Flagg headlines 2025-26 Kia NBA All-Rookie First Team; Harper, Edgecombe among honorees
Flagg headlines 2025-26 Kia NBA All-Rookie First Team; Harper, Edgecombe among honorees originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . The NBA has officially announced the 2025-26 Kia NBA All-Rookie Teams, recognizing a standout rookie class headlined by First Team selections Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel, VJ Edgecombe, Dylan Harper and Cedric Coward.
The group represents one of the league’s deepest rookie classes in recent memory and showcases players who quickly adapted to NBA competition. Leading the way was Cooper Flagg of the Dallas Mavericks , who entered the season carrying enormous expectations after being selected first overall. Flagg delivered a stellar campaign and emerged as the face of the rookie class, earning Rookie of the Year honors after outperforming a highly competitive field.
ESPN highlighted Flagg as one of the season’s premier rookies, while his year featured multiple record-setting performances, including becoming the youngest player in NBA history to score 50 points in a game. Former Duke teammate Kon Knueppel became a key contributor for the Charlotte Hornets . Knueppel established himself as one of the NBA’s most dangerous perimeter shooters and climbed near the top of rookie rankings throughout the season.
NBA rookie tracking noted he led rookies in three-pointers made while remaining in the Rookie of the Year conversation all year. For the Philadelphia 76ers , VJ Edgecombe brought explosive athleticism and two-way impact. Meanwhile, Dylan Harper displayed elite playmaking and poise for the San Antonio Spurs , while Cedric Coward rounded out the First Team after emerging as one of the season’s biggest surprises.
Together, the selections signal an exciting future for the NBA, with several members of this class already looking like foundational stars.