Top 10 NBA Rookies to Watch in 2026

Dylan Harper arrives in the NBA as a ready-made scoring guard, posting 22.4 points and 6.2 assists per game as a Rutgers freshman while shooting 39.5% from three. The 6-foot-6 guard leverages his size advantage over typical point guards to create mismatches, and his handle allows him to break down wings, resulting in 2.8 free-throw attempts per game at 85% accuracy. Harper’s physical readiness and polished scoring creation make him a candidate for Rookie of the Year, though his defensive metrics lag behind #1 Cooper Flagg’s 1.2 defensive win shares. Still, his three-year All-Star projection is supported by a usage rate of 31% in college, higher than the average top-five pick.

Ace Bailey brings a scoring toolkit reminiscent of Kevin Durant, averaging 18.5 points per game as a Rutgers freshman with a midrange game that hit 52% on catch-and-shoot opportunities. The 6-foot-9 small forward’s movement off the ball creates 1.4 points per possession in transition, and his 7-foot-1 wingspan allows him to guard multiple positions effectively. Bailey’s offensive efficiency ranks 15% higher than the typical rookie wing, but his playmaking (1.9 assists per game) trails #2 Dylan Harper’s 6.2, limiting his ceiling as a primary creator. Still, at age 18, his scoring fluency and defensive upside make him a top-five pick with starter potential.

VJ Edgecombe is the most explosive athlete in the 2025 draft class, posting a 44-inch vertical and 2.1 steals per game at Baylor. The 6-foot-5 guard from the Bahamas averaged 15.6 points and 5.3 rebounds, finishing at the rim with 68% accuracy through contact—a rate 20% higher than the average college guard. His defensive intensity and pace-changing athleticism translate immediately, though his 32% three-point shooting needs refinement. Edgecombe’s physical tools for a stopper role surpass #4 Ace Bailey’s defensive metrics, drawing comparisons to a young Kawhi Leonard. With elite first-step quickness and improved playmaking, he projects as a high-impact two-way contributor.

Noa Essengue is the international wild card of the 2025 draft class — a 6-foot-9 French forward who dominated Germany's Bundesliga at age 17, averaging 14.2 PPG and 5.9 RPG in professional European competition. Born in 2007, he is the youngest player in the class, with a shooting touch, footwork, and defensive versatility that European scouts compare to an emerging Nicolas Batum. Unlike typical teenage prospects who face a steep adjustment from college ball, Essengue has already logged over 1,200 pro minutes, making him 30% more experienced than the average #5 pick in recent drafts. His ceiling is enormous, and the franchise that drafts him in the lottery is betting on a multi-year development project with All-Star upside. He outperforms #6 Jeremiah Fears in defensive length and positional versatility, giving him a higher long-term floor.

Jeremiah Fears of Oklahoma emerged as college basketball's most surprising freshman star in 2024-25, averaging 17.8 PPG and 5.1 APG with an elite shot-creation toolkit. The 6-foot-4 guard is one of the few players in the class who can create his own shot off the dribble at NBA speed, and his finishing through contact improved dramatically, hitting 56% at the rim in conference play. His pull-up mid-range efficiency drew comparisons to Devin Booker entering the draft. Fears is 40% more efficient in pick-and-roll scoring than the typical top-10 rookie, and his assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.8 beats #7 Kon Knueppel's 1.9, showcasing superior playmaking. He is a faster NBA contributor than the average freshman, ready to lead an offense immediately.

Kon Knueppel was the sneaky elite shooter of Duke's 2024-25 class alongside Cooper Flagg, averaging 14.5 PPG on 42.3% from three. The 6-foot-7 shooting guard from Milwaukee combines size, shooting, and defensive awareness that NBA teams prioritize in 3-and-D wings. While Flagg receives the headlines, Knueppel may be the faster NBA contributor — a ready-made spot-up shooter who guards multiple positions. He is 15% more accurate from deep than the average top-10 rookie shooter, and his 6-foot-10 wingspan allows him to contest 2.3 more shots per game than #8 Egor Demin. Knueppel's catch-and-shoot efficiency (1.18 points per possession) ranks him among the best in his class, making him a plug-and-play asset for any lineup.

Egor Demin of BYU is the vision-passer of the 2025 class — a 6-foot-9 Russian point guard who averaged 9.2 PPG and 7.1 APG as a freshman, displaying passing creativity scouts compare to a young Luka Doncic. His assist rate of 42% is higher than the average top-10 rookie playmaker by 25%, and he led all freshmen in potential assists per game (16.4). His scoring volume was modest, but his playmaking efficiency was elite, and his size at point guard creates natural advantages. Demin's 4.8 turnover percentage is 1.5 percentage points lower than #5 Noa Essengue's, showing superior decision-making. Teams drafting in the 8-15 range covet him as a long-term point-of-attack player, and his ceiling is enormous if his shooting continues to develop.

Khaman Maluach is the most physically imposing player in the 2025 class, a 7-foot-2 South Sudanese center with a 7-foot-6 wingspan who averaged 9.5 PPG and 6.8 RPG at Duke while displaying rim protection, lob-catching, and roll-finishing ability that translates directly to the NBA. His offensive game remains raw, but his elite athleticism for his size gives him a defensive ceiling comparable to Rudy Gobert with more mobility. Notably, Maluach's 3.1 blocks per 40 minutes outpaces #9 Kasparas Jakucionis's 0.5, underscoring his dominance as a rim deterrent. Teams selecting late lottery see him as the next great defensive anchor.

Kasparas Jakucionis is the savviest guard in the 2025 class, a Lithuanian playmaker who averaged 16.4 PPG and 5.7 APG while shooting 38% from three as a freshman in the Big Ten. His ability to play both guard positions, read defenses ahead of the play, and make winning decisions at game speed drew attention throughout the conference season, supported by 1.9 steals per game and a late-season improvement arc suggesting rapid acceleration. Compared to #11 Labaron Philon, Jakucionis's 5.7 APG exceeds by 0.4, demonstrating superior playmaking orchestration. NBA teams see a versatile backup point guard with starter upside.