NBA '25-'26 Rookie Class (non Spurs)

In my time of watching basketball, I recalled a few generational prospects - magic and bird (bird was drafted 6th because he was drafted as a junior and had to play another year in college), Ralph Sampson, David Robinson, Shaq, LeBron, and then wemby.

I was a kid but I recalled Hakeem, Ewing, Duncan, unibrow, Oden, Yao Ming, Zion, Danny manning and AI being varying degrees of can’t miss consensus #1 prospects. Durant was hyped enough to put up some whispers of him challenging Oden for #1 but that was never serious. Jordan was well received by the coaches but he was a shooting guard, and back then it was all centers, then maybe point guards.

Cooper is in the group of Zion and unibrow where he is a can’t miss prospect but not as high as a Shaq (generational big who would change the game) or a Duncan (consensus #1 with a high likelihood of being a centerpiece of a championship winning squad), but rather a very very good player who can be a #1 on a title winning team.
 
DTW said:
"Generational" has become the second most overused buzzword in sports after "culture".

I do think there can be multiple simultaneously, but by any definition I don't see Flagg as it or anyone else outside of Wembanyama that's late teens/early 20's.
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Last night was an exhibition of what IS generational and what is NOT.
 
Standout rookies of the day (10/23/2025):

PlayerMinPtsFG3ptFT+/-OffRebAstTOStlBlkPF
VJ Edgecombe42:123413-265-133-6-21732101
Egor Dëmin22:19144-64-62-2-60522103
Kon Knueppel25:29114-63-40-0+100512003
Tre Johnson26:14165-114-82-2-82524111
Jeremiah Fears18:19177-100-13-3-100022002
Cedric Coward22:13145-50-04-4+240310212
Walter Clayton Jr.18:05104-81-31-1+33652202
Nique Clifford23:4121-30-00-0+33821214
Ben Saraf20:0182-70-34-6-61740002
VJ Edgecombe:
1st Q:
All game:
Kon Knueppel:
Egor Demin:
Tre Johnson:
 
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Jeremiah Fears:

Cedric Coward:

Walter Clayton Jr:

Ben Saraf:
 
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Ariel said:
Well, let's be fair: Queen IS SPECIAL (as an offensive talent)... but oh boy, I wouldn't want my future to hinge on his conditioning... him and Zion... yikes.
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Have you seen Zion lately, he’s skinny
 
OK Computer said:
Have you seen Zion lately, he’s skinny
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Yeah, for like 15 minutes, when we have 6 years worth of evidence to the contrary. When he stays like that for a couple of seasons, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt.
 
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queen and fears are both plus players in this league and that trade will age better than it looks today - but will still age poorly
 
Knueppel to me is what Sheppard was supposed to be. He's much bigger and stronger, but more to the point he can actually handle the ball and move the ball around. Sheppard's handles are very poor and he has no real point guard abilities.
 
bozhemoi said:
Knueppel to me is what Sheppard was supposed to be. He's much bigger and stronger, but more to the point he can actually handle the ball and move the ball around. Sheppard's handles are very poor and he has no real point guard abilities.
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I’m not sure why a team that’s psychotic about defense would draft an undersized guard. Could say the same about Minnesota and Dillingham. Like…what exactly were your expectations here.
 
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This year's rookie class looking very strong.

Cooper, Dylan and Edgecombe all looks like all star level talents, or even more, early on.

Knueppel, Tre Johnson, Fears, CMB, Coward, Queen, Kalkbrenner, all looking like regular starter material

Sion James, Demin, Maluach, Carter Bryant, Walter Clayton, Asa Newell, Saraf, Javon Small allo look like guys who can contribute to some level.

Next year is supposed to be even deeper, looks like the NBA is in good hands if it can take care of that gambling crap.
 
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