NBA Rookie Analysis Through 10 Games | Flagg, Edgecombe, Hornets, more! | Game Theory Podcast
In this edition of the Game Theory Podcast, Sam Vecenie & Bryce Simon go through several rookies from the 2025 NBA Draft Class & analyze their performances through the first 10-ish games of their careers.
00:00 INTRO
05:00 Initial thoughts on the 2025 Rookie Class
08:20 Trade Coffee!
10:05 Cooper Flagg (Dallas Mavericks)
22:31 Rula!
24:45 VJ Edgecombe (Philadelphia 76ers)
35:53 Kon Knueppel (Charlotte Hornets)
41:43 Sion James (Charlotte Hornets)
44:28 Ryan Kalkbrenner (Charlotte Hornets)
51:11 Nutrafol!
52:50 Jeremiah Fears (New Orleans Pelicans)
1:02:08 Derik Queen (New Orleans Pelicans)
1:14:20 Cedric Coward and stray Memphis Grizzlies thoughts
1:27:08 Dylan Harper (San Antonio Spurs)
1:38:54 Tre Johnson (Utah Jazz)
1:47:15 Egor Demin (Brooklyn Nets)
1:50:50 Ace Bailey, Walter Clayton Jr., Will Richard, and other stray rookie thoughts
2:00:57 OUTRO
Sam Vecenie, a Senior NBA Writer at The Athletic, talks all about basketball. From the NBA, to the NBA Draft, to college hoops and even some high school, Vecenie has you covered in this show.
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10 Comments
People keep saying context with Cooper but at the same time claimed he was this generational prospect. (Also VJ doesnt just look better because of context he just IS better than Cooper.)
Copper Flagg hasn't looked like a #1 pick. "Growing pains" it's called by Mav's fans.
VJE is the real deal. #77 is killing it for Philly.
I know…77 is not a lucky number in Dallas.
Thank you legends. Dropping a banger like this is much appreciated.
About Coward, do longer wingspan guard/wing sized players access easier rim finishing moves? If so, which ones?
One of the labels is mislabeled “TRE Johnson / Utah Jazz” should be Washington Wizards
1:22:59 I like that you both look stats up on the fly. It brings a sense of being a part of the discussion. Like thats what you'd do when talking hoops in conversation with friends.
Nothing on CMB?
For the Wizards guard Tre Johnson, the Wizards are trying to make Bub Carrington the point guard. Bub is getting there but, for now, Tre, indeed, does need to create much of his own shots.
I don't know if anything changed for the pod advertising policy. But I noticed that there's no gambling ads for a while now, so I appreciate that ☺️
Think you gotta grade castle offensively on a curve same as cooper.
He too is miscast in an on ball role rn due to injuries. It’s not even 10 games into his 2nd year he’ll continue to grow on ball.
I see castle as a Marcus smart archetype. I think he’ll be a great versatile defensive guard and good connective passer, advantage extender n play finisher.
Except he’s more explosive. ELITE rim pressure – rare from the guard position. Gives him a higher playmaking ceiling. N I think he’s bigger than smart. Gives him a chance to be even more versatile defensively