S otheby’s is proud to present NBA Auctions Premier: Rookie Collection | Part II, featuring game-worn jerseys from the NBA’s most exciting emerging stars. The offering includes jerseys worn during players’ NBA debuts, along with pieces tied to other defining moments from their rookie campaigns.
The 2025 NBA Draft class arrived in the league amid significant anticipation, headlined by standout collegiate performers and elite international prospects. Entering the professional stage with a blend of skill, athleticism, and high-end potential, the group was expected to make an immediate impact. Their debut season quickly became defined by breakout moments, highlight plays, and the early signs of future stardom.
The NBA Draft is built on hope. For teams and fans, it is the moment when everything feels possible, when a single night can reshape a franchise and a new generation steps into the league.
Most draft classes bring promise. A few end up changing the game entirely.The 1984 class gave us Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, and John Stockton, players who helped define an era. In 1996, Kobe Bryant and Allen Iverson arrived and left a lasting mark on the sport. Then in 2003, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, and Chris Bosh entered the league and formed one of the most talented groups ever seen at the top of a draft.
Those classes set a very high bar, both in talent and impact. The 2025 NBA Draft now joins that history with its own story to write. It carries the same excitement and uncertainty, and while its legacy is still unknown, the talent in the class has already sparked belief that it could become one of the most memorable groups in recent years.
Rookie debut jerseys hold a special place in NBA history because they capture the exact moment a player’s professional career begins. Long before championships, All-Star selections, or MVP awards, every great career starts with that first game. For many of the league’s legends, their debut jerseys mark the start of historic journeys. The first NBA game-worn jerseys of players such as Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Victor Wembanyama represent the beginning of careers that would eventually reshape the league. At the time, these jerseys were simply uniforms for a first game, but in hindsight, they preserve the earliest chapter of basketball history.
Debut jerseys carry a special kind of meaning because they are tied to first impressions that often stick. Some rookies arrive and make an immediate impact with standout performances, while others are just beginning a journey that eventually turns into something much bigger.Either way, the jersey worn that night becomes a real, lasting piece of their first step into the NBA.
Sotheby’s has helped define the market for these historic items, setting the record for the highest sale of an NBA rookie debut jersey. In doing so, it has underscored just how meaningful these early career moments are for both collectors and fans.
ESPN noted that the 2025 class stood out for its rare blend of youth and high-level skill, making the group especially appealing to NBA teams. Led by Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel, the class featured a strong mix of shooters, scorers, and defenders who have already made an immediate impact with their teams.
Selected first overall in the 2025 NBA Draft, Cooper Flagg entered the league with a level of anticipation rarely seen for a player his age. The basketball world had been watching him long before draft night and even before his breakout season at Duke. At just 17, he drew national attention while competing against Team USA in pre-Olympic scrimmages, going viral for holding his own against a roster filled with future Hall of Famers. It did not take long for Flagg to take the league by storm.
“He’s better than advertised, if that’s possible.”
By the time he was 18, he was already rewriting the record books. He became the youngest player in NBA history to score 40 points in a game, record double-digit assists, and put together multiple 25-point performances. He set a new NBA record for points by a teenager, becoming the youngest player in NBA history to score 50 points in a game, finishing with 51.
Flagg’s main rival for Rookie of the Year was his former Duke teammate, Kon Knueppel. Averaging around 19 points and 5 rebounds per game, Knueppel paired steady scoring with historic shooting efficiency. He had already rewritten the record books, becoming the most prolific rookie shooter in NBA history after surpassing Keegan Murray’s previous mark of 206 made three-pointers. He broke the Hornets franchise record for 3-pointers made in a season.
In a short time, he had established himself as one of the league’s premier shooters and had drawn the attention and respect of top players and coaches across the NBA. After coaching against Knueppel for the first time, Steve Kerr was full of praise and explained why the rookie reminded him of Warriors legend Chris Mullin: “Really good size on the wing, big strong body, catch-and-shoot, but also incredible IQ, passing, making the right play over and over again. He's already a really, really damn good player,” the four-time NBA champion coach said.
Defined by poise, efficiency, and timely shot-making, Knueppel's rookie season established him as one of the league's premier shooters and earned him a runner-up finish for Rookie of the Year.
“You’re probably one of the smartest rookies I’ve ever seen… one of the most competitive players that I’ve seen as a rookie.”
“You’re probably one of the smartest rookies I’ve ever seen.” 💯
Giannis showed love to Milwaukee native Kon Knueppel during NBA All-Star! pic.twitter.com/VV82bgtvsy
— #NBAAllStar (@NBAAllStar) February 17, 2026
The rest of the 2025 rookie class has also made an immediate impression. Players like VJ Edgecombe, Derik Queen, Dylan Harper, and Maxime Raynaud all made immediate impacts with their teams.
Derik Queen had already drawn comparisons to Nikola Jokić for his vision, patience, and ability to run an offense from the frontcourt. That kind of praise was rarely given to a rookie. Early in the season, he became the first rookie center in NBA history to record a 30-point triple-double, a milestone that highlighted just how unique his skill set was.
Dylan Harper gave the San Antonio Spurs a major spark off the bench throughout much of his rookie campaign. With his powerful drives and natural scoring ability, he showed the poise of a seasoned veteran. Harper quickly became an important piece of one of the league’s most promising young cores in San Antonio, a group that aimed to make a run at an NBA title that season.
Bid now on game worn jerseys from the league’s most promising rookies, including debuts and standout moments.
The exclusive online auction is open for bidding from June 9th to June 15th, 2026.
