.jpg?w=1280)
Final Grades for Every NBA Team's 2025-26 Rookie Class
The final numbers are in for the 2025 rookie class.
In total, 103 total rookies made their NBA debuts this season. Twenty of these averaged at least 10.0 points per game while players like Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel made NBA history.
With lots of young players getting extended time during the final few months of the season, it's time to put a final grade on all 30* teams' rookie class.
Note: The Houston Rockets were the only team not to play a rookie this season.
Atlanta Hawks: C
1 of 29
Asa Newell wasn't always part of the Atlanta Hawks' rotation this season, although the 20-year-old showed enough promise for the franchise to believe he will be in 2026-27.
Newell shot the ball well overall (66.0 percent from two, 38.7 percent from three) and showed good instincts in the pick-and-roll and around the rim. At 6'10" he can play some small-ball center or line up next to a traditional five.
The No. 23 overall pick excelled during his G-League time, putting up 22.8 points and 8.5 assists in 12 games.
Boston Celtics: B
2 of 29
Hugo González already looks like a perfect role player next to big-time scorers like Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
The 6'6" forward has a non-stop motor, is already a good defender and finished his rookie season shooting 36.2 percent from three. His energy on both ends was a big reason the Boston Celtics improved by 9.5 points per 100 possessions with González on the floor (93rd percentile via Cleaning the Glass).
Amari Williams appeared in 22 total games for Boston including a pair of starts. Unfortunately, the 24-year-old doesn't look like he'll be a rotation player anytime soon despite showing some promise on the boards and with his rim protection.
Brooklyn Nets: D+
3 of 29
The Brooklyn Nets saw seven different rookies take the court this season, including their five first-rounders. Unfortunately, it's too early to declare any of them a true building block moving forward.
Egor Dëmin, the No. 8 overall pick, should give Nets fans the most hope. He finished the season with averages of 11.1 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists and a 39.2 percent mark from three in 45 starts and has ideal size for a point guard at 6'8".
Danny Wolf is an intriguing big man with his dribbling, passing and outside shooting ability and Nolan Traoré put up 11.6 points, 4.7 assists and 1.2 steals over his final 29 games.
Overall, it's tough to evaluate any of these prospects given the lack of veterans/overall system in Brooklyn this year. The early results aren't great, however.
.png?w=256)
Charlotte Hornets: A+
4 of 29
Even if he doesn't end up winning Rookie of the Year, Kon Knueppel has been the best surprise among all first-year players.
The No. 4 overall pick had the greatest shooting seasons of all-time, becoming the first rookie to lead the NBA in made threes (273) while setting the Charlotte Hornets franchise record (beating Kemba Walker's 260 in 2018-19). The 20-year-old was also second in scoring next to Cooper Flagg (18.5 points) while making 42.5 percent of his threes.
Ryan Kalkbrenner looks like a long-term rotation piece who shot 75.3 percent overall, Sion James excelled as a tough, two-way wing and Liam McNeeley shot 40 percent from beyond the arc.
This was an outstanding rookie class overall for Charlotte and one of the biggest reasons for their turnaround this season.
Chicago Bulls: Incomplete
5 of 29
Noa Essengue's season ended after just two games, as shoulder surgery robbed the 19-year-old of a proper rookie campaign.
Here's hoping he shows a lot of promise in Year 2, especially since the big-man needy Chicago Bulls passed on Derik Queen.
No. 55 overall pick Lachlan Olbrich played in 37 games, seeing more playing time following the Nikola Vučević trade. Olbrich also gave us one of the most unlikely triple doubles of the year, tallying 10 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists in the final game of the regular season.
Cleveland Cavaliers: B-
6 of 29
Tyrese Proctor made the most of his limited minutes on a veteran Cleveland Cavaliers team and looked like he could be a future rotation player in the NBA thanks to his outside shooting.
The 22-year-old saw increased time at the end of the year with the Cavs resting key veterans, as Proctor averaged 15.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.7 steals and shot 43.8 percent from three over his final three games.
It's hard to see a road for big minutes for the shooting guard moving forward, however, especially with Donovan Mitchell, Max Strus, Jaylon Tyson and Sam Merrill all under contract next season.
Dallas Mavericks: A+
7 of 29
Dallas Mavericks rookies led all first-year players in scoring and assists, with Cooper Flagg and Ryan Nembhard both putting up impressive campaigns.
Flagg should win Rookie of the Year, as he was called upon to do everything for a Mavs team that quickly shifted into a rebuild. The 19-year-old averaged 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.2 steals in his 70 games, dropping 40 or more points in four total contests. He's a future superstar who won't even turn 20 until nearly Christmas.
Nembhard's 5.3 assists per game led all rookies despite the 23-year-old having gone undrafted. In 27 starts he averaged 9.4 points, 6.8 assists and shot 40.4 percent from three, with Nembhard's 23 assists in the final game of the regular season setting a new Mavericks rookie record by surpassing current head coach Jason Kidd.
Denver Nuggets: C-
8 of 29
A first-round pick in 2024, DaRon Holmes finally completed his rookie season now after missing last year with a torn Achilles.
The 23-year-old wasn't a regular part of the rotation but did get an extended run in late December/January when Nikola Jokić was sidelined. Holmes averaged just 5.0 points, 2.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists and shot 33.3 percent overall in 19.1 minutes across six starts.
His overall shooting numbers were solid (68.8 percent from two, 44.4 percent from three), giving hope that Holmes can reliably step into a bigger role next season.
Detroit Pistons: D+
9 of 29
At age 23 entering the draft (and now 24), Chaz Lanier looked like a rookie who could make an immediate impact with his outside shooting.
The Detroit Pistons chose to lean into their veterans instead, meaning Lanier was never part of the team's regular rotation and passed the 20-minute mark in a game just once.
He had some G League success, however, averaging 16.9 points and shooting 37.2 percent from three in 18 games.
Golden State Warriors: B
10 of 29
Despite not picking until No. 56 overall, the Golden State Warriors got some real production from a pair of rookies this season.
Will Richard, the 56th selection, started 21 games for the Warriors and ranked 16th among all rookies in total minutes played. A hot start to the season did begin to fade by the end of the year, however.
LJ Cryer, an undrafted free agent, played a notable role for Golden State over the final five weeks of the regular season. The 24-year-old averaged 9.5 points on 38.9 percent shooting from three, reaching double digits in scoring in half of his overall contests.
Some really good value overall here for Golden State.
Indiana Pacers: C-
11 of 29
The Indiana Pacers used a trio of rookies this season, although none made a big impact even in a gap year for the franchise.
Kam Jones, the 38th overall pick, showed some flashes when given real minutes. In seven starts he averaged 10.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, 7.1 assists and made 40.0 percent of his threes. He's an older prospect at 24, and it would have been nice to see him become a bigger part of the rotation this season, especially after the Bennedict Mathurin trade.
Taelon Peter (24) and Ethan Thompson (26) both played on two-way contracts and got some run in at shooting guard for the Pacers.
Los Angeles Clippers: B-
12 of 29
Yanic Konan Niederhäuser was the 30th overall pick in the 2025 draft and had to wait his turn in what began as a loaded center position with the Los Angeles Clippers.
After Ivica Zubac was traded to the Indiana Pacers, however, Konan Niederhäuser was elevated to No. 2 behind Brook Lopez and averaged 7.8 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.8 blocks in 17.3 minutes over his final six games.
Unfortunately, foot surgery ended up cutting his rookie season short, although the Clippers should be happy with the brief stint they saw from the 23-year-old.
Los Angeles Lakers: C-
13 of 29
Adou Thiero is an athletic 21-year-old who never got a chance to play meaningful minutes with the Los Angeles Lakers this season. The 6'7" wing averaged just 1.9 points and 1.1 rebounds in 6.0 minutes across 25 games.
His G League stint showed some promise, especially from outside the arc. Thiero shot just 28.4 percent from deep in three years in college, yet connected on 9-of-14 threes (64.3 percent) with the South Bay Lakers while averaging 15.4 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.3 assists in seven games.
Thiero's chances of making the rotation next season may be tied to the free agency of LeBron James, Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura. Even an extended college run and a 36th overall selection couldn't land him a spot this year.
Memphis Grizzlies: A
14 of 29
The Memphis Grizzlies used a whopping nine rookies this season as they shifted to a rebuild by trading Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr.
Overall, the results were extremely positive.
Cedric Coward finished seventh overall among all rookies in scoring (13.6 points per game) and was fifth in rebounding (5.9 per game) despite being selected No. 11 overall. Walter Clayton Jr. was acquired from the Utah Jazz via the Jackson trade and put up 9.7 points and 5.7 assists in 24 games with the Grizzlies.
Second-round point guard Javon Small also shined thanks to increased playing time with both Ja Morant and Ty Jerome missing extended time, averaging 9.7 points, 3.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists while shooting 42.3 percent from three.
Miami Heat: B
15 of 29
Kasparas Jakučionis and Myron Gardner both made an impact for the Miami Heat this season, despite one being a 2025 first-round pick and the other having gone undrafted in 2023.
Jakučionis is a big, do-it-all-guard who shot the ball extremely well. In his 12 starts he put up 8.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists and made 45.8 percent of his three-pointers. With Norman Powell hitting free agency this summer, Jakučionis may be primed for an even big role next year.
Gardner is a good rebounding wing who became part of Erik Spoelstra's rotation and even starting five for stretches during the middle of the season. His total rebound and assist percentages were extremely comparable to those of Bam Adebayo's.
Milwaukee Bucks: C
16 of 29
Anyone out there have 27-year-old rookie Cormac Ryan finishing fourth on the Milwaukee Bucks in scoring this season?
Following years of exhibit 10 and two-way contracts, Ryan finally got a taste of the NBA and did not disappoint. The 6'5' guard put up 14.3 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.0 steals and shot 45.8 percent from three in his 11 games.
This was a fun stretch, but came when the Bucks weren't really competitive. Ryan will also turn 28 in the fall, meaning the upside isn't quite there when compared to others players making their NBA debuts this season.
Alex Antetokounmpo also played in six games for Milwaukee and should have tremendous job security somewhere in the league next season despite shooting 37.5 percent overall.
Minnesota Timberwolves: B+
17 of 29
The Minnesota Timberwolves got a good one with Joan Beringer, the 17th overall pick in the 2025 draft.
Beringer won't even turn 20 until Nov. 11, yet looked like a future All-Defense team member with his shot-blocking this season. Per 36 minutes, Beringer swatted away 3.0 shots while averaging 17.9 points and 10.5 rebounds. He shot 66.3 percent overall and 70.3 percent from the free-throw line.
Rudy Gobet has two years remaining on his contract, giving Beringer a little more time to develop. There couldn't be a better mentor for the fellow Frenchman to learn from.
New Orleans Pelicans: A
18 of 29
The New Orleans Pelicans should feel very, very good about their 2025 draft class.
Jeremiah Fears was fourth among all rookies in scoring (14.3 points), ninth in assists (3.4) and was tied for second in steals (1.2). Derik Queen flashed his overall game and finished ninth in scoring (11.7 points), third in rebounds (7.1) and tied for seventh in assists (3.7).
Both have shown enough to deserve full-time starting jobs in New Orleans next season, even if it means moving off of some of the team's veterans.
New York Knicks: B+
19 of 29
The New York Knicks found a diamond in the rough by selecting Mohamed Diawara with the 51st overall pick.
A big wing at 6'9", Diawara excelled with his energy, defense and floor-spacing alongside the Knicks' stars. He quickly became one of the NBA's best corner three-point shooters, knocking down a whopping 57.6 percent of his looks.
Becoming a consistent rotation presence towards the middle of the season, Diawara looks like a solid bench piece for New York moving forward.
Oklahoma City Thunder: A
20 of 29
The big rookie story for the Oklahoma City Thunder this year wasn't even from the 2025 draft class.
Nikola Topić overcame a torn ACL and cancer to make his long-awaited NBA debut in what instantly became one of the best feel-good stories of the year. The 6'6" guard appeared in 10 total games and even averaged 16.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 12.5 assists on 50.0 percent shooting from three in a pair of starts.
Thomas Sorber missed the season with a torn ACL, although he could step into a role immediately next season if Isaiah Hartenstein isn't brought back on his team option or in free agency.
Orlando Magic: C
21 of 29
Jase Richardson and Noah Penda both played limited roles for the Orlando Magic this season.
Richardson had a good stretch in December/January, as he averaged 8.5 points and shot 42.1 percent from three in 17.2 minutes across 15 games. Penda had a similar playing time uptick in January, putting up 6.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.1 steals in 19.5 minutes over 13 games.
When the Magic were fully healthy, however, both were out of the rotation. If Orlando misses the playoffs, we could see sweeping changes and new opportunities for both young players next season.
Philadelphia 76ers: A
22 of 29
Kon Knueppel may have had the better rookie season, although the Philadelphia 76ers should still be happy with their decision to take VJ Edgecombe at No. 3 overall.
During a season that was once again decimated by injuries (and a suspension), Edgecombe was remarkably durable, playing in 75 games (all starts).
The super-athletic 20-year-old finished third among all rookies in scoring (16.0 points per game), seventh in rebounds (5.6), third in assists (4.2) and first in steals (1.4). Edgecombe and Tyrese Maxey are already one of the best and most exciting backcourts in the NBA.
Phoenix Suns: C-
23 of 29
Khaman Maluach dominated the G League during his rookie season (17.4 points, 13.2 rebounds, 2.0 blocks, 59.3 percent shooting from inside the arc), giving the Phoenix Suns hope that he can make more of an impact at the NBA level in Year 2.
The 7'1" center logged just 8.9 minutes of court time per game for the Suns, although he showed flashes of becoming an elite rim protector.
Long-range shooting will likely never be his strong suit and a starting job will be tough to come by if Mark Williams is signed to an extension this summer. For the No. 10 overall pick, this was a disappointing rookie campaign overall.
Portland Trail Blazers: D
24 of 29
The Portland Trail Blazers probably didn't expect Yang Hansen to contribute right away, but the 20-year-old still didn't look anywhere close to being an NBA player yet.
He had a difficult time matching the NBA's speed and was one of the worst three-point shooters in the entire league (5-of-42 overall, 11.9 percent). Portland shocked everyone when they took Hansen No. 16 overall, which looks even more like a reach now than it did at the time.
Caleb Love provided a nice scoring spark off the bench (10.4 points in 20.7 minutes a game), although the 24-year-old shot just 38.8 percent overall.
Sacramento Kings: A-
25 of 29
Did the Sacramento Kings quietly have one of the best rookie classes in the NBA this year?
Second-round center Maxime Raynaud finished seventh among all rookies in scoring (12.5 points per game) and tied for first with undrafted teammate Dylan Cardwell in rebounding (7.5). Cardwell's 1.5 blocks per game tied for first as well.
Nique Clifford had a great end to the season, averaging 13.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.4 steals over the final 28 games of the season.
For a team that only possessed the No. 24 and 42nd overall picks, the Kings did really, really well.
San Antonio Spurs: A-
26 of 29
No. 2 overall pick Dylan Harper didn't have the workload of someone typically selected this high, as the San Antonio Spurs finished with 62 wins and the second-best record in the NBA.
Still, Harper put up 15.0 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists in his four starts, although he spent the majority of his time as an offensive threat off the bench. He's taking the James Harden career path as a future Sixth Man of the Year on an elite team in the West.
Carter Bryant played a bigger role in the second half of the year and averaged 13.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.3 blocks on 56.3 percent shooting from three over the final three games of the regular season.
Toronto Raptors: B
27 of 29
Collin Murray-Boyles showed off his versatility and two-way play in Year 1, giving the Toronto Raptors a big man off the bench they can trust.
The 20-year-old filled up the stat sheet, averaging 14.0 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.5 blocks per 36 minutes of play. He shot a respectable 34.0 percent from three after making just 23.1 percent of his looks in two years in college.
For the No. 9 overall pick in the draft, this was a good (but not spectacular) start to his NBA career.
Utah Jazz: A-
28 of 29
After trading away Walter Clayton Jr. as part of the deal to get Jaren Jackson Jr., it became the Ace Bailey show for the Utah Jazz.
Bailey was the second-highest scoring rookie after the All-Star break (18.3 points per game), trailing only Cooper Flagg. In 61 games as a starter, Bailey averaged 15.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and shot 35.4 percent from three.
The Jazz have to make sure they keep the runway open for their young star, even if it means exploring Lauri Markkanen trades this summer.
Washington Wizards: B+
29 of 29
The Washington Wizards used five rookies this season, getting varying levels of contributions and in a number of different areas.
Tre Johnson was the most consistent overall, putting up 12.2 points on the year (eighth-most among rookies) and starting 42 of his 60 games. He should be even better next year if Trae Young returns as a true point guard who can run the offense.
Will Riley caught fire in the second half of the season (15.5 points over his last 36 games) and Julian Reese averaged a double-double in his 13 games (11.8 points, 10.5 rebounds). The Wizards also held opponents to 4.8 fewer points per 100 possessions with Jamir Watkins on the floor (87th percentile via Cleaning the Glass).
Overall, Wizards fans should feel good about all of the positives they saw.
.png?w=480)
.jpg?w=600 "Breaking News")
.png?w=600 "Play-In Winners and Losers 📊")
