Full Breakdown
2025-26 NBA All-Rookie Teams Showcase Historic Depth
5/22/2026, 2:16:29 AM
All-Rookie Teams Unveiled: First-Team Selections and Rookie of the Year
On Wednesday night the NBA announced its 2025-26 All-Rookie Teams. The First-Team roster consists of Cooper Flagg (Dallas Mavericks), Kon Knueppel (Charlotte Hornets), VJ Edgecombe (Philadelphia 76ers), Dylan Harper (San Antonio Spurs) and Cedric Coward (Memphis Grizzlies). All three of the top-ranked rookies—Flagg, Knueppel and Edgecombe—were unanimous selections. The Rookie of the Year award went to Flagg, who edged Knueppel in the voting.
Context: A Historically Deep Rookie Class
Multiple outlets described the 2025-26 draft class as “one of the deepest in recent memory.” The depth resulted in several quality contributors—such as Hornets center Ryan Kalkbrenner—missing the Second-Team despite significant minutes on playoff teams. The unanimous first-team voting underscores the rarity of such a concentration of talent.
Profiles of the First-Team Rookies
- Cooper Flagg, Dallas Mavericks – 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 46.8 % from the field. At 19 years, 112 days he became the second-youngest player ever named to an All-Rookie First Team, behind only LeBron James.
- Kon Knueppel, Charlotte Hornets – Led the league with 273 three-pointers, converting 42.3 % from beyond the arc and 47.5 % overall. He averaged 18.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists, appearing in 82 of 83 possible games.
- VJ Edgecombe, Philadelphia 76ers – Averaged 16.0 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.2 assists, while leading all rookies in steals. He became the first Sixer to earn First-Team All-Rookie honors since Ben Simmons (2018).
- Dylan Harper, San Antonio Spurs – Posted 11.8 points, 3.9 assists and 3.4 rebounds per game on 50.5 % shooting. In the playoffs he increased production to 14.6 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists.
- Cedric Coward, Memphis Grizzlies – Contributed 13.6 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.8 assists over 62 appearances, filling a key role while teammates Ja Morant and Zach Edey missed significant time.
Voting Numbers and Statistical Highlights
The All-Rookie selections were determined by a 100-member media panel. Flagg received 56 first-place votes (412 points) and Knueppel 44 first-place votes (386 points). All five first-team players earned votes in the Rookie-of-Year ballot. Dylan Harper appeared on every ballot, receiving 93 first-team nods and seven second-team votes. The Second-Team comprised Jeremiah Fears (New Orleans Pelicans), Derik Queen (New Orleans Pelicans), Ace Bailey (Utah Jazz), Maxime Raynaud (Sacramento Kings) and Collin Murray-Boyles (Toronto Raptors).
Official Statements from the NBA and Teams
The NBA press release confirmed the teams and noted that the All-Defensive Teams, All-NBA Teams and Coach of the Year will be announced later in the week. The Mavericks highlighted Flagg’s historic achievement as the second-youngest First-Team honoree. The Hornets described Knueppel’s selection as “another piece of NBA hardware” added to his collection. The 76ers emphasized Edgecombe’s milestone as the franchise’s first First-Team rookie since 2018.
Impact on Teams and the League
Flagg’s scoring and all-around play positioned the Mavericks as a contender despite a modest postseason run. Knueppel’s shooting propelled the Hornets to a 44-38 record and a play-in tournament appearance after a 19-63 prior season. Edgecombe’s defensive activity and clutch scoring contributed to the 76ers advancing to the second playoff round. Harper’s versatility supported the Spurs’ championship pursuit, while Coward’s production helped the Grizzlies remain competitive amid injuries.
What’s Next
The league will release the All-Defensive Teams on Friday, the All-NBA Teams on Sunday and announce the Coach of the Year on Tuesday, completing the season’s major individual honors.
