NBA Rookie of the Year 2025-26: Top Candidates and Stats
The 2025 NBA Draft class has delivered. Several rookies are making immediate impacts on their teams, and the Rookie of the Year race is heating up. Here are the top candidates.
The frontrunner
Cooper Flagg (Los Angeles Lakers)
Stats: 18.4 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 3.8 APG, 1.4 BPG
Flagg has been everything the Lakers hoped for and more. The number 1 overall pick from Duke has been the most impactful rookie since Luka Doncic. His two-way ability is remarkable for a 19-year-old — he can guard multiple positions, he can score from anywhere on the court, and his basketball IQ is off the charts. Playing alongside LeBron James (in his final season) has accelerated Flagg's development, and he's already one of the best young players in the league.
The challengers
Dylan Harper (San Antonio Spurs)
Stats: 16.8 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 5.2 APG, 1.1 SPG
Harper has been the perfect backcourt partner for Victor Wembanyama. His scoring ability and playmaking have given the Spurs an offensive dimension they were missing. Harper's shooting has been inconsistent — he's hitting 34% from three — but his ability to get to the rim and finish is elite for a rookie.
Ace Bailey (Washington Wizards)
Stats: 15.6 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 2.1 APG
Bailey has been a bright spot on a rebuilding Wizards team. His scoring versatility — he can shoot threes, attack the basket, and post up smaller defenders — makes him one of the most complete offensive rookies in the class. His defense needs work, but the offensive tools are all there.
VJ Edgecombe (Charlotte Hornets)
Stats: 14.2 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 4.6 APG, 1.8 SPG
Edgecombe's athleticism is jaw-dropping. He's the fastest player in the rookie class, and his ability to get to the rim is elite. His three-point shooting has been better than expected (37%), and his defense has been outstanding. He's the most exciting rookie to watch on a nightly basis.
Prediction
Cooper Flagg wins it. His combination of scoring, rebounding, defense, and team impact is too strong. Harper finishes 2nd, Bailey 3rd. But this rookie class is deep — there are at least 6-7 rookies who would be ROY favorites in a weaker class.