As the 2025 NBA season continues, our first look at a few of this year’s rookies has provided hints of long-term potential. While most eyes are on lottery picks, players selected later in the first round and other players selected in the second round have made the most of their opportunities in the season openers. This article will examine five rookies who made a good first impression in limited minutes and showcased their long-term potential.

Jamal Shead is excluded from this list in terms of minutes played, as he saw 19 minutes of action following Immanuel Quickley’s injury. He was widely regarded as an elite perimeter defender during last year’s draft and continued to showcase that throughout summer league and the NBA preseason. Shead finished the game with ten points, four assists and one rebound. He played with great confidence at both ends of the field, but was noted primarily for his defensive effectiveness and aggressiveness; He tallied blocks and steals thanks to his strength and foresight. His minutes throughout this year will vary depending on Quickley’s situation, but the Raptors need to make sure he’s on the court.

Tyler Smith didn’t see the court until the Bucks’ game against the 76ers, but he quickly seized his opportunity. Despite playing only two minutes, Smith recorded five points and one rebound; He scored his first points in the NBA, including the catch-and-shoot corner triple. While this first look should be taken with caution, his confidence and smooth jumper appear to translate as a viable option as the Bucks’ rotation improves throughout the year. Although Bobby Portis is ready to fill the forward spot on the bench, the rest of their depth isn’t great; So, if an injury or trade were to occur, it could open up a runway for Smith to step in as a floor-spacing, style-of-play forward for Milwaukee.

Jaylon Tyson was drafted by the Cavs to increase their wing depth, and he showed in his NBA debut that he can fill that role. He made his debut after taking control of the game but quickly made his impact felt in seven minutes of playing time. Tyson, who finished the game with 4 points, 2 rebounds and 1 assist, clearly showed the importance of playing harder and expressed the hope that he could take a greater role if Max Strus misses an extended period of time. He provided a clear spark in his limited minutes, made a great first impression and confirmed many of the strong suits that attracted Cleveland’s interest leading up to last year’s draft.

Pelle Larsson played six minutes during Miami’s blowout loss to the Magic, but he showed a two-way rise that fits the Heat’s culture of toughness. He played aggressive defense that didn’t quite capture his one steal. Larsson turned this steal into a fast attack opportunity and finished the match with only two points in the basket. Moving on to bigger opponents, he impressed with his physical play and quick decision-making. Larsson has the opportunity to continue increasing his minutes after showing effectiveness on both ends of the preseason and could be the next Heat player to seemingly come out of nowhere and make a significant impact.

Jonathan Mogbo played 11 minutes in his first game against the Cavs and finished with an impressive seven points. There were a lot of questions asked about him last year because he was undersized for his style of play, but his power and explosiveness have proven to be transferable. Mogbo has clearly been working on his game, and he made the three-point shot, which wasn’t a feature of his game in college. Typically, players stuck between positions fail to find a long-term fit in the NBA, but Mogbo may be an exception as he works his way into a Raptors rotation that doesn’t stick to prototypical roles.

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