For anyone who doubted Kon Knuppel coming out of the NBA Draft, what are your thoughts now? The Charlotte Hornets drafted a perimeter scorer and an absolute flamethrower of a guy who could be the face of their franchise for many years to come.
Although Cooper Flagg was the rookie getting all the attention early in the year, Knueppel is the one who could walk away with the NBA Rookie of the Year award.
Not only is Nueppel tied for second in the league with LaMelo Ball and Donovan Mitchell in most threes made per game (3.5) this season, but he also leads all players, not just rookies, in total threes made after making his 201st triple on Tuesday night against the Chicago Bulls.
The Hornets rookie has played a total of 58 games and has already made over 200 threes. Not only will he surpass Keegan Murray's rookie record of 206 made threes during the 2022-23 season, but Knueppel potentially has a chance to surpass the plateau of 300 made threes before the end of the year.
Only Stephen Curry (six times), James Harden, Anthony Edwards, Malik Beasley and Klay Thompson have accomplished such a feat, and Knueppel was able to do so in his first NBA season. Despite only playing 58 games in his NBA career, Knueppel is already achieving things that even Curry wasn't able to do when he first entered the league.
Between his shooting and scoring numbers, as well as the Hornets' apparent success in the Eastern Conference standings to become a competitive organization, Knueppel has solidified himself at the top of the NBA rookie rankings with approximately seven weeks remaining in the 2025-26 season.
At the beginning of the year, it was reported that Flagg would win the Rookie of the Year award and would be the face of this year's NBA rookie class. Well, with Flagg injured and the Dallas Mavericks in no position to compete for the rest of the year, this race for Knueppel is going to be lost at this point.
1. Kon Knuppel - Charlotte Hornets
Previous ranking: #1
Stats: 58 games, 19.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 48.9 FG%, 43.6 3P%
The Hornets have struggled with injuries and lineup changes throughout the season. LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller both missed time due to injury, and several others have been in and out of Charles Lee's nightly rotation for various reasons. But the one constant in Charlotte has been Knueppel, who has only missed one game this year and has been fantastic throughout the season.
The 20-year-old sharpshooter looks like an aged veteran on the perimeter, and he has such a good understanding of how to move off the ball to open up maximum space for himself. Just like Steph Curry is always on the move and finding open space to make a 3-point attempt, Knueppel is always doing the same and it looks like there will be a clear answer to who will be the best shooter in the NBA when Curry gives it up.
No player has ever had a shooting season like Knueppel in his first year, and he still has 23 games left on the schedule. As mentioned earlier, there is an outside chance he could get close to reaching 300 made threes on the year, which would be a historic feat for Knueppel.
At this point, unless Knueppel gets hurt, it's hard to imagine anyone else winning the NBA's Rookie of the Year award.
2. Cooper Flagg - Dallas Mavericks
Previous ranking: #2
Stats: 49 games, 20.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.2 steals, 48.2 FG%, 30.2 3P%
An MRI revealed that Cooper Flagg missed four consecutive games before the All-Star break due to a sprain in the middle of his left foot. While the Mavericks are clearly in no position to compete for a playoff spot, they won't take the flag for the rest of the season and tanking.
As good as Flagg has been this season, his impact hasn't translated into wins in Dallas. The same can't be said about Knueppel and the Hornets, as their contributions are directly tied to Charlotte winning games. That's why Knueppel finds himself at the top of these year-end NBA rookie rankings.
What Flagg has done this season can't be ignored. Although he was the No. 1 pick and had high expectations in his first season, with many saying he was the best US draft prospect since LeBron James, Flagg has lived up to the hype.
Flagg has recorded seven games scoring at least 30 points this season, and four of those have come since January 29, when he scored a career-high 49 points on 20-of-29 shooting against Nueppel and the Hornets. The Mavs' rookie has All-Star potential, and he will be the face of the franchise alongside Kyrie Irving entering the 2026-27 season.
3. VJ Edgecombe - Philadelphia 76ers
Previous ranking: #3
Stats: 54 games, 15.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.5 steals, 42.8 FG%, 36.4 3P%
When Joel Embiid doesn't play due to rest or injury, VJ Edgecombe suddenly becomes the Philadelphia 76ers' No. 2 option behind Tyrese Maxey. Edgecombe has been successful in his role this season, and that's the main reason he was a featured player during All-Star Weekend at the Rising Stars event.
Edgecombe won the Rising Stars MVP, scoring 23 points during the showcase. That's quite an accomplishment for the 76ers rookie, especially considering he's been in the shadow of Knueppel and Flagg at the moment.
No rookie in the league has played more minutes than Edgecombe this season, and he's been on a hot streak, scoring at least 20 points in three of the team's four games out of the All-Star break.
4. Derrick Queen - New Orleans Pelicans
Previous ranking: #4
Stats: 58 games, 12.2 points, 7.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.0 steals, 49.0 FG%
Derrick Queen has been one of the only bright spots for the New Orleans Pelicans this season. Whether or not the Pelicans made the right decision landing Quinn in the 2026 first-round pick is open to interpretation, but the organization has been very pleased with his production and rookie development.
Queen not only leads all rookies in rebounds (422), but because he also leads them in total assists (234). It shows just how much of an impact Quin can make in the low post beyond his flashy footwork and scoring instincts as a new-age big man.
5. Maxime Renaud - Sacramento Kings
Previous ranking: Not ranked
Stats: 51 games, 10.1 points, 7.0 rebounds, 55.0 FG%, 25.6 3P%
One of the most surprising newcomers this season has been second-round pick Maxime Renaud for the Sacramento Kings. As a result of various injuries, particularly to star big man Domantas Sabonis, the Kings were forced to throw Renaud into a higher role early in the season, and he has since become the focal point for them in the early going.
Since the beginning of February, Renaud has averaged 13.0 points and 9.4 rebounds per game, while shooting 57.5 percent from the floor. Although his 3-point shooting is no longer what it was a year ago in college, Renaud is making a difference with his double-double-like abilities.
He's definitely an All-Rookie selection this year.
6. Cedric Coward - Memphis Grizzlies
Previous ranking: #5
Stats: 48 games, 13.3 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 46.8 FG%, 34.0 3P%
Cedric Coward has slipped slightly in the NBA rookie rankings due to injuries, resulting in him being sidelined and beginning the decline of the Memphis Grizzlies. He recently suffered a severe knee strain, an injury that could sideline Coward for the entire year.
Nevertheless, Coward has proven to be one of the young pillars of the Grizzlies' rebuild, and he is one of the reasons why the organization decided to part ways with Desmond Benn and Jaren Jackson Jr. Once Ja Morant is traded in the offseason, Coward will have a clear path to becoming the face of the Grizzlies with his two-way abilities on the wing.
7. Trey Johnson - Washington Wizards
Previous ranking: #6
Stats: 44 games, 12.7 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 43.6 FG%, 37.0 3P%
The Washington Wizards are certainly happy with the new season that Trey Johnson is having. In addition to being a natural scorer anywhere on the court, Johnson has made a name for himself among NBA fans by ranking fifth among all rookies in 3-pointers made (87).
Although his minutes have decreased and he is being monitored closely as he returns from a hip flexor strain, Johnson has recorded at least 10 points in four of his last five games, with all four of his double-digit scoring performances resulting in him playing less than 20 minutes.
8. Dylan Harper - San Antonio Spurs
Previous ranking: Not ranked
Stats: 46 games, 10.9 points, 3.6 assists, 3.3 rebounds, 47.0 FG%, 25.4 3P%
Unlike Knueppel and Flagg, Dylan Harper's path as a top draft pick has been different as he was not immediately thrust into the spotlight. If you ask Harper, he's in the perfect situation, not only because he's on a championship-caliber, young team with the San Antonio Spurs, but he gets to learn from De'Aaron Fox and Stephen Cassel in the backcourt.
There have been clear areas of development in Harper's game since the start of the season, particularly making the right reads as a scorer off the dribble and as a playmaker. Since the beginning of February, Harper has averaged 12.3 points, 4.4 assists and 3.9 rebounds per game, while shooting a very efficient 55.6 percent from the floor.
9. Igor Demin - Brooklyn Nets
Previous ranking: #9
Stats: 50 games, 10.5 points, 3.2 assists, 3.2 rebounds, 39.6 FG%, 38.5 3P%
Many draft experts said that Egor Demin could not shoot coming out of college and that his game would not translate to the NBA. Well, it seems like a lot of people have Demin mixed up with someone else, as he is everything the Brooklyn Nets hoped for as a reliable 3-point shooting specialist.
Add Demin's length and athleticism to the equation, and suddenly, the Nets have a young talent they can mold into an all-around impactful guard for years to come. Demin has missed a total of 122 triples this season, the second most among all rookies.
10. Ace Bailey - Utah Jazz
Previous ranking: Not ranked
Stats: 51 games, 11.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, 44.5 FG%, 33.2 3P%
Ace Bailey did not have a good start to the season. He struggled to find his shot, and went through early rookie learning stages with the Utah Jazz. Since the start of the new year, Bailey has looked more confident, and he is establishing himself as a premier talent in Utah's system.
The Jazz newbie has played in 21 games since the calendar flipped to 2026, and he has scored at least 10 points in 16 of those games, including five 20-plus-point games. Bailey has also increased his rebounding efforts, averaging 6.4 rebounds per game in February.
