Dallas’ Cooper Flagg hasn’t done anything to dim his prospects of earning the Kia Rookie of the Year award by season’s end.

But a handful of his Class of 2025 draft mates have started strongly enough to brighten their own chances of vying for the Wilt Chamberlain Trophy, awarded annually by the NBA to the league’s top newcomer.

Flagg is the best known of the rookies, owing to his roots from Newport, Maine, and his journey through a season at Duke and arrival as the consensus No. 1 pick. The Dallas Mavericks’ drama, sparked by trading franchise face Luka Dončić, angering fans and presumably putting GM Nico Harrison on the hot seat, only heightened the anticipation and attention heaped on Flagg when the lottery balls came up in the Mavs’ favor.

But lower profiles last season don’t neces

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