Five NBA Rookies to Follow This Season (On Social Media)

Most athletes are on social media these days, and the majority of them are formulaic and boring. These Gen-Z NBA rookies—for better or worse—are not.

Athletes’ social media accounts are a mixed bag. Despite what Charles Barkley once said the current crop of young millionaire athletes, whether they like it or not, are considered role models by our nation’s youth. Aware of the world wide web’s uncanny ability to spark controversies and ruin reputations, most guys and gals keep their online presence watered down and operate within the standard-issue, pro athlete social media handbook–praise teammates, post pictures from the game, tweet some Scripture, use lots of emojis. It makes perfect sense, but it also constitutes a follow wasted. Quite simply, those accounts are boring.

Luckily, the first generation of children raised on apps is finally old enough to begin breaking into our professional sports leagues. These precocious Gen Z athletes have a bit more social media savvy and know how to both toe the line and keep it interesting online. The NBA wormed its way into the standard-bearer role for athlete accessibility and intrigue on social media with a bottomless gorge of content from NBA Twitter, NBA-specific meme accounts with followers in the millions on Instagram and players unafraid to spend too much time on their phones (Kevin, I’m looking at you).

With that in mind, here are five NBA rookies to follow this season—literally. This list does not take into account on-court performance, potential, college stats, etc. It is simply a collection of Twitter and Instagram handles from rooks who demonstrate a flair for the creative, unusual, fashionable or funny on social media. The bar is low, and the definition of those words is up to me, so don’t be devastated if your personal favorite didn’t make the cut.

Tyler Herro (Miami Heat) — @raf_tyler (Twitter), @nolimitherro (Instagram)

The Heat rookie managed to strike up a blossoming bromance with one of the league’s most prickly pears in Jimmy Butler, so you know Jimmy must see a bit of himself in Herro. That means a strong defiant streak and zero hesitation to stir the pot and be himself. We knew the kid was a character based on his draft outfit, and his social media handles include…a reference to the Raf Simons clothing line and a play on rapper G Herbo’s @nolimitherbo handle (whether there’s any friendship between the rapper from Chicago and the basketball player from Wisconsin is unclear). 

Herro’s odd tastes in fashion alone make him a worthy follow—he played pickup in what appears to be a swimsuit over the summer, wore the ridiculous outfit pictured below around Miami and even slapped a Huji filter on this weird picture of him on a sidewalk standing with fellow Heat rookie Kezie Okpala in some very, very skinny jeans. 

Herro is a bit obnoxious, but he’s good at what he does, knows it and isn’t afraid to let you know. That fact alone makes him an interesting follow on social media.

Darius Bazely (Oklahoma City Thunder) — @BazelyDarius (Twitter), @dariusbazely (Instagram)

You can never ignore a Klutch Sports signee on social media, and the Thunder rookie is one of the rare athletes who understands both main social media platforms quite well. His Twitter is genuinely funny and rather charming–a wholesome blend of commentary on everything from switching cellphone carries to the weather in Utah to a thread on interior design. 

Instagram is for game photos and glamour shots, but the New Balance signee already flashed some intriguing denim-on-denim entrance apparel while also popping out in this 90s-inspired fit. 

Bazely already made some famous friends in his brief time as an NBAer, including this obligatory Klutch group shots as well as this trio with Jaden Smith.

Bazely cuts a different profile from someone like Herro on social media (his Instagram bio reads “I love you | I’m only here because of God”), but he channels his personality directly into the content he posts. And because he has a fun personality, he has fun social media accounts.

Jaxson Hayes (New Orleans Pelicans) — @hayes_jaxson (Twitter), @sideshowjax_ (Instagram)

Any NBA player who can poke fun at themselves deserves a tip of the cap in my book, and Jaxson Hayes’ social media presence includes an overarching dig at himself and his striking resemblance to longtime Simpson character Sideshow Bob, the show’s resident evil genius. Hayes is no psychopathic jailbird but rather a long, explosive athlete and dunker with a great Instagram account. Though his Twitter sees little use, Hayes keeps his IG followers entertained with a nice mix of game photos, tunnel fits, outside world photoshoots and compilations of him bullying hapless opponents inside. 

He also appears to have gotten his hands on some sort of font kit for the captions, a personal favorite athlete social media move. And if that isn’t enough, Hayes was kind enough not to delete some hilarious photos from his high school days. All said, Hayes knows how to deliver on Instagram. Also, his Sideshow Bob ice is spot on.

Ignas Bradzekis (New York Knicks)- @_iggy_braz (Twitter), @_iggy_braz (Instagram)

The Knicks rookie looks like a low-budget enforcer for a Bond villain and, similar to one Mr. Herro, has no qualms about being self-confident. That’s a potent combo for a hate follow, and the other Iggy is already leaning into a role as the bad guy, self-styling himself as “The Don” and posting photos like this while dubbing himself "New York's Villain." 

The ridiculous Gothic-text chest tattoo of his last name is also worth a like.

Never one to shy away from some self-praise on Twitter, Bradzekis also flashes a softer side just often enough to remind you he is a real human being. 

He retweets a few too many Nav musings for my liking, but Brazekis is a character in the truest sense and is sure to become a guy NBA fans will either love to hate or hate that they love.

Matisse Thybulle (Philadelphia 76ers) — @MatisseThybulle (Twitter), @theycallmematisse (Instagram)

The Sixers’ babyface rookie is a quirky delight on social media. A self-professed nerd at heart, Thybulle’s father named him after famous painter Henri Matisse, so naturally Thybulle visited an exhibition of his work and brought a Sixers film crew along with him.

What Thybulle lacks in pizzazz, weirdness or taste for provocation on social media he makes up for with a nose for the camera, a thousand-kilowatt smile and a genuine curiosity and intelligence that are a breath of fresh air from such a young athlete. He’s got a sense of humor, loves his friends and spent the summer making the rounds both in Pacific Northwest. 

He popped up at MLB games, WNBA games, MLS games and Instagram headquarters among other locales. As with Hayes, Thybulle was kind enough to let us take a peak back at his earlier years near the bottom of his Instagram account. 

Call him corny if you want, but there’s something engaging and charming about the Sixers’ rook’s presence on social media.