All eyes are on Cooper Flagg this season as Dallas Mavericks’ no. 1 overall in this year’s draft. He had a solid game lately but for now, he has to do more to be seen. The league released its first ever 2025-26 Rookie of the Year Ladder and the Duke standout places fourth.
The Top 1 for now goes to Philadelphia 76ers’ VJ Edgecombe who had a stellar debut with 34 points against the Boston Celtics. Even Jaylen Brown was astounded by his performance.
Jaylen Brown keeps it buck on VJ Edgecombe dropping 34 in his NBA debut at TD Garden
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen nothing that crazy a rookie come out the gate just blazing. We play them again soon, so we definitely gotta be aware of that.” pic.twitter.com/FHGOa57QBz
— CELTICS ☘️ BANNER 19 (@BiggLynch) October 29, 2025
The second and third spot goes to Memphis Grizzlies’ 11th overall pick Cedric Coward (16.5 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 2.3 apg) and San Antonio Spurs no. 2 selection Dylan Harper (14.8 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 4.8 apg).
On ranking Edgecombe as no. 1, NBA.com wrote:
He’s a runaway leader in rookies minutes, averaging 40 in the Sixers’ first four games. He has outscored his classmates in raw points, too, but not equalized to a more sustainable workload. On a 36-minutes basis, Edgecombe is averaging 19.9, which ranks third among new guys who have played more than 30 total minutes thus far. Memphis’ Cedric Coward would be the rookies’ scoring leader at 25.5 points per 36 minutes.
Ace Bailey was followed by media spotlight pre-draft although for the wrong reasons, but like Flagg, he started slow. Nevertheless, the league thinks he is the rookie to watch as he is only heating up. He is currently outside of the Top 10.
Hindrance to Cooper Flagg’s ascend
Flagg is ranked fourth as his Mavs still try to figure things out.
NBA.com writer Steve Aschburner thinks Flagg’s mid-level performances has a lot to do with him getting designated to positions he do not commonly play by head coach Jason Kidd.
“Exposing him to a new challenge and perspective? Or blocking Flagg’s aggressiveness with responsibility to service his teammates’ games?” Ashchburner asked.
“His production did pick up when D’Angelo Russell took over at the point. His best performance so far: 22 points, four rebounds, four assists and no turnovers vs. Toronto, matching only Kobe Bryant among 18-year-olds to score 20+ and not turn the ball over.”
Things are looking good so far for Flagg and the Mavs. They are currently 2-3 and just recorded their second straight victory after beating the Indiana Pacers by a hairline, with the rookie posting 15 points and 10 rebounds.
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