Nekias Duncan and Steve Jones Jr. break down the top candidates for the 2025-26 NBA Rookie of the Year. Check out the full conversation on “The Dunker Spot and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listen.
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Video Transcript
…let’s start with Rookie of the Year, Steve.
I had a firm three.
So if you’ve ever looked, you can see my rookie rankings every month on Yahoo!
But I’ve had a pretty consistent top three.
It’s been some combination of Cooper Flagg, Kon Knipple and VJ Edgecombe for me.
I do feel like they have separated from the pack.
And so for me, all three have been amazing, and all three have done great things.
For their teams, right?
Cooper Flagg, under, you know, a context that wasn’t ideal at the start and has turned it around with confidence.
And contributions, and leading the Mavericks in points, rebounds, assists, and steals.
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That’s not easy, and so that’s impact every night.
Con Knipple has been insane this entire year with his consistency.
Shooting the ball the way that he has is one thing.
It’s another thing to be able to add layers onto that.
He’s such a great screener.
He knows how to set up angles.
He slips out and attacks.
He knows how to create separation when he’s off ball, and he, uh, like, he’s underrated as far as turning the corner and being able to get to his spots.
Get in the paint and put pressure on teams.
The Sixers are not in the spot they are without what VJ Edgecombe has done.
And I think that’s an important thing to recognize or remember.
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His consistent play, even if it’s dipped down, he’s had months where the shooting down, the drives have gone down.
But his consistency, as far as having the understanding, has allowed the Sixers to have a base where Tyrese Maxey thrives.
He thrives.
We have drive and kick, we have movement, and that allows us to play well without Joel Embiid in the lineup.
And now Joel Embiid comes in, and VJ Edgecombe has more of a, a, a way to play with him in two-man game, have more wiggle room with him.
And so for me, those three have really been the ones.