Cooper Flagg (Dallas Mavericks)
October 2025

The opening Rookie Ladder places Flagg outside the top three after a modest start, while classmates surge with strong early outputs. Flagg remains a leading Rookie of the Year candidate, but the field’s depth suggests a competitive race that could shift betting markets with each weekly sample. Flagg’s usage stabilises as Dallas balances his creation with veteran handlers. Efficiency gains hinge on shot diet and defensive playmaking. Rivals’ roles may regress as scouting adjusts. Monitoring on-off impact, matchup difficulty, and late-game trust will separate contenders more than raw points in small early samples.