Cooper Flagg of the Dallas Mavericks has been called the most hyped rookie since LeBron James. But while Flagg, the No. 1 overall pick, dominates the headlines, the 2025 NBA Draft class runs much deeper. Several first-year players taken outside the top five will shape their team’s storylines for the better. Here are five rookies selected outside the top five ready to make noise of their own in the NBA, which begins its regular season Tuesday:. Johnson might not have the same media buzz, but few teens have entered the NBA with his scoring resume. At Lake Highlands High School in Dallas, Johnson averaged nearly 24 points as a sophomore, torching defenders with a blend of silky pull-ups, NBA-range threes, a dependable handle and polished footwork that drew comparisons to Bradley Beal and Devin Booker. He continued to show his scoring prowess in his lone season at Texas, averaging 19.9 points and hitting 39.7 percent from three. Washington desperately needs a first-option perimeter creator, and Johnson walks inRead More
Beyond Cooper Flagg: Five NBA rookies who could steal the spotlight in 2025-26
