My NBA Rookie Ladder...
You knew there would be some good rookies to come out of this NBA class. This was said to be a historically-bad class and it may be but there are some diamonds in the rough.
Ja’Kobe Walter - Toronto Raptors 7ppg
Who?! Lol yeah I didn’t really know about him until the past couple of weeks but he’s finally playing some minutes and likely will see even more if Scottie Barnes does miss some time. He’s only played 11 games so far out of a possible 25.
Last game he had a career high with 19 points in 22 minutes. He’s got potential too as he has handles, athleticism, and playmaking ability. Haven’t seen him yet on any other ladders but he’s climbing up mine (pause).
Zaccharie Risacher - Atlanta Hawks 11.6 ppg, 28.6% 3pt
He’s lower than most all other ladders have him. He has one really good game and has looked pretty good at times but if Atlanta really wants to make a playoff push here as they are 7th in the East, I could see him barely playing if the Hawks stay healthy. DeAndre Hunter, Bogdan Bogdonovic, and Dyson Daniels are just way better at this point and if he can only hit 30% of his threes even Garrison Mathews looks like a better bench option as a shooter off the bench.
Dalton Knecht - Los Angeles Lakers 11 ppg, 39% 3pt
I’m just not sold on Knecht as anything more than a spot up shooter. He had a few huge scoring games where he shot the lights out from three but has been very inconsistent. He’s been playing big minutes only because his twin, Austin Reaves, has been out. In his last 5 games he’s scored more than 6 just once while averaging 26.2 minutes on 14.3% from 3, which is why he’s down my ladder.
His ceiling is like Danillo Gallinari? That may even be generous as Gallo had some huge seasons. People forget he averaged over 18 ppg 4 years in the NBA.
Bub Carrington - Washington Wizards 9.2 ppg, 4.1 apg
He is a big guard and looks like he could have some serious potential. The Wizards are a mess but at least they are playing him and other young guys more now. They just need to get rid of some black holes on offense they have like Kuzma, Val, and Brogdon and let Poole, Carrington, and Coulibally get all the shots.
Alex Sarr - Washington Wizards 10.6 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 1.9 bpg
People said he would just be a good defender and do nothing at all on offense as a rookie and they have been right for the most part. His offense has been a little better than what we thought after an atrocious Summer League though. He’s off to good start to December averaging 10.5 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 2 blocks while shooting 50% and 33% from three.
Zach Edey - Memphis Grizzlies 11.1 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 1.0 bpg
You can’t knock him too much for being injured the past few weeks and some sites put him outside their top 10 rookies which is nuts. The numbers are good even though the blocks number has been disappointing but he had just played four games in a row with 22+ minutes before this injury. You get really excited about some big games too like 25, 12, and 4 blocks in 29 minutes against Brooklyn.
If he gets healthy and back to playing mid 20s of minutes every night he could top this list really soon.
Yves Missi - New Orleans Pelicans 9.3 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 1.3 bpg
He’s kind of like this years Dereck Lively. Missi is tall, lanky and athletic and can catch lobs. He’s been great for the Pelicans who needed a center to step up and Missi has done just that.
In 5 games in December he’s averaging 13.8 ppg and 10.6 rpg in 28 minutes.
Jaylen Wells - Memphis Grizzlies 11.5 ppg, 38.3% 3pt
I’m not gonna lie, I’m not the biggest Wells fan compared to other people. It’s not because I don’t think he’s good, I just think he has limited upside. I see a really good three and D player. There’s nothing wrong with being that but as far as potential to be a star, I just don’t see it yet with him.
The reason I still have him at 3 is because he is impacting winning on a good team. He’s playing over 25 minutes per night and guarding the other teams best player while hitting his threes. Gotta respect that.
Stephon Castle - San Antonio Spurs 12.1 ppg 3.8 apg
Castle is 2nd in ppg and just getting better. He averaged 13.6 in November and 14.6 currently in December. Shooting will be the thing that will make or break him. He’s shooting 28% from three which you just can’t have as a starting guard in the league. Everything else has been great about him.
Jared McCain - Philadelphia 76ers 15.8 ppg 38.2% 3pt
You really can’t put anyone else at No. 1 on your rookie ladder. McCain was on an insane tear before cooling down but still leads all rookies in scoring by far at 15.8 and has the ability to get his own shot, he’s not just a spot up shooter.
He had a stretch where he scored 18 or more 8 games in a row and has 8 games where he has scored 20 or more. He’s only played in 22 games and 3 of those he played 4 minutes or less in.