Conn Knuppel leads Cooper Flagg on the quarter

Not many thought the 2025 NBA rookie class would be anything special outside Cooper Flagg. Well, we’re learning very quickly that there are a few upstarts who become integral parts of their new van Flagg organizations, and none more so than Kon Knuepel with Charlotte Hornets.

Flagg was the big name coming out of Duke, but Knuepel was also an NBA-ready talent on the Blue Devils’ roster.

Between his 3-point shooting and wing shooting skills, Knueppel quickly established himself as one of the long-term pillars in Charlotte, and that’s why he was ineventually named Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for matches played in October and November.

Flagg earned this honor in the Western Conference, marking first time in NBA history that two first-year players from the same college were named Western and Eastern Conference Rookies of the Month.

Although VJ Edgecombe got off to a fast start with the Philadelphia 76ers, he has since surpassed Knuepel and Flagg in the ranking of NBA rookiesas it is the Hornets’ wing that has the upper hand through a quarter of the 2025-26 season.

1. Kon Knuepel – Charlotte Hornets

Previous rank: #4

Stats: 21 games, 18.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 46.5 FG%, 41.5 3P%

Knueppel finished November averaging 19.9 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game while shooting 39.1 percent from 3-point range. His best performance came on November 14 against the Milwaukee Bucks, as Knuepel scored a game-high 32 points on 12-20 shooting in his return to Milwaukee.

So far this season, the Hornets wing has recorded 10 games with at least 20 points, and has made at least four 3-pointers in 11 different games.

In 21 games, Knuepel made 73 three-pointers, trailing only Donovan Mitchell (81), Stephen Curry (75) and AJ Green (74) in the NBA.

With Brandon Miller and LaMelo Ball battling injuries to start the year, Knueppel stepped up in Charlotte and became their leading scorer. It will be interesting to see if this trend continues now that Miller and Ball are back in the fold.

Previous rank: #5

Stats: 21 games, 17.0 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.4 steals, 46.6 FG%, 25.6 3P%

While Flagg got off to a slow start with the Dallas Mavericks, he has been sensational of late. The Mavs rookie has scored at least 10 points in all but one game this season, and has posted three different 20-point performances in his last six games.

This includes a 35-point, eight-rebound night in a 114-110 win over the LA Clippers on Saturday.

What does this do? a performance so memorable for Flaggaside from this being a career night for him, is that he became the youngest player to ever record 35 points in a game in league history. He too joined LeBron James as the only player in NBA history to score 25 points before turning 19.

Expectations were high for Flag entering the league, especially with many comparing him to LeBron as a historic draft prospect. He’s delivered for Dallas so far, and he’s right in the Rookie of the Year mix with Knuepel heading into December.

3. VJ Edgecombe – Philadelphia 76ers

Previous rank: #1

Stats: 16 games, 15.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.3 steals, 41.0 FG%, 36.0 3P%

When VJ Edgecombe began the year averaging 21.2 points per game over his first five contests for the Philadelphia 76ers, everyone began to believe that he would be the main competitor to Flegg for the Rookie of the Year award.

While Edgecombe is still very much a part of this run with Flagg and Knuppel, he has looked like a rookie lately and has settled into his role alongside Tyrese Maxey.

Edgecombe averaged just 12.3 points per game in November, mostly because of a left calf injury he was dealing with.

4. Cedric Coward – Memphis Grizzlies

Previous rank: #3

Stats: 21 games, 13.2 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 45.2 FG%, 35.4 3P%

The most consistent rookie this season has been Cedric Coward. Once again, the Memphis Grizzlies have a key rookie contributor, and Coward has been extremely reliable in his role as a key scoring weapon off the bench in Memphis.

Coward has scored at least 10 points in 16 of the 21 games he’s played so far, and his effectiveness as a catch-and-shoot option from the perimeter has helped open up the Grizzlies’ offensive attack.

Without Ja Morant on the field with a calf injury, Coward has stepped into a more leadership role for his team, which will only help him once he’s back to third or fourth down the line.

5. Derrick Quinn – New Orleans Pelicans

Previous rank: #8

Stats: 21 games, 11.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.0 steals, 48.0 FG%

Some have compared Derrick Quinn’s game to Nikola Jokic. As crazy as this sounds, Jokić himself gave his stamp to the newcomer, claiming to see similarities between their games.

Ever since Willie Green was fired by the New Orleans Pelicans, Quinn has been in the spotlight, and he has been a standout player for the Pelicans.

His best stretch of three games came in mid-November, as he averaged 23.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 1.7 steals per game while shooting 53.1 percent from the floor.

These are the performances that have Pelicans fans excited about their future with Queen.

6. Jeremiah Fears – New Orleans Pelicans

Previous rank: #10

Stats: 21 games, 15.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.5 steals, 44.5 FG%, 36.0 3P%

With Zion Williamson, Jordan Poole and others lost to injury for the Pelicans, Jeremiah Fears has been thrust into the spotlight, much like Derrick Quinn.

Since the start of November, Fears has averaged 16.1 points per game while shooting 39.3 percent from 3-point range. This type of production proves he can be the Pelicans’ franchise point guard.

7. Ryan Kalkbrenner – Charlotte Hornets

Previous rank: #7

Stats: 19 games, 9.0 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.8 blocks, 81.1 FG%

Although Ryan Kalkbrenner has missed several games with a sprained ankle, he still leads the league with his 81.1 percent shooting. Between his rebounding and finishing abilities in the paint, Kalkbrenner was an ideal center for the Hornets during the early part of his career.

8. Ace Bailey – Utah Jazz

Previous ranking: Not ranked

Stats: 20 games, 10.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 46.2 FG%, 35.8 3P%

Now that Ace Bailey is starting and getting a chance to prove himself, he’s emerging as a key offensive weapon alongside Lauri Markkanen and Keyonte George for the Utah Jazz.

Over his last 12 games, Bailey is averaging 13.7 points per game while shooting 40.9 percent from 3-point range. In this span, Bailey has recorded at least 20 points in three different games.

9. Tre Johnson – Washington Wizards

Previous rank: #6

Stats: 15 games, 11.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 44.5 FG%, 39.5 3P%

Unfortunately, Tre Johnson will miss some time with a strained left hip flexor, which is unfortunate because he has been lifting the Washington Wizards’ offense.

Through the first 15 games of his career, Johnson hit at least three 3-pointers five different times and scored in double figures 11 different times. His shooting potential represents optimism for the future of the Wizards.

10. Egor Demin – Brooklyn Nets

Previous ranking: Not ranked

Stats: 18 games, 8.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 37.7 FG%, 34.7 3P%

The Brooklyn Nets haven’t had much going for them this season as they seem to be focused on securing the top pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. However, Egor Demin has shown flashes of his potential as a point guard during the first month of the 2025-26 season.

Demin does a little bit of everything, and the Nets hope his perimeter shooting continues to develop to the point where he’s a true offensive threat. Right now, he seems to be in the mix to be the all-rookie performer.