Point Made Rookie Ladder 1.0
Which rookies are making an early splash? Find out with this year's debut of the Point Made Rookie Ladder, brought to you by Joshua.
Important Note: The Rookie Ladder is a reflection of this year and this year only. It is not a projection of their future success.
All statistics updated as of 11/3/2025
Tier 1: The Frontrunners
VJ Edgecombe
20.3 points (50/42/82 - 60.7% TS), 5.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.5 steals, 0.3 blocks in 39.0 MPG
You know what’s crazy about VJ Edgecombe’s seething start to the season? Outside of his 3P%, nothing about his stat-line feels super unsustainable. Yes, as Paul George is fully reintegrated and Jared McCain returns to the lineup, Edgecombe’s usage will take a hit, impacting his time on-ball as a creator and scorer. Even then, the Sixers need everything Edgecombe brings. VJ and Maxey have been a dynamic pairing that has injected newfound energy into an overlooked Philly team.
Cedric Coward
15.0 points (59/48/91 - 72.2% TS), 4.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.1 steals, 0.4 blocks in 25.3 MPG
Coward’s white-hot start to the year feels a lot more unsustainable than Edgecombe, but he’s clearly shown why Memphis (and a lot of other teams) were so high on him. He has a menacing +9” wing span that will help him develop into a potent wing defender and he’s flashed both on-ball creation juice and complementary skills as a play finisher and catch-and-shoot threat.
Kon Knueppel
14.0 points (46/43/65 - 61.6% TS), 4.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.6 steals, 0.0 blocks in 30.1 MPG
I’ve harped on and on about Kon Knueppel being a picture-perfect piece alongside LaMelo. He’s not just working as a dynamic shooter, but he’s also showcasing the ability to get into the paint and to the rim. He’s just scratching the surface of what he can be as a playmaker, so those assists will trend up later in the season. He’s also finding ways to be impactful defensively too, highlighting the importance that film study has been for him on that end.
Tier 2: On Their Heels
Dylan Harper
14.0 points (50/36/83 - 58.4% TS), 4.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 0.7 steals, 0.0 blocks in 23.3 MPG
Dylan Harper is exactly who the consensus thought he was: a dynamic, downhill driver with elite vision and playmaking to boot. He’s shown the ability to lead the second unit and mesh with San Antonio’s stars. Fox’s impending return may change the dynamic, but Harper is too talented to have his minutes taken away. Let’s hope his injury isn’t serious and that he’s able to return this season.
Jeremiah Fears
13.7 points (52/11/67- 55% TS), 2.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.5 steals, 0.0 blocks in 26.5 MPG
The 3PT shot is trending upwards finally. Regardless of whether it falls or not, Jeremiah Fears is still getting to the rim at an impressive rate for a player his age and size. He’s finishing at a 73.3% rate when he attempts a shot from 0-3 FT of the rim. That’s a testament not only to his physicality, but also to the handle, burst, and quickness he has. The coaching staff has praised the energy he brings to the floor, and that same fearless (get it?) attitude is what will help him achieve his ceiling in the future.
Tre Johnson
12.7 points (45/39/100 - 59% TS), 3.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.3 steals, 0.8 blocks in 26.5 MPG
It’s going to be hard to keep Tre Johnson out of the top-5, as I expect his role to grow as the season progresses. He could be better as a playmaker, but outside of that, it’s hard to find anything to criticize about his game. He’s showcasing the ability to get to his spots and create space at the NBA level, which I love.
Tier 3: Trending Upwards
Collin Murray-Boyles
10.6 points (48/46/71- 56.3% TS), 3.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.2 blocks in 22.6 MPG
Collin Murray-Boyles is quickly picking up steam after missing a couple games, and he could potentially see an even bigger role with Jakob Poeltl dealing with a short-term injury. The Raptors are in a funky spot, with spacing and team build looking to be a prominent issue. CMB personifies those issues to a degree, as he is clearly very talented with a rare skillset but has real questions about his ability to space the floor. If he can answer those questions with a consistent perimeter shot, he’ll be a mainstay on the Rookie Ladder. I have loved how he’s slid into the hole left by Poeltl’s injury, though.
Ryan Kalkbrenner
9.0 points (90/0/100 - 90% TS), 6.6 rebounds, 0.4 assists, 1.3 steals, 2.1 blocks in 27.0 MPG
Take a second to look back at the line above and bask in that beautiful 90% true shooting percentage. Ryan Kalkbrenner’s impact, however, is tough to fully encapsulate with stats alone. When you watch Charlotte, you see him make smart rotations defensively, switch onto smaller players, seal his defender to create driving room, and set timely screens to create runways for Hornets ball-handlers.
Cooper Flagg
13.8 points (37/29/100 - 4.93% TS), 6.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.5 blocks in 32.5 MPG
Cooper Flagg walked into this season with sky-high expectations and is being graded more harshly than his classmates as a result. This will, most likely, be the last time Flagg isn’t in the top-5 of my Rookie Ladder. He’s been put into a difficult position while learning to play point guard on the fly. These point guard reps will pay dividends in the long-term, especially as the game slows down for him. After all, he’s the youngest player in the NBA.
Sion James
9.1 points (67/72/100- 88.7% TS), 2.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.6 steals, 0.3 blocks in 23.3 MPG
I’ve said it before, but I loved the Sion James addition on draft day. I thought he could instantly break into the Charlotte rotation and establish himself as a complementary wing player who can defend at a high level while also hitting open shots, and he’s done exactly that. Even when the shooting percentages settle down, James will continue to make his presence felt with his motor and defensive aptitude.
Tier 4: Bright, But Inconsistent
Derik Queen
7.3 points (44/0/78- 52.5% TS), 4.8 rebounds, 0.2 assists, 0.5 steals, 0.7 blocks in 17.5 MPG
It’s not his fault, but Derik Queen’s performance this year will be watched under a microscope because of the trade New Orleans made to acquire him. Queen’s start to the year has been up-and-down, but that’s to be expected given that he missed significant time over the summer due to a wrist injury. He has an intriguing combination of feel, fluidity, and playmaking for a big man, with some defensive impact flashing through at times as well.
Walter Clayton Jr.
6.2 points (42/29/100- 54% TS), 2.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 0.5 steals, 0.0 blocks in 17.5 MPG
If he earns a bigger role in Utah, Walter Clayton Jr. has a chance to climb up this ladder. Until then, Clayton will struggle to climb much higher (or even fall off completely) while playing less than 20 minutes a game. I think his shooting percentages will rise, especially from beyond the arc. I also like that he’s already playing with pace, something that comes with his experience as a 4-year college player who led to his team to a championship.