The Ringer NBA Show – Group Chat

Episode: Updated Rookie Comps

Date: March 3, 2026
Hosts: Justin Verrier, Rob Mahoney, Kyle Boone

OVERVIEW

In this episode, the Group Chat crew does a deep dive into the 2025-26 NBA rookie class. The hosts provide updated player comparisons ("comps") for the top rookies, reflecting what they’ve shown so far versus pre-draft expectations. They break down context, ceiling, and trajectory for the class' headline names—Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel, Dylan Harper, VJ Edgecombe, Ace Bailey, Trey Johnson, and more. Discussion also touches on the ongoing Rookie of the Year race and which archetypes are set to define the league’s future.

The hosts blend in signature banter and humility about their prior takes, and get granular about development context, statistical outliers, and the ways these players echo, or break from, past NBA archetypes.

KEY DISCUSSION POINTS & INSIGHTS

1. March Madness Vibes & Life Updates (01:23–05:56)

• Panel begins with lighthearted March excitement and Justin’s home renovation saga.
• Justin tries to position himself as the “Property Brothers” of the group. Joking:

  “Everyone’s out here building their brands. I’m building houses, all right? That’s my brand.” (03:25, Justin Verrier)

• The seasonal change to March is building anticipation for draft chat.

  “I got sucked into...March Madness buzzer beaters...it’s in the air.” (01:37, Kyle Boone)

2. Framing the Episode: Rookie Comps & Projecting the Class (05:56–06:27)

• Hosts set their purpose: updating comps for the top 10 or so rookies, considering new data and context.

  “What we know now about these players as NBA players and kind of updating our previous conceptions of them” (06:01, Justin Verrier)

3. Cooper Flagg: LeBron, Pippen, or Something Else? (06:29–18:02)

• Historic trajectory for an 18-year-old: Only LeBron (1.7 BPM) and Flagg (1.3) have >1.0 Box Plus Minus at age 18 in NBA history (per Dan Feldman). (06:29)
• Comps deliberated:
  • LeBron (in connective/team-elevating ways, not direct 1-for-1)
  • Paul George (fluidity, athleticism)
  • Jimmy Butler (grit, a-rhythm, defensive competitiveness)
  • Scottie Pippen / Jayson Tatum (big forwards who run offense)
• Flagg’s developmental context is key:

  “The fact that you even have to stop to consider it is what makes him such an insane prospect.” (08:37, Rob Mahoney)

• His rapid improvement, especially as a shooter, is underscored:

  “Night and day between who he was as a three point shooter early in the season to now.” (09:22, Rob Mahoney)

• Physicality sets him apart:

  “Cooper has a lot more MF than [Gervin]...He’ll try to dunk on you, he has all of those things.” (12:02, Kyle Boone)

• Unanimous: Role flexibility and high floor mean he’s already a foundational piece—likely a perennial top-10 player, maybe not “best in the league,” but close.

  “I feel incredibly confident he will inevitably be in that like 7 to 10 range.” (17:01, Rob Mahoney)

4. Kon Knueppel: Historic Shooting & Modern Mullen? (18:02–28:16)

• Efficiency that jumps off historical charts:
  • All-time rookie record for true shooting and effective FG%
  • Highest 3P% ever (44–45%) on high volume for a rookie
• Comps:
  • Modern Chris Mullen (shooter + physicality)
  • “75% Ray Allen, 25% Nick Collison” (22:57, Rob Mahoney)
  • Gordon Hayward, Devin Booker flashes (“self-creation”)
• The hosts note his unique ability to rapidly transition his shot to NBA speed and to thrive as a physical, versatile pick-and-pop player, not just a movement shooter.
• Debate: Can he win Rookie of the Year over Flagg?

  “If we shut down the race today, [Kneuppel] would win.” (25:59, Justin Verrier)
  “Con's efficiency and he’s contributing to winning...I think Con deserves it at the end of the day.” (27:26, Kyle Boone)

• Rookie of the Year could come down to Con’s historic numbers and games played vs. Flagg’s hype and two-way impact.

5. Dylan Harper: Harden/Kyrie/Brunson Mashup? (29:22–38:45)

• Fit question: Should the Spurs have drafted Knueppel over Harper? Panel defends the long view—Harper’s ceiling as a big downhill creator.
• Comps:
  • OKC-era Harden (“downhill creator, craft, lefty moves”)
  • Kyrie (“at the basket finishing”)
  • Jalen Brunson (“the stop and start to his game,” 33:12)
  • Pre-ACL Ron Harper, Dwyane Wade, “big old Jalen Brunson”
• Weak spot: Shooting (just 25% from three). Panel says it’s not worrying until defenses prove they can ignore it in the playoffs.

  “I think I don't get worried about it until I see it in the playoffs with him.” (36:48, Rob Mahoney)

• Panel expects a playoff game where Harper ‘goes nuclear’ and flashes all-NBA, even MVP-caliber ability.

6. VJ Edgecombe: Wade/Mitchell Athleticism, Oladipo Reliability (41:01–47:49)

• Comps:
  • “What if Scoot Henderson was good?” (41:01, Justin Verrier)
  • Dwyane Wade/Donovan Mitchell (downhill athleticism & explosion)
  • Monte Ellis “with his priorities straight” (42:42, Rob Mahoney)
  • Victor Oladipo (if healthy) + Derrick White (all-around role player on good teams)
• Lacks some craft as a creator versus instinctual play; his next leap requires more nuanced in-between scoring, not just athletic blow-bys.

7. Ace Bailey: Stretch 4 or Iso Scorer? (47:49–53:24)

• Usage: Getting more run of late, starting to shine as a scorer.
• Comps discussed:
  • Rashard Lewis (but more isolation and ball dominance)
  • Michael Porter Jr. (as an iso-heavy, taller shooter)
  • Jaden McDaniels (defensive upside)
  • Danny Granger (“their build, reliance on the jumper, one-time All-Star ceiling,” 48:57, Rob Mahoney)
  • Rudy Gay, Jeremy Grant
• Debate on ceiling: high-level, efficient scorer, but question remains how much he’ll evolve as an all-around star.

8. Trey Johnson: Beal, Booker, or Buddy? (53:24–59:58)

• Comps:
  • Bradley Beal (“obvious one,” 54:19, Justin Verrier)
  • Devin Booker (if he “actually shoots,” 24:48)
  • Michael Redd, Allan Houston, Buddy Hield
  • Lou Williams (floor), “but I don't know that anyone’s floor is Lou Williams” (54:19, Rob Mahoney)
• Strengths: shooting touch and passing; concern is finishing around the rim.
• Uncertainty about star upside: might “just” be high-value shooter and connector rather than a creator.

9. Lightning Round: Other 1st-Rounders & Notable Rookies (61:05–73:02)

Pels Duo: Jeremy Fears & Derek Queen

• Comps:
  • Fears: Jared Bayless, Devin Harris, “aspirational Jeff Teague” (61:24, Rob Mahoney)
  • Queen: Z-Bo (for body type & physicality), Boris Diaw (“impact winning in flashes,” 62:45), Alperen Şengün (offensive passing, less defense)
  • Questions: Both have defensive and size limitations; Fears’ shooting cited as a major concern.

Jaegor

• Comps: Kyle Anderson, Shaun Livingston (post-injury), Josh Giddey, Joe Ingles (early career), “uncompable,” says Rob Mahoney, due to his unique offensive approach (65:29).
• Still undefined between ball handler, wing, and movement shooter.

Colin Murray-Boyles (CMB)

• Comps: Draymond Green (defensive engine, small-ball center), “Jakob Poeltl’s touch” (at-rim efficiency), Grant Williams
• Challenge: must develop more aggression as a scorer to stay on the floor.

Cedric Coward

• Comps: Mikal Bridges (high-level utility swing role), Karron Butler (“scorer’s wiring,” 70:30), “sciatic” Stackhouse (stiff movement), Jeremy Grant
• Not built like a big wing (only 6’5”), but rebounder/defender; uncertain ceiling.

10. Deep Cuts & Intriguing Sleepers (73:02–79:46)

• Nets rookies: Nolan Traore (Tyus & Tre Jones “long-lost French brother”), Danny Wolf (“Ivy League Hedo Turkoglu”), Jana Konan Niederhauser (“Derek Lively-ish”)
• Others mentioned: Maxime Renault (Kings; “lanky Chris Kaman, minus the doomsday bunker” 76:08), Ryan C. Brenner, Ugo (raw, fearless rim protector), Yakachonis (improving shooting)
• Nick Clifford (Kings): Utility swingman, likened to “LaPhonso Ellis, NBA Jam-style does-everything solid guy” (78:12, Justin Verrier)

MEMORABLE QUOTES & MOMENTS

“What’s so holy that we can’t go near in comps? Kevin Durant...We’re not going into that wing of the chapel.” (07:36, Kyle Boone)

“I will sell out for just a coupon at Lowe’s or Home Depot.” (05:48, Justin Verrier)

“I just think Cooper could very quickly become the kind of player who, yeah, you don’t remodel your entire franchise around...but he’s just going to be so valuable to winning teams for a really long time.” (17:01, Rob Mahoney)

On Knueppel: “He does have some Booker to his game when he gets in the middle of the floor...he has self-creation upside that is going to change the conversation even more in the future.” (23:19, Kyle Boone)

“Harper gives them another timeline...He’s so strong and wide...anticipatory processing in the paint.” (31:13, Kyle Boone)

“VJ Edgecombe: Monte Ellis, but with his priorities straight.” (42:42, Rob Mahoney/Justin Verrier)

“Ace Bailey is somewhere in that cluster of players [Granger, MPJ, Rudy Gay, Jaden McDaniels]...never finds a home, but you could be tricked into thinking he’s an all-star for a minute.” (51:56, Kyle Boone)

TIMESTAMPS FOR MAJOR SEGMENTS

• [01:23] – Kicking off, March vibes, banter, home renovations
• [06:27] – Framing: Why rookie comps now
• [06:29] – Cooper Flagg: comps, special trajectory
• [18:02] – Kon Knueppel: historic shooting, eased Mullen/Booker comps
• [29:22] – Dylan Harper: fit on Spurs, Harden/Kyrie/Brunson comparisons
• [41:01] – VJ Edgecombe: the “good” Scoot, Wade/Mitchell/Oladipo parallels
• [47:49] – Ace Bailey: what is his star path, MPJ/Granger takes
• [53:24] – Trey Johnson: shooting, creation, Beal/Booker/Red range
• [61:05] – Lightning round: Fears/Queen, Jaegor, CMB, Coward
• [73:26] – Deep cut rookies: Traore, Wolf, Niederhauser, Renault, Clifford
• [79:46] – Wrap-up remarks

SUMMARY FLOW

This episode is perfect for NBA fans keeping tabs on rookie development, draft nerds, and anyone who likes seeing how first impressions evolve once the “real NBA” data sets in. The hosts challenge one another’s prior impressions and celebrate the unprecedented talent—especially at the top—while acknowledging the unpredictable paths rookies must navigate. The conversation is rich in history, humor, and humility about scouting, making this a definitive midseason check-in on the 2025-26 rookie class.

For listening skip-to’s or quick takes, refer to the timestamps above.