Who knew the Duke brothers would bring this kinda smoke to the league this fast? One month into the 2025-26 season, the NBA rookie power rankings already feel like a two-man sprint, and both guys once shared a locker room in Durham. Cooper Flagg, who didn’t play Wednesday’s game against the Knicks, rolled in as the crowned No. 1 pick, the guy everyone circled for Rookie of the Year.

But Charlotte’s Kon Knueppel crashed the party real hard, dropping buckets, draining threes, and climbing the Rookie Ladder like it’s nothing. The best part is that these former teammates are now pushing each other from two different cities, and the gap is razor-thin.

Let’s take a look at the latest NBA rookie power rankings.

5. VJ Edgecombe, Philadelphia 76ers

Edgecombe slips to No. 5, but the foundation s

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