The NBA has released its latest Rookie Ladder for the 2025-26 regular season, and let’s just say the results were far from what fans could’ve expected.
Number one overall pick Cooper Flagg ranks third on the list, averaging 15.0 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.3 steals across 32.7 minutes per game as a starter for the Dallas Mavericks. Cedric Coward, the 11th overall pick, comes in one spot above Flagg and is putting up 14.5 points and 5.9 rebounds on an efficient 50.9% shooting.
Perhaps the biggest surprise, though, belongs to the Charlotte Hornets, who boast two rookies in the top five — Kon Knueppel and Ryan Kalkbrenner. Knueppel is having arguably the best all-around rookie season so far, averaging 16.7 points and 6.4 rebounds on 42.5% from the field and 40% from three, proving he’s more than ready for the NBA stage.
Charlotte’s second rookie, Ryan Kalkbrenner, has quietly been one of the league’s most efficient players. As the team’s starting center, he’s averaging 9.2 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks while shooting an astounding 80.3% from the field. In ten games, he’s only had one performance where he’s missed more than a single shot — an almost unheard-of level of consistency for a first-year big man.
The Hornets have spent much of the last decade trying to climb out of play-in territory, but they finally seem to be nurturing a young core with real upside. Knueppel’s smooth scoring has drawn comparisons to Devin Booker, while Kalkbrenner’s efficiency is already being mentioned alongside Wilt Chamberlain-like shooting splits.
Charlotte’s 3-7 record doesn’t quite reflect their growth, as the team has been without LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges for extended stretches. Still, head coach Charles Lee has trusted his young players to carry the load, and Knueppel, in particular, has embraced that challenge with poise beyond his years.
If the trend continues, it’s not far-fetched to imagine both Hornets rookies competing against each other for Rookie of the Year — a storyline that could define Charlotte’s season in the months ahead.
More Hornets news:
- Hornets' Kon Knueppel leads all players in NBA Rookie ladder
- Charlotte Hornets rookie makes history with record-breaking shooting start
- Kon Knueppel follows career high with near triple-double vs. Lakers
- Hornets issue updated injury report ahead of matchup vs. Lakers