Report Card Grades for Every NBA Team's Rookie Class
The NBA trade deadline has opened up a lot of playing time for this year's rookie class, especially since a third of the league will be chasing ping pong balls instead of victories.
We knew Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel, VJ Edgecombe and others would be great, but what about some of the draft's more risky selections?
It's time to grade every NBA team's rookie class.
Note: The Houston Rockets do not have any 2025 draft picks under contract.
Atlanta Hawks: C-
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Asa Newell could see a larger role now that Kristaps Porziņģis has been traded to the Golden State Warriors, although his first start of the season left a lot to be desired.
Newell started and played 24 minutes against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Feb. 9, yet contributed just two points on 1-of-5 shooting overall, including a pair of misses from deep. He pulled down four rebounds and handed out a single assist, registering a minus-16 in a 22-point loss.
The 20-year-old had a nice run in December as a rotation member, yet hasn't been able to cement himself into the everyday lineup yet.
Boston Celtics: B
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Hugo González has been a reliable part of the Boston Celtics' rotation all season, bringing energy and toughness to the court every time he steps between the lines.
Offensively, however, the 20-year-old has a long way to go.
González is 0-for-15 from three over his last six games, averaging just 1.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 0.5 assists in 16.5 minutes over this stretch. Despite his vacant scoring numbers, the Celtics continue to pummel opponents (plus-17.7 swing rating, 99th percentile via Cleaning the Glass) when González is on the floor.
Second-round pick Amari Williams was recently converted from a two-way contract to a two-year, $2.7 million standard contract following the trade of Chris Boucher.
Brooklyn Nets: C
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There's been no sure-fire future star among the Brooklyn Nets' five first-round picks, although we've seen some good things out of their rookie class recently.
Nolan Traoré is averaging 11.0 points, 2.7 rebounds, 5.7 assists and shooting 48.4 percent overall since being inserted into the starting lineup. Both he and Egor Dёmin rank in the top seven in assists per game among rookies.
Danny Wolf has become a regular part of the rotation as a fun big who can bring the ball up the floor and knock down open threes. Drake Powell and Ben Saraf have made impacts with their defense and playmaking, yet both have been sub-30.0 percent three-point shooters this season.
With Cam Thomas now waived and Michael Porter Jr. likely getting plenty of rest over the final two months of the season, these rookies will have lots of room to grow.
Charlotte Hornets: A+
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In a normal year, Kon Knueppel would be running away with Rookie of the Year honors. The 20-year-old is averaging 18.9 points on 42.8 percent from three while chipping in 5.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game. He'll almost certainly break Keegan Murray's NBA record of 206 made threes by a rookie, as Knueppel is already at 179 through 53 games.
Ryan Kalkbrenner has been replaced in the starting lineup, although he's No. 3 in the NBA in field goal percentage (75.5 percent) and ranks second among all rookies in blocks (1.5) and fifth in rebounding (6.0) per game.
Sion James is a good, multi-positional defender who's started 18 games and Liam McNeeley is canning 37.9 percent of his threes.
This has been a fantastic draft class for the Hornets, one that's helped carry them to a 9-1 record over their last 10 games.
Chicago Bulls: D-
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The 2025 NBA draft may have set the Chicago Bulls back a few years.
The franchise could have selected Derik Queen at No. 12 overall or been the one to pull off the trade with the New Orleans Pelicans that could have Chicago in line for a top-5 selection in 2026.
Maybe Noa Essengue turns out to be a solid player, although his rookie season lasted just two games before having to undergo shoulder surgery. Second-round pick Lachlan Olbrich could see more playing time now that Nikola Vučević was traded.
Cleveland Cavaliers: C+
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Tyrese Proctor has been a spark at times off the bench for the Cleveland Cavaliers, although a roster that's become very guard-heavy post trade deadline could limit his opportunities.
Proctor, the 49th overall pick, is averaging 4.9 points on 34.8 percent shooting from three, scoring in double figures seven times.
The 21-year-old has the frame and mechanics to become a rotation player one day, although the Cavs trading forward De'Andre Hunter to the Sacramento Kings for a pair of guards in Dennis Schröder and Keon Ellis will delay his development for now.
Dallas Mavericks: A+
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Cooper Flagg is having a historic rookie season and should be the runaway favorite for Rookie of the Year, even in a strong class.
He leads all rookies with 20.4 points and is third in both rebounds (6.6) and assists (4.1). There's been no rookie wall, as Flagg is putting up 32.0 points, 7.7 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.2 blocks a game over his last six contests on 52.6/45.5/84.4 percent shooting splits.
Undrafted point guard Ryan Nembhard has been terrific, averaging 9.9 points, 6.1 assists and shooting 44.4 percent from three in his 17 starts.
Denver Nuggets: C
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It's been a weird season for DaRon Holmes, who's played every role from starter to out of the rotation entirely.
When filling in at times for an injured Nikola Jokić, it became clear that Holmes is a long way off from becoming a starter at the NBA level. He put up just 5.0 points, 2.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists on 33.3 percent shooting overall in six games.
Off the bench, he's been far more efficient, with shooting splits of 69.2/55.6/83.3 percent in nine games.
The former first-round pick hasn't found a consistent role with a championship-hopeful Denver Nuggets team just yet.
Detroit Pistons: D+
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The 37th overall pick in the 2025 draft, Chaz Lanier looked like he could become a real rotation member this season, especially since he turned 24 in December.
Unfortunately, the Detroit Pistons haven't found room for him yet, as Lanier has only received spot minutes here and there and is averaging 3.3 points and 0.7 assists on 38.2 percent shooting overall and 34.1 percent from three.
The Pistons have leaned on their veterans en route to a 39-13 record and first place in the East. Perhaps trading Jaden Ivey to the Chicago Bulls will open up some more time for Lanier.
Golden State Warriors: B+
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Will Richard looks like one of the draft's great steals, as he's been a regular part of the Golden State Warriors' rotation after being the 56th overall pick in the draft.
The 23-year-old has started 15 games for the Warriors and could see even more opportunities with Jimmy Butler sidelined with a torn ACL combined with Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield traded to the Atlanta Hawks for Kristaps Porziņģis.
Richard has been especially good inside the arc (66.7 percent, 62-of-93) and uses his strong 6'3" frame to get to his spots.
Indiana Pacers: C-
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We should see a lot of second-round pick Kam Jones now that the Indiana Pacers will be in full tank mode for the rest of the season.
The 38th overall pick of the 2025 draft, Jones got his first career start on Feb. 3, dropping 12 points, grabbing six rebounds and dishing out eight assists in 35 minutes that game. He's since remained in the rotation, logging 23.8 minutes on average over the last four games.
Ethan Thompson and Taelon Peter have contributed sparingly.
Los Angeles Clippers: B+
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The new-look Los Angeles Clippers will rely on their two rookies far more over the second half of the season after trading away James Harden and Ivica Zubac.
Yanic Konan Niederhäuser has now become the primary backup at center behind Brook Lopez. He's averaged 7.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.3 blocks and shot 84.6 percent overall in 15.3 minutes over the last four games.
Kobe Sanders recently signed a standard NBA contract after playing on a two-way deal, as he's been a pleasant surprise following a 50th overall selection. The 6'8" wing is putting up 11.5 points on 40.5 percent shooting from three in his 11 starts.
For a Clippers team who's added Darius Garland and Bennedict Mathurin via trade, there's finally a nice collection of young talent on this roster.
Los Angeles Lakers: D
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Despite being the No. 36 overall pick in the draft, Adou Thiero has been outside of the Los Angeles Lakers' rotation for most of the season.
He recently saw some action in a loss to the San Antonio Spurs, but only because the Lakers were without all five starters. Even with these circumstances, Thiero was the 12th man up and clearly hasn't earned J.J. Redick's trust yet.
Thiero will need to prove at some point that he can knock down threes, as he's only attempted one in nearly 100 minutes of court time.
Memphis Grizzlies: A-
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After the trade deadline, 11 of the Memphis Grizzlies' 18 players (two-ways included) are now either rookies, sophomores or in their third season in the NBA. Clearly, the tank is on.
Cedric Coward has slowed down somewhat following a hot start (9.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 28.0 percent from three over his last eight games) yet remains a starter and core piece of this franchise. Walter Clayton Jr. now joins him as a 2025 first-round pick following his trade over from the Utah Jazz as part of the Jaren Jackson Jr. deal.
Second-round point guard Javon Small has played a larger role since the trade deadline (11.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 0.8 turnovers, 40.0 percent from three in 23.0 minutes over four games).
Miami Heat: B-
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Kasparas Jakučionis recently enjoyed a stretch as a starting guard with the Miami Heat, putting up 6.3 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 21.6 minutes over eight starts.
He's recently caught fire from deep in a return to a reserved role, going 12-of-16 from three over the last two games while averaging 21.0 points and 3.5 assists. The 20th overall pick has good size for the position.
Myron Gardner has exceeded expectations on a two-way deal, playing his way into the rotation on some nights and even starting three games.
Milwaukee Bucks: F
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The Milwaukee Bucks waived Mark Sears a few weeks ago, leaving Alex Antetokounmpo as the only rookie on a roster that desperately needs young talent.
To put it nicely, Antetokounmpo isn't anywhere close to being an NBA player, and he hasn't logged a minute of action yet this season. The 24-year-old is averaging 3.3 points on 28.6 percent shooting overall in the G League for the Wisconsin Herd.
Minnesota Timberwolves: B-
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Joan Beringer is still stuck behind a loaded Minnesota Timberwolves front line and the trade deadline did nothing to open up any new opportunities.
The 19-year-old has been productive in limited court time (16.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, 2.3 blocks per 36 minutes) and is shooting 67.3 percent from the field. Nearly all of his looks come at the rim, however.
We won't know how good Beringer will be unless something happens with Rudy Gobert or Naz Reid. For now, the flashes have been positive even though he's limited offensively.
New Orleans Pelicans: A
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Derik Queen and Jeremiah Fears have both shown enough to have New Orleans Pelicans' fans excited about the future. That's great, because the present has been a nightmare.
Queen is leading all rookies in rebounds (7.3) and assists (4.2) while ranking seventh in scoring at 12.2 points per game. He's become a mainstay in the Pelicans' starting five and already looks like one of the most versatile big men in the NBA.
Fears has played all 55 games this season including 44 as a starter. He was recently benched as New Orleans has experimented with an all-forward lineup (because at 15-40, why not?). His 13.2 points a game rank fifth among rookies.
New York Knicks: B
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There's a lot to like about Mohamed Diawara, the 51st overall pick in the draft. A 6'9" forward, he's already started six games for the New York Knicks and has averaged 20.0 minutes over the last four games.
The 20-year-old is still pretty raw offensively and scored in double figures just twice all season. It's hard to imagine he'll be part of a playoff rotation with so many good forwards already on the roster.
Still, for a late second-round pick, Diawara has exceeded most expectations thus far.
Oklahoma City Thunder: A
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In what should be a bigger story, Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Nikola Topić has returned to the court following a torn ACL and testicular cancer diagnosis. Currently with the Oklahoma City Blue in the G League, Topić just put up 22 points, four assists, two rebounds, two steals and a block in only his second game back.
Thomas Sorber hopes to become yet another successful bounce-back story, as he remains out with a torn ACL that's cost him the entire season.
Chris Youngblood was recently waived, making Brooks Barnhizer the only other rookie on this roster. He's played sparingly for the Thunder but is averaging 20.0 points, 10.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists for the Blue.
Orlando Magic: C+
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Jase Richardson's best performance of the season may come on Saturday night, as he's set to perform in the Slam Dunk Contest. Just 6'1" but with a 38" vertical, we could see some impressive slams from Richardson in what's been a disappointing rookie year overall.
The Orlando Magic are again a mess offensively and Richardson (5.1 points, 1.4 assists, 36.4 percent from three) has only contributed slightly in a crowded backcourt.
Noah Penda has been a rotation member for most of the last two months, scoring in double figures five times over this stretch.
Neither has made a great impact yet, although we'd like to see more.
Philadelphia 76ers: A-
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VJ Edgecombe exploded onto the scene with a 34-point performance in his NBA debut. Unfortunately, he's yet to reach 30 in any game since, and seems to have hit a rookie wall lately (11.7 points on 29.8 percent shooting from three in his last 11 contests).
Still, Edgecombe looks like a terrific pick at No. 3 overall and ranks first among all rookies in minutes played (35.4 a night), is third in scoring (14.9 points) and is tied for first with 4.2 assists.
Johni Broome, the 35th overall pick, is shooting just 4-of-22 (18.2 percent) in his first 10 games.
Phoenix Suns: F
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The good news is that the Phoenix Suns are winning basketball games this year. The bad news is that it's in spite of their rookies, not because of them.
No. 10 overall pick Khaman Maluach has only been getting late-game scraps for minutes all season. There was always going to be some development needed by the 19-year-old, but to be out of the rotation entirely is a surprise.
Rasheer Fleming, selected just one spot outside of the first round, is shooting 34.7 percent overall and 22.0 percent from three in his 29 games.
Portland Trail Blazers: D+
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Yang Hansen doesn't look particularly close to being in an NBA rotation despite being selected No. 16 overall by the Portland Trail Blazers.
Averaging just 2.2 points and 1.7 rebounds in his limited minutes, Hansen is shooting just 5-of-37 from three (13.5 percent) and 29.3 percent overall. Not ideal for someone who's 7'1".
Caleb Love has been a pleasant surprise, however, as the 24-year-old is putting up 14.7 points, 3.3 assists and making 35.8 percent of his threes over his last 23 games.
Sacramento Kings: B+
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The Sacramento Kings are a tough watch on most nights, although their three rookies have at least been fun.
Nique Clifford has been good in an increased role as of late, averaging 15.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.2 steals on 43.3 percent from three over his last six games.
Maxime Raynaud and Dylan Caldwell have both been excellent glass cleaners for Sacramento, with the latter getting his two-way contract turned into a well-deserved standard deal.
San Antonio Spurs: A-
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The San Antonio Spurs are rolling along, with Dylan Harper and Carter Bryant showing real signs of growth.
Harper isn't putting up the eye-popping numbers like Cooper Flagg, VJ Edgecombe or Kon Knueppel, although his role as a reserve scorer/playmaker reflects that. His three-point shot (25.0 percent) is the only thing holding him back from becoming an All-Star one day.
Bryant has played his best basketball of the season lately, averaging 10.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 0.8 steals and 0.8 blocks on 42.9 percent shooting from three over his last four games.
Toronto Raptors: B
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Collin Murray-Boyles should have a long and successful NBA career, as he can do a lot of positive things that impact winning.
As a starter this season, Murray-Boyles is averaging 9.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.9 assists with 46 total blocks and steals in 19 games. As a reserve, his efficiency numbers tick up, highlighted by a 42.9 percent mark from three.
The No. 9 overall pick in the draft, Murray-Boyles needs to prove that his outside shooting numbers are sustainable.
Utah Jazz: B+
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It's becoming the Ace Bailey show in Utah, as the Jazz traded away their other first-round pick (Walter Clayton Jr.) in the deal to get Jaren Jackson Jr.
Bailey is continuing to grow as a scorer and is up to 16.1 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.3 steals on 46.3 percent shooting overall in his last 11 games. His athletic 6'9" frame needs to continue to add muscle.
With the Jazz in full tank mode for the rest of the season we should see less Lauri Markkanen and more of Bailey moving forward.
Washington Wizards: B+
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It's audition time for the Washington Wizards' young core as the franchise looks to see who they can rely on when this team actually tries to win again next season with Anthony Davis and Trae Young.
Tre Johnson looks like a core piece, as he's up to seventh overall in scoring among rookies (12.9 points) and is making 39.3 percent of his threes.
Will Riley is playing some of his best basketball to date, as the 6'9" forward is averaging 17.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.8 steals on 45.7 percent shooting from deep. There's a lot of intriguing young talent on this Wizards team, one that will look quite different next season.
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