NBA Rookie Rankings: Edgecombe ranks first, and the new class of 2025 will reshape the league s landscape

On November 6, the NBA officially announced the latest rookie rankings. The Philadelphia 76ers' No. 3 pick VJ Edgecombe continues to top the list with his stable performance, the Memphis Grizzlies' No. 11 pick Cedric Coward remains in second place, and the Dallas Mavericks' No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg rose to third from fourth last week. The outstanding performance of these three young players has given the 2025 draft lineup a high quality rarely seen in recent years.

Edgecombe: The all-round No. 1 pick continues to lead

VJ Edgecombe, as the 76ers No. 3 pick, has shown comprehensive abilities that exceed expectations. This season, he averaged 19.1 points, 5.9 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game, leading rookies in scoring, assists, steals and sports goals.

What is even more impressive is his playing time-averaging 38.9 minutes per game, ranking first among rookies and second only to teammate Tyrese Maxey in the league, who averages 42 minutes per game. Such a workload not only reflects the trust the coaching staff has in him, but also reflects his indispensable position in the team.

Warriors star Draymond Green even said that Edgecombe is playing an All-Star performance and hopes he can participate in this year's dunk contest. Although it is too early to evaluate the dunk contest lineup, and there is still a distance between "performing an All-Star performance" and being selected for the Los Angeles All-Star team next February, Edgecomb has already brought enough surprises to people.

With Jared McCain returning from surgery, the 76ers' defensive line rotation will be more flexible, but Edgecombe has proven that he is worthy of those playing time.

Coward: An inspirational example of rising from the bottom

Second-ranked Cedric Coward tells an inspiring story about persistence and faith. The Grizzlies' No. 11 overall pick averaged 15.3 points, 5 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game.

As a reserve player, Coward has continued to produce starting-level statistics in starting-level playing time-both of which rank third on the Grizzlies.

Coward’s basketball career is legendary. The seemingly impossible path from Division III Willamette College to Eastern Washington University to Washington State University to eventually become a lottery pick and sit high on the draft board was no accident.

"It was hard for me to believe that I could enter the NBA," Coward admitted in a recent interview, "but I had to do it, because I firmly believe in the power of your dreams coming true, and you must clearly see your goals in life... You have to imagine what you will look like on the court, otherwise your dream will be shattered."

It is worth mentioning that Coward was also one of the bargaining chips used by the Trail Blazers to trade Chinese player Yang Hansen, and now his outstanding performance has made the deal even more eye-catching.

Flager: The steady rise of the No. 1 pick

No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg rose from fourth to third this week, showing signs of gradually adapting to the rhythm of the NBA. He is currently averaging 13.6 points, 6 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game.

Flagg showed improvement in scoring, rebounding and three-point shooting last week, with a three-point shooting percentage of 44%. Regarding some of the doubts about his performance from the outside world, Flagg's self-assessment seems quite indifferent: "To be honest, my shooting touch is not good, and my efficiency is not up to expectations, but I will continue to believe in the training results. There is no need for the outside world to worry, and I have no worries myself."

From the fourth and fifth positions in college to a point guard/shooting guard, everyone needs an adaptation period. Rockets' Kevin Durant commented on Flagg's up-and-down start, saying he understands the challenges of the transition.

With Russell taking over the point guard duties, Flagg's performance is expected to be further unleashed. His most outstanding game was against the Raptors, where he scored 22 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists and no turnovers - among the 18-year-old rookies, only Kobe has ever achieved "20 points in a single game without turnovers."

04 Record-breaking shooter and retired warrior

In addition to the top three, there are also highlights in other positions in this rookie list.

Fourth-ranked Con Knoupel (Hornets) is making history. He hit 25 three-pointers in the first eight games of the NBA, setting a record since the league introduced the three-point line in the 1979-80 season. The Duke-trained shooter is tied for sixth all-time in 3-point shooting at 41 percent, but his value goes far beyond that.

Unfortunately, fifth-ranked Dylan Harper (Spurs) suffered a non-contact injury to his left calf while defending a Nick Richards dunk and left the game early and is expected to miss several games.

This rookie from Rutgers University with a play-style style was originally a key factor in the Spurs' 5-0 start. His absence is undoubtedly a blow to the Spurs' momentum.

2025 Rookies: A new force with amazing depth.

The overall performance of the 2025 Rookies is amazing. In addition to the players on this list, there are several rookies who have made a positive impact on the team.

The Hornets' Ryan Kalkbrenner (ranked ninth in this issue) has shown amazing efficiency as a second-round pick. In terms of "per 36 minutes", the 7-foot center from Creighton University is almost a double-double machine: he averaged 12.9 points and 9.9 rebounds per game.

The Pelicans have two rookies on the list-Jeremiah Fells (sixth) and Derek Quinn (tenth), which reflects the depth of this rookie class.

Due to injuries to teammates Looney and Missy, Quinn had to serve as center. He played 35 minutes in the overtime loss against the Spurs, and faced off against Wenbanyama who was taller than him many times. This kind of "sink or rise" test is precisely the best opportunity for young players to grow.

The changes in the rookie rankings not only reflect the individual performance of the players, but also reveal the future direction of each team's team building.. Edgecombe is playing an increasingly important role in the 76ers' backcourt, Coward has become a key puzzle piece in the Grizzlies' reconstruction, and Flagg is slowly realizing his No. 1 pick talent in the Mavericks.

The hot start of the 2025 rookie class exceeded most people's expectations. From Edgecombe's total dominance to Knuupel's breaking three-point record to the outstanding performance of many lower draft picks, this draft class is proving that it may be the deepest in years.

The team's record and the growth of rookies complement each other - the Spurs' five-game winning streak was due to Harper's contribution, and the 76ers' strong start was inseparable from Edgecombe's performance. As these rookies impact the game to varying degrees, the future landscape of the NBA is quietly being reshaped.