The NBA will see an interesting batch of rookies enter the league this season.
The 2025 NBA Draft was top heavy, highlighted by Cooper Flagg going first overall to the Dallas Mavericks.
With the No. 2 overall pick, the San Antonio Spurs selected their point guard of the future in Dylan Harper.
Then the Philadelphia 76ers took VJ Edgecombe at No. 3, followed by the Charlotte Hornets selecting Kon Knueppel fourth overall. Ace Bailey who fell out of the top three was snagged by the Utah Jazz at pick No. 5.
Photo by Francois Nel/Getty ImagesCarmelo Anthony names Cooper Flagg, Ace Bailey and Kon Knueppel as his rookie of the year candidates
With the amount of talent coming into the league this season, it should make for an interesting rookie of the year race.
NBA legend Carmelo Anthony weighed in on who he thinks will win the award.
Anthony ruled out Edgecombe winning the award along with Harper. He named Flagg, Bailey and Knueppel as his rookie of the year candidates.
“If they can keep him [Cooper Flagg] at point guard position and he learns that position, it’s dangerous.
“VJ [Edgecombe] is not going to have that role that we think he’s gonna have in Philly, that rotation.
“VJ gotta play around Maxey, around Jared McCain when he come back, you got PG. You got to play enough to have impact to be rookie of the year. You gotta hoop, you gotta go ball.
“Ace Bailey is the only one in position to really win rookie of the year, and Cooper, because if Dallas win and he’s impactful, he has a chance to.
Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images
“You know who else could, Kon Knueppel. Him and Ace are the only rookies going to play 25-30 minutes a night.
“He’s [Dylan Harper] behind Castle. You gonna play though, but as far as being impactful, no.”
Ace Bailey seems like the smart choice for rookie of the year
It’s hard to bet against Flagg winning the rookie of the year award, but he, Edgecombe and Harper will be playing on teams that are expected to win, so they might not be given heavy minutes throughout the season.
Meanwhile, Bailey and Knueppel will likely be playing on teams destined for the NBA lottery, which means they will get plenty of playing time.
Not having a short leash will help both players in terms of making the most impact as a rookie.
However, based on how impressive Bailey has been during the NBA preseason, he could end up being the rookie who runs away with it.