The 2025 NBA Draft is thought of to be a strong one, offering star-level talent up top, with some depth throughout.
Below, we’ll attempt to project the rookie statistical leaders for the 2025-26 season:
To this point, the draft’s No. 1 pick in Cooper Flagg is the easiest bet to be the class’s leading scorer both next season and in the future.
He was a superstar at Duke, averaging over 19 points, doing so in a variety of ways with physicality, athleticism and skill.
Dallas star ⭐️
Cooper Flagg covers SLAM 258. https://t.co/5YB3rEMAw8 pic.twitter.com/3xXnD12pXj
— SLAM (@SLAMonline) August 26, 2025
He’ll have his work cut out for him getting buckets with Anthony Davis, and eventually Kyrie Irving, on the Mavericks. But he should have the talent to do so.
Tre Johnson would be a notable mention here, having averaged more points in his one-and-done college season, and joining a team that will have much more scoring opportunity.
There’s a number of talented passers in the ’25 class, none of which outmatch Nets’ guard-slash-wing Egor Demin.
Across 33 games with BYU, Demin averaged 5.5 assists, doing so in the open floor and in half court sets.
6’9 Egor Demin can really handle the rock
The Nets’ Rookie is getting in great work with NBA coach @94feetofgame
— Hoop Herald (@TheHoopHerald) August 23, 2025
Demin’s biggest case for leading the class in assists next season will be opportunity. The Nets are set to be one of the worst team’s in the league, and Demin should earn plenty of time dishing the rock. Even better, there’s a few talented scorers in Michael Porter Jr. and potentially Cam Thomas that could help him in this area.
Rebounding is an especially hard thing to predict, but Kings’ rookie Nique Clifford’s affinity for doing so is unquestioned.
He’ll have to battle centers and forwards, but the wing should see a decent bit of playing time for the Kings next season, and averaged 9.6 boards per game in his final season at Colorado State.
Nique Clifford✍️✍️✍️
Summer League Superstar that should have never fallen into the 20s. No surprise at all that he’s hoopin so early on. Kings got a baller
— Ryan Hammer🔨 (@ryanhammer09) July 17, 2025
Without a clear pathway toward offensive production in his rookie season, Clifford will be relegated to filling in the gaps, which includes defense and rebounding.
Edgecombe is set to be a fairly easy bet to garner the most steals next season. He’s fresh off a one-and-done season with Baylor where he nabbed 2.1 per game, doing so with athleticism and instincts.
The guard-wing hybrid enters an interesting situation with the 76ers, where they have an already built-out core of Joel Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey.
Sixers guard VJ Edgecombe and forward Jabari Walker are among the NBA players participating in today’s open runs in Los Angeles, hosted by Sixers assistant coach Rico Hines. pic.twitter.com/MUihzBFvhi
— Keith Pompey (@PompeyOnSixers) August 26, 2025
With plenty of scoring already available to Philadelphia, Edgecombe could be used to wreak rotational havoc defensively.
Projecting the block leader among rookies next season is especially hard accounting for playing time. Lengthy shot-blockers in Khaman Maluach and Joan Beringer would likely be odds-on favorites, but their role on respective teams is simply too murky to this point.
Ultimately, it’s hard to bet against the pure amount of minutes that Flagg will be receiving, as well as his defensive talent.
He’ll be able to rove and block shots next to Davis, as well as the team’s other fives in Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II.