Charlotte Hornets rookie Kon Knueppel remains at the top of the Kia Rookie Ladder for the second straight week. Former Duke teammates Knueppel and Cooper Flagg continue to lead the rankings among the NBA's top first-year players.
The latest edition of the Kia Rookie Ladder, released on November 19, 2025, highlights the strong performances of the 2025-26 NBA rookies one month into the season. Kon Knueppel of the Charlotte Hornets holds the No. 1 position after averaging 20 points and five rebounds while shooting 40.6% from three-point range in his team's past four games. Drafted fourth overall, Knueppel has season averages of 17.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game.
Knueppel's recent return to his hometown of Milwaukee for a game against the Bucks included a special team dinner at his family's home. 'Taking the bus down my street, going home, that was weird,' Knueppel said. 'And a bunch of NBA players in my house. It was a lot of big people, but my family enjoyed it.'
At No. 2 is Cedric Coward of the Memphis Grizzlies, with season stats of 14.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 2.9 assists. Coward recorded 19 points and 11 rebounds in a recent game against San Antonio. Cooper Flagg of the Dallas Mavericks, the No. 1 overall pick, sits at No. 3 with 15.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game. He ranks 11th in clutch points among all players.
Ryan Kalkbrenner, also of the Hornets and drafted 34th, is No. 4, averaging 9.9 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks while shooting 81.2% from the field. VJ Edgecombe of the Philadelphia 76ers rounds out the top five at No. 5, with 15.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 4.3 assists. Sixers executive Daryl Morey praised Edgecombe's poise: 'He’s the first player I’ve had that, at this age, has this much poise.'
Upcoming matchups between top rookies, such as Knueppel vs. Flagg on January 29 and March 3, could intensify the Rookie of the Year race. All stats are through November 18, 2025.