Last Updated on December 3, 2025 12:01 pm by Mike Passador | Published: December 3, 2025

Tracking rookies over the early weeks of NBA play is such a double-edged sword. You want to declare your wins on prospect calls but also realize that the NBA season is long. Add to the fact rookies struggle early on, and it is tough to cipher what is just a typical rookie rough patch and what is actually worrisome. Or vice versa — what is just a rookie on a heater versus this is something that should systemically continue showing up in the stats?

Even with all that in mind, I felt it was appropriate to review the rookies of the 2025 NBA Draft class. What I haven’t done anywhere in this article is mention any stats or cite any numbers or reference any data. What, Mark C can discuss players for dynasty with just vibes? I can do that too! And that’s what below will be — quick scouting notes on every first-round rookie and relevant rookie beyond. No in-depth statistical mumbo jumbo, just some good ol’ film watch notes. Enjoy!

Cooper Flagg

The Mavs have put Cooper Flagg in a tough position. He has toggled between leading the offense and running off secondary-side actions, with varied results within each. Given the context of the team and the fact the one of the only flaws Flagg had as a prospect was his self-creation, he’s actually passed the eye test for me. Flagg already is attacking with force when the opportunity presents itself and competing hard within the framework of the team. He’ll have struggles as with any rookie, but there isn’t anything noteworthy for me outside of that typical concern. I still feel great about Flagg long-term and my initial profile as an above-average player across the board.

Dylan Harper

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Mark C

After years of playing redraft fantasy basketball leagues with my friends, I branched out to dynasty leagues. As my hunger for competitive leagues grew, I found myself having lengthy conversations in various forums and developing my own thoughts on rookies and veteran players alike. Among the dynasty community, I found a gap in understanding on-court play and valuing transactions properly and thought to myself “I have a lot to say that could help dynasty managers!” I eventually came onto Sports Ethos as the Dynasty Lead, producing Dynasty Fantasy Basketball content such as rankings, rookie profiles, and other sorts of articles to enable managers to make informed decisions on their own squads. I pride myself in marrying on-court NBA and fantasy basketball analysis, giving readers and listeners of my content a holistic knowledge base of not only dynasty basketball projects but also the NBA itself.

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