NBA official rookie rankings updated: Flagg leads, Knuppel second, Quinn and Coward steady in top five

On January 8th Beijing time, NBA's official rookie rankings were refreshed, with Mavericks' top pick Flagg maintaining his lead, and Hornets' 4th pick Knuppel holding second place. Ranked third to fifth are 76ers’ third pick Eichkum, Pelicans’ 13th pick Quinn, and Grizzlies’ 11th pick Coward respectively. Here are the detailed rankings and analysis—

1. Flagg, Mavericks

Season stats: averaging 18.9 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game

Previous ranking: 1st (unchanged)

Draft position: 1st overall in the first round

Around the New Year break, Flagg experienced a shooting slump—making only 14 of 47 attempts, a 29.8% shooting rate, totaling 37 points. This brought back the perennial January challenge rookies face: the rookie wall. Mavericks teammate Davis commented on Flagg possibly hitting this rookie hurdle: “When you’re used to playing 38 college games, and the NBA season isn’t even halfway done, it’s a huge test. We put a lot of pressure on him to take on many responsibilities. Every rookie goes through this phase, but he still performed well. It’s our job to help him get through it.”

Flagg consistently contributed and exploded in the away game against the Kings: he shot 8-for-15, scoring 20 points, grabbing 8 rebounds, and dishing out 6 assists. Playing 35 minutes, he achieved a +11 plus-minus; during the 13 minutes he was off the court, the team was outscored by 9 points.

2. Knuppel, Hornets

Season stats: averaging 19.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game

Previous ranking: 2nd (unchanged)

Draft position: 4th overall in the first round

Another Duke University rookie, Knuppel has exceeded expectations with his impressive performance this season. Monday’s game was arguably his best yet, delivering a well-rounded stat line of 23 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists, hitting 5 of 7 three-pointers. In the Hornets’ stunning 124-97 upset over the Thunder, he played 28 minutes with a +15 plus-minus. After the game, Thunder coach D’Antoni praised the Hornets’ small forward generously. Knuppel is also chasing the Hornets’ rookie record, having scored 15+ points in 11 consecutive games—according to ESPN, this is the longest streak since Hall of Famer Alonzo Mourning’s 1992-93 season for Hornets rookies.

3. Eichkum, 76ers

Season stats: averaging 16.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game

Previous ranking: 3rd (unchanged)

Draft position: 3rd overall in the first round

Eichkum’s firm position near the top and status as a top rookie candidate is mainly due to his impact on the team. When this rookie plays, the 76ers hold an 18-12 record; the other four in the top five have combined team records of only 49-93 when they play. While win percentage is not usually the main measure for rookies, Eichkum deserves recognition: he has joined the 76ers’ “big four” lineup, delivering crucial plays on both ends and showing remarkable composure in clutch moments. His three-point shooting in clutch situations is an impressive 58.8% (10 of 17), leading the league in percentage and ranking second in total made shots.

4. Quinn, Pelicans

Season stats: averaging 13.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game

Previous ranking: 4th (unchanged)

Draft position: 13th overall in the first round

This rookie had a standout moment in Wednesday’s game against the Lakers, nearly recording his second career triple-double (10 points, 13 rebounds, 8 assists). Quinn’s stats are very comprehensive; he leads rookies with 153 total assists and 265 total rebounds, ranks second in blocks (34), and fourth in steals (39). At the same time, he also tops rookies in turnovers (91) and fouls (116).

5. Coward, Grizzlies

Season stats: averaging 13.7 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game

Previous ranking: 5th (unchanged)

Draft position: 11th overall in the first round

Coward missed the Wednesday game against the Spurs due to a left ankle sprain sustained in Monday’s game versus the Lakers. He is expected to play Thursday against the Suns. Over the past five weeks, Coward has been in good form, shooting 51.5% and averaging 15.1 points and 7.9 rebounds, with several highlight moments.

Players ranked 6th to 10th are: 6. Harper (Spurs), 7. Reno (Kings), 8. Fells (Pelicans), 9. Jemin (Nets), 10. Trey Johnson (Wizards).