And once in january. Note that this is a ranking of the quality of play for beginners In this weather Instead of a long-term projection.

trey johnson (who were ranked eighth in the most recent edition of these rankings) dropped out of the top 10 in this edition. Kings Center maxim reynaudThere were tears after the All-Star break, this time the last player cut. Let’s take a look at the updated rankings:

January Ranking: number 10

Demin’s season ended on February 27 due to a plantar fasciitis problem. Before his injury, the No. 8 pick in last year’s draft had shown enough talent to earn the No. 10 spot on a struggling Brooklyn team.

The biggest question about Demin coming out of college was his jump shot, as he only made 27% of his 3-pointers at BYU. But Demin made 38.5% of his 6.2 long-range attempts per game in the NBA, making him one of eight qualifying rookies in league history to convert at least 38% of his 3s on at least five attempts. there are others Con Knuppel, keegan murray, Tyrese Haliburton, Saddiq Bey, tyler herro, Landry Shamet And Rudy Fernandez. That level of shooting as a rookie isn’t a guarantee of stardom, but it’s a step in the right direction.

Otherwise, Demin showcased his advanced passing skills, and at 6-foot-8, he has the size to avoid being targeted on the defensive end. Whether Demin can expand his offensive game in his second season – he shot 39.9% from 2 – should determine how he fits into the Nets’ plans, as they are on the corner of their rebuild.

January Ranking: number 7

Kalkbrenner was ranked fifth in the first edition of these rankings, but has not maintained his poor statistical start. For example, he averaged 2.6 blocks in his first nine games, but has since dropped to 1.3.

The Hornets have also performed much better mousa diabetes Taking center stage in place of the larger, slower Kalkbrenner.

But the rookie second-rounder still exceeded all reasonable expectations and produced one of the best seasons in his class. Kalkbrenner remains an extremely efficient scorer with a 75% true shooting mark, which would lead the league if eligible, and his rim protection is still a plus, even if he’s no longer blocking everything in sight.

January Ranking: not ranked

Gonzalez doesn’t rank among the most efficient rookies in this class, and his surface stats – 4.0 points, 3.5 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game – are nothing special.

But Gonzalez has one advanced stat that’s incredibly special: When he’s on the floor, the Celtics have a net rating of plus-12.6. That’s the best mark on one of the NBA’s best teams, and it ranks fourth among all players who played at least 50 games this season, behind only Victor Wembanyama, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander And Chet Holmgren.

Some of Gonzalez’s excellent net rating is a result of Boston’s strong depth and rotation; Some reason is to cheat fate. But at 1,009 minutes, Gonzalez’s on-floor sample is so large that he deserves a fair amount of credit. With his energy and defensive skills, Gonzalez makes winning plays. He certainly doesn’t have the highest long-term ceiling of the players on this list, but he should make the All-Rookie team.

January Ranking: number 4

Queen comes down in this edition of the rankings because she has hit the cheater wall the hardest. Before the All-Star break, Queen was averaging 12.2 points, 7.2 rebounds and 4.1 assists in 26 minutes; Since the break, he’s down to 8.5 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 20 minutes.

queen and mate lottery pick jeremiah is afraid It has the worst on/off rating among members of the New Orleans rotation, leading Pelicans interim coach James Borrego to increasingly move away from his rookie. It is no coincidence that the team’s best stretch of the season came when its veterans received more playing time.

And yet, the No. 13 pick displayed enough playmaking and exceptional offensive moments during his midseason hot streak that he’s still an easy choice to make the All-Rookie second team. Probably he is not suitable for this in the long run zion williamson – New Orleans’ net rating is negative-11.7 and the pair are on the floor databallr — which complicates its short-term future. But in the long term, they still have great potential.

January Ranking: number nine

Murray-Boyles has just returned from almost a month’s absence due to a thumb injury, so it may seem strange that he has jumped a few places from the previous edition. But there’s a clear dividing line in this class after the top five newcomers, and then a group of eight or so freshmen who could be added in almost any order. And Murray-Boyles gets to the top of that second tier because he has the highest floor in the group.

It’s possible that Demin’s offense may never develop enough to become a true starting point guard, or that Gonzalez will remain at the helm as an eighth man, or that Queen’s defense will sink him. But Murray-Boyles’ size and defensive versatility mean he should, at the very least, be a solid rotation player for years to come.

The No. 9 pick could expand his offensive repertoire, as he made 17 total 3-pointers and 24 total unassisted shots. That weakness can place a strong limit on his potential. But Murray-Boyles has contributed to a competitive team and fits in as a viable small-ball center as a rookie on a veteran-heavy team. This is a bright green indicator for their future in the league.

January Ranking: number five

Coward no longer has any real chance to compete for top-three Rookie of the Year, but nonetheless, he has turned in a strong debut season, averaging 13.4 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 26 minutes. He deserves a spot on the All-Rookie First Team.

Coward has all the makings of a strong 3-and-D wing. He has the size of a solid guard (if not the counting stats), and with his pretty shooting form, it’s frankly surprising he’s dropped to 33.6% on 3-pointers – although his 85% mark from the free throw line suggests he should improve in future seasons.

January Ranking: number 6

After a midseason decline, Harper has returned to the top half of these rankings thanks to his improved production amid increased responsibilities for the NBA’s second-best team. Unlike many of the rookies below him on this list, Harper has actually played More Even got his first start over the weekend since the All-Star break, and San Antonio hasn’t slowed down as the No. 2 team in the West.

From a long-term perspective, the most encouraging statistical indicator for Harper is that his 3-point percentage has increased to 31.4% – which is still far from ideal, but less worrisome than the 23.7% mark he hit in late January. (Since late January, he has made 43.3% of his 3s, though still on low volume.) A reliable jump shot would form his backcourt partnership with the former ROTY. Stephen Castle More secure.

But despite the shooting questions, Castle and Harper are thriving. lineup with that pair and Victor Wembanyama Has a very high plus-34.5 net rating when playing together databallrAlbeit with extreme shooting luck in a fairly small sample.

Harper’s short jump over the past month has been impressive enough to almost land him in the top three of these rankings, but ultimately, the next player on the list has more of a full season track record.

January Ranking: No. 3

Edgecombe has contributed across the board this season, but perhaps his most underrated accomplishment is surviving through his first long NBA campaign. Edgecombe is playing 35 minutes per game — Scotty Barnes Is the only rookie with more playing time in the last decade. Before this, the most recent rookies averaged at least 35 minutes Andrew Wiggins, damian lillard, Blake Griffin And john wall.

Edgecombe’s playing time has been enough to prove that he looks to be a future All-Star.

Add in Edgecombe’s better-than-expected jump shot, playmaking, and defensive contributions (1.4 steals, 0.6 blocks per game), and there’s every reason to expect he’ll form a potent backcourt partnership. tyreese maxi For years to come.

January Ranking: number 2

Flagg averaged 20.3 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.6 assists. Only seven rookies in NBA history averaged 20-6-4: luka doncic, Michael Jordan, larry bird, Sydney Wicks, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, oscar robertson And elgin boiler.

So Flagg’s statistical profile makes him look like an inner circle Hall of Famer — and that’s not even accounting for his immense defensive ability, or the fact that he and Doncic are the only teenagers on that list.

The only reason flags aren’t number 1 on this list is, or Rookie of the Year FavoriteIt’s that his former Duke teammates are playing better this season. But that doesn’t diminish what Flagg has accomplished in a tough campaign for the Mavericks. He looks every bit the franchise cornerstone worthy of the No. 1 pick, and yet he will be selected first overall a year later, in the 2025 realignment.

January Ranking: number 1

according to ESPN’s net points metricKnueppel has contributed an above average 153 points on offense this season. No other rookie is over 18 years old.

Knuppel stands out when compared not just to rookies, but to the league as a whole. He ranks 11th overall in offensive net points; two players directly ahead of him Anthony Edwards And Jalen Brunsonand two players directly behind him Cade Cunningham And tyreese maxi.

Simply put, Nueppel has been one of the best players in the NBA this season. He leads the league with a total of 3 points. He ranks third among qualified perimeter players in true shooting percentage, behind only Gilgeous-Alexander. Sam Merrill. And surprisingly he is a major contributor to the winning team.

Knueppel should win the Rookie of the Year award, and with how Flagg has played, the decision shouldn’t be as close.