8 Rookie Second Rounders Who Have Proven They Are Here To Stay

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 11: Kon Knueppel #7 of the Charlotte Hornets goes up for a shot against Maxime Raynaud #42 of the Sacramento Kings during the first half at Golden 1 Center on March 11, 2026 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) Getty Images Making it in the NBA is one of the most difficult feats one can accomplish in the human experience.

That daunting task is even more improbable when you are chosen in the second round of the draft. There isn’t as much pressure on general managers to have those picks pan out, so they don’t feel inclined to give those players as many opportunities. However, when you can hit on one of these selections, it gives you a significant strategic advantage from a salary cap perspective, as these rookies are (typically) cheaper to roster than first rounders.

With this in mind (and the 2025-26 regular season nearing its finale), we decided to look at eight second round players from this class who have already proven that they belong. *For the sake of simplicity, we are just looking at second round rookies. With that said, undrafted players like Ryan Nembhard , Dylan Cardwell, and Caleb Love have already exhibited some promising flashes this season.

31st Overall Pick: Rasheer Fleming, Phoenix Suns The Phoenix Suns have been one of the best stories of the season. And as I highlighted in my recent feature on them , their player evaluation process has played a key role in this process. Rasheer Fleming is the perfect embodiment of this.