A new NBA season is a chance to bring new hope to teams across the league, and the 2025-26 season will be especially exciting.
The ridiculously talented 2025 NBA Draft class has brought a huge influx of new talent to the league.
No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg joined the Dallas Mavericks, providing him with a ready base to win Rookie of the Year.
No. 2 pick Dylan Harper will play with the San Antonio Spurs alongside young phenom Victor Wembaneyama.
Both players are poised to succeed, which is why I don’t list either of them in my top 10 rookies to watch this season. It’s no wonder they catch your eye.
Here we will introduce 10 players to watch. We can’t guarantee your favorite rookie won’t be on the list…
- choose: #3
- team: philadelphia 76ers
VJ Edgecomb has shown to be completely fearless in the preseason and will provide plenty of highlight plays, including a dunk attempt on Mitchell Robinson.
The Sixers need Edgecomb to lift their spirits after a disastrous 2024-25 season. Given his injury issues, he should get plenty of opportunities.
A disastrous draft process dropped Ace Bailey to No. 5. The Utah Jazz would benefit from acquiring a player that Paul George claimed was better than Cooper Flagg.
Bailey used the preseason to remind the world how talented he is. He’s averaging 22.5 points in two games and looks like an instant NBA star for a team in need of an NBA star.
- choose: #6
- team: washington wizards
The Washington Wizards were another team that was disappointed with their lottery results, but they were able to draft a potentially elite scorer in Tre Johnson.
Analyst Tim Legler said Johnson has a legitimate chance to match Flagg for Rookie of the Year honors and expects him to do well on a weak roster.
- choose: #11
- team: memphis grizzlies
Cedric Coward is an explosive player and the team may regret falling outside of the top 10. He will get a chance to prove himself early on, as the Memphis Grizzlies have been plagued by injuries early in the season.
He scored 15 points and also grabbed six rebounds in his preseason debut against the Celtics.
- choose: #14
- team: san antonio spurs
Carter Bryant was the Spurs’ No. 2 pick, joining Dylan Harper in the top 14.
Bryant impressed with his defense against Cooper Flagg in Summer League, and Legler believes he is a future Defensive Player of the Year award winner.
- choose: #16
- team: portland trail blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers made one of the more shocking moves in the NBA Draft, selecting Chinese sensation Yang Hansen at the age of 16.
Mr. Hansen has been nicknamed “China’s Jokic” and is expected to soar in ratings in his home country. There’s real intrigue as to how he’ll do on a talented Portland team.
- choose: #17
- team: minnesota timberwolves
Joan Bellinger is the latest French talent to join the league, and Mike Conley claims the entire Minnesota Timberwolves facility is excited about the 18-year-old prospect.
Bellinger showed great blocking ability in Summer League. The 6’11 rookie would be a smart addition to a very talented Timberwolves roster.
Yes, there are two Utah Jazz players on the list. Walter Creighton Jr. had a great run at the University of Florida, winning a series of individual awards along with the NCAA Tournament.
Clayton Jr. scored 20 points in the preseason game against the Spurs, showing early signs of a powerful combination with Ace Bailey. We still expect the Jazz to be terrible, but the rookie duo means they could still be an exciting watch.
- choose: #20
- team: miami heat
Kasparas Jaksionis’ passing ability was talked about during the preseason by coach Erik Spoelstra, who praised his instant collaboration with last year’s rookie pick Kelel Ware.
The NBA GM survey listed Jaxionis as the “greatest stolen base player in the draft,” and Miami was lucky to land him at No. 20.
The Lakers traded up early in the second round to acquire Adu Tierro, a 6-foot-8 forward with athleticism that J.J. Redick described as “insane.”
Tierro is poised for success by playing alongside Luka Doncic and LeBron James, who can take advantage of that big jump. If cleared to play after missing the preseason, he could have an explosive impact in a rotation role.