NBA Rookie of the Year rankings: Flagg vaults Knueppel for top spot

As the 2025-26 NBA season approaches the midway mark, here's a look at the top five candidates for Rookie of the Year honors.

Coward was drafted 11th overall by the Portland Trail Blazers before being traded to the Memphis Grizzlies for No. 16 pick Yang Hansen and draft considerations. There was some trepidation about Coward after he made just six appearances for Washington State in his junior year due to injury, but the shooting guard has swiftly dispelled those pre-draft doubts. He now looks like a steal for a Grizzlies franchise desperate for some new life following a series of injuries and Ja Morant's early-season issues.

Coward hit the ground running and is now a mainstay in the Grizzlies' starting five. The 22-year-old became the first rookie in franchise history to make at least six 3-pointers without a miss in a stellar 27-point display against the Indiana Pacers on Oct. 25. He's second among all first-year players in rebounds and fifth in scoring. Coward has also flexed some impressive playmaking skills on the wing, and his 7-foot-2 wingspan enables him to be disruptive on defense.

ROY odds: +10000

The New Orleans Pelicans' front office can take some solace in Queen's standout rookie campaign after they were ridiculed for trading up 10 spots to select the robust big from Maryland at No. 13. It'll be difficult for Queen to remove the stink of the decision to trade the draft rights to Asa Newell and a future first-round draft pick to Atlanta, though it's hardly his fault the Pelicans valued him so highly. While offseason wrist surgery didn't help Queen's case, he returned earlier than anticipated.

An old-school, slick-passing center in the mold of Zach Randolph, Queen has displayed an intriguing blend of strength and finesse while earning a starting role for New Orleans. He leads all rookies in rebounds and blocks and has displayed some passing chops and advanced footwork in the post. He's averaging 15.3 points, 8.5 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 1.4 blocks in his last 12 outings. His defensive rating (119.1) is second among all first-year players playing 25 or more minutes a game behind teammate Jeremiah Fears.

ROY odds: +3000

It's not often that a top-three pick walks into a team with three bonafide stars, but Edgecombe did exactly that, forming a star quartet with Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, and Paul George. The latter two have had mercurial campaigns due to injury, and Edgecombe has helped fill the scoring void, propelling the Philadelphia 76ers into a top-six spot in the East. The Baylor product is first among rookies in minutes (35.8) and steals (1.4) and third in scoring through 30 outings.

The attention the Maxey-Embiid two-man game attracts has created opportunities for Edgecombe, though the 19-year-old deserves praise for becoming a bigger perimeter threat. "Coming out of college, I was told he was a bad shooter. He's been a great 3-point shooter since he got here," Embiid said after Edgecombe went 4-of-9 from deep in Saturday's road win over the New York Knicks. "We all have confidence in him," teammate Quentin Grimes added.

ROY odds: +2000

Not even the biggest Knueppel diehard could have foreseen this. For starters, Knueppel is on pace to become the most prolific 3-point-shooting rookie in NBA history. Through 35 games, he's made 127 shots from deep, which is on track to shatter Keegan Murray's rookie record (206). He's also one of three players alongside Maxey and Jamal Murray to make 115 or more threes while shooting better than 40% from behind the arc. Knueppel is already one of the league's elite 3-point marksmen.

However, there's more to his arsenal. He leads all rookies in scoring and is on pace to become the first rookie since Hall of Famer Mitch Richmond (1989) to average 19 or more points while shooting 46% or better. Knueppel also thrives at making lightning-quick decisions, which benefits a Charlotte Hornets offense that's attempting to exploit mismatches on dribble penetrations and drive-and-kick scenarios. Knueppel puts his teammates into positive positions - something that's been missing in Charlotte.

ROY odds: +600

The only thing keeping Knueppel from Rookie of the Year honors is former Duke teammate Flagg. Despite an up-and-down start - due in part to the Dallas Mavericks' chaotic environment and a slew of injuries to key contributors - Flagg has found his footing at the pro level. He's gotten better each month, going from 17.8 points per game on 47.7% shooting in November to 23.5 points on 51.6% shooting in December. He also shot 33.3% from deep last month compared to 25.3% in October and November.

In his one year at Duke, Flagg overcame a slow start, and this season is no different. After initiating much of the Mavs' offense during the early stages, he's since benefited from playing alongside two guards. This has reduced Flagg's playmaking responsibilities and thrust him into more off-ball actions, allowing him to attack with greater ease and contribute more in transition. It also allows him to exploit mismatches, an area where he's already excelled against NBA-level talent.

ROY odds: -650

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