Copyright yardbarker
Now that the NBA season is underway and opening week has come to a close, it is time to recognize some of the better rookies from the 2025 NBA Draft. While each player is coming into completely different situations in terms of their respective franchises, they have found ways to assist their teams. Not only that, but they have stood apart from other rookies due to their spectacular performances. Let’s dive into the top three rookie performers of the 2025-2026 NBA opening week and what they’re doing to succeed. Top 3 Rookie Performers of the 2025-2026 NBA Opening Week VJ Edgecombe, Philadelphia 76ers Arguably, Philadelphia 76ers guard VJ Edgecombe had the most explosive start out of any rookie to begin the season. Edgecombe had an extremely productive first two games. He scored 34 and grabbed seven boards in a win against the Celtics, and had a 15-point, six-rebound, and eight-assist game that resulted in a victory against the Hornets. Unquestionably, Edgecombe has successfully stepped into a starting backcourt role in the wake of Jared McCain‘s injury. In light of Edgecombe’s excellent start, two things stood out in terms of his success. The first is that he currently occupies a role that fits his strengths perfectly. Tyrese Maxey handled the vast majority of shot creation, which is one of the bigger concerns of Edgecombe. Due to Maxey’s on-ball presence, Edgecombe was free to focus his attention and athleticism on being a great defender and off-ball mover. Not only that, but Edgecombe has also been placed in positions to succeed in terms of shooting the ball. Many of the three-point shots Edgecombe received were in catch-and-shoot situations, which is where he operates best as a shooter. Another thing that has been a pleasant surprise is the level of confidence and ease with which Edgecombe has played. While there have been rookie moments for Edgecombe, his overall play hasn’t looked like something from a rookie. He constantly plays with poise and confidence out on the floor. Furthermore, he has rarely been out of control during either game of opening week. Edgecombe hasn’t been rattled by big moments either. If he continues this level of play and confidence, it will easily be in the conversation for Rookie of the Year. Dylan Harper, San Antonio Spurs San Antonio Spurs guard Dylan Harper is another rookie who has come firing out of the gate. Like Edgecombe, Harper has been extremely productive during the first three games of his career. He is currently averaging 16 points, five rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game while shooting 48.6% from the field. He has taken to his sixth man role well on the Spurs, giving them a true creator off the bench. Despite Harper’s higher expectations as a top-two pick, he has been utterly amazing. While there have been concerns as to whether his driving would cleanly translate to the NBA, it’s clear now that it has. Using his great dribbling and body control, Harper has been an expert at slithering through the lane to the rim. Even under pressure, Harper has remained composed against NBA-level defenders. He has looked more like a 10-year veteran rather than a rookie. Plus, he has been wheeling and dealing the ball expertly, using his drives to create opportunities for others. The performances Harper has been putting up have flashed his potential to be an All-Star. Should he continue his composed play, he would be strong competition for Edgecombe in Rookie Of The Year talks. To be fair, Harper does have to work on his three-point shot, but he is still impacting winning. Even with this small sample size, the Spurs undoubtedly have something special in Harper. Cedric Coward, Memphis Grizzlies In terms of non-top five picks in the 2025 NBA Draft, Memphis Grizzlies wing Cedric Coward has made an immediate impact for the team. In the three games they played during opening week, Coward has averaged 19 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.3 assists on incredible efficiency. He has been a revelation for the Grizzlies, giving them a great offensive weapon off the bench who can also play defense. Coward had several concerns with him as a prospect, chief among which was the level of competition he faced in college. While he excelled in his senior year at Washington State, he did not play in a hyper-competitive conference. That point has raised questions in terms of translating his game to the next level. However, the level of skill and composure that Coward demonstrates with Memphis clearly answers those questions. In these past three games, Coward has rarely forced shots and consistently played within himself. He is currently thriving as a floor spacer on the wings and has shown flashes on the ball. While he won’t shoot 70.4% from the field all season long, if he can continue being an efficient 3-and-D wing for Memphis, he will undoubtedly be a strong Rookie of the Year candidate. Honorable Mentions: Will Richard, Kon Knueppel, Tre Johnson, Egor Demin, Sion James
