Happy Thanksgiving! To give you something to talk about with your undoubtedly NBA-fluent families and friends, here are some rookie rankings to chew over.
1. Jared McCain, Philadelphia 76ers
Over his last ten games, McCain has averaged 23 points per game (top 25 in the league in that span) on solid efficiency, including 39% from deep on crazy volume. Philly hasn’t had much to cheer about this season, but McCain’s surprising on-ball creation and superb off-ball movement have Philly fans seeing a future star (wait, maybe that’s just their court). I’m obsessed with this little moonwalk he uses to shake OG Anunoby juuuust enough to bury a shuriken in his eye:
McCain likely won’t score like this when the team’s fully healthy (and he’s cooled off the last two games), but the fact that he can is a great sign for the team’s present and future.
2. Stephon Castle, San Antonio Spurs
Castle has risen to second place thanks to an excellent recent stretch. Since becoming a starter, Castle’s averaged 15 points, three boards, and five assists while playing ferocious defense.
Castle is incredibly versatile. At nearly 6’6” pre-shoes and pre-hair, he has the size and speed to fill any number of roles. As I wrote about at length here, he’s quickly becoming the perfect amorphous fit next to Victor Wembanyama.
Although his three-point accuracy is still developing, Castle’s confidence in his shot is the skeleton key that unlocks the rest of his offensive game. And the more effective he is on offense, the more opportunity he’s given to create absolute havoc on defense.
I’m particularly intrigued by his ability to be a faux-big man in the screen and roll:
The Spurs are already a good team in Wembanyama’s second year and Castle’s first. Opposing coaches are losing sleep at night, imagining where San Antonio will be in a few seasons.
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3. Jaylen Wells, Memphis Grizzlies
Wells might not have as much upside as other rookies on here, but he’s already proven that he can be a high-level contributor on a winning team. He’s a starting 3-and-Der on a Grizzlies squad that would have home-court advantage if the playoffs started today.
Wells is taking difficult defensive assignments (to varying degrees of success, but hey, he’s a rookie!) and canning nearly 40% of his triples on solid volume. He has more floor game than advertised, too:
It’s hard to find NBA-ready rookies and even harder to find them late in the draft. For the Grizzlies to find a stud in the second round is a testament to the team’s scouting department and Wells’ own work ethic.
4. Zach Edey, Memphis Grizzlies
Another Grizzly in the top five, albeit one expected to be here. Edey is still figuring out how to defend without fouling, but he’s sporting above-average steal and block raters for a center, shooting 61% from the field, steamrolling defenders into cartoony 2D pancakes whenever he sets a pick, and hitting 60% from deep (on a grand total of 10 attempts, but gotta start somewhere!)
I’m still not quite sure if Edey can hold up defensively against an offense that truly tests him, but I also think his offense will only get better. So far, I’ve liked what I’ve seen.
5. Dalton Knecht, Los Angeles Lakers
Knecht has been everything the Lakers hoped for offensively and everything they feared defensively. When he’s given big minutes to find a rhythm, he looks like one of the best shooters in the league: check the recent four-game stretch where he went a combined 19 for 33 from deep.
Knecht is even shooting 62% on twos, using the threat of his shot to blow past closeouts and cutting cannily around Anthony Davis and LeBron James. JJ Redick has been mulling giving him more minutes with the starters (he was on the court for tip-off last night!), so we might get some extended looks at how he can survive on the other end.
6. Bub Carrington, Washington Wizards
Carrington has played a ton of minutes for a very, very bad Washington Wizards team, allowing him to rack up some counting stats. His 4.5 assists per game are the most of any rookie by a mile, and he’s hitting a respectable-for-a-rookie 35% from long range on decent volume. Even though he’s a bit too in love with the midrange, he’s at least been relatively careful with the ball (for a rookie point guard).
Carrington is unselfish and has a good passing eye. He’s a little susceptible to physical guard defenders right now, but hopefully, experience and some offseason weightlifting will help with that.
7. Zaccharie Risacher, Atlanta Hawks
There’s a big discrepancy between the stats (12 points on 39% from the field) and the eye test with the number-one pick. Risacher is already a good, if inconsistent, defender, an excellent cutter, and a better passer than his 1.4 assists per game would indicate. He can do almost everything except for shoot right now, but unfortunately, that’s the most important part of basketball. At least he hasn’t lacked for confidence.
I’m very optimistic about Risacher’s eventual fit as a high-level starter, but it might take a few years before we see his percentages catch up to the rest of his game.
8. Alex Sarr, Washington Wizards
Sarr has pronounced strengths (shotblocking and passing) and weaknesses (literal physical weakness, scoring), which makes him a vastly different player from night to night. If he ends up piecing it all together, it’ll look a lot like if Jaren Jackson Jr. actually passed the ball on occasion — and that’s a nice player.
9. Ryan Dunn, Phoenix Suns
The big wing is already an elite defender. Opposing defenses don’t respect his shot, but if you take away a 1-for-9 night (and I will, because I’m trying to paint him in the best possible light), he’s shooting 35% from deep. Not great, but far better than preseason projections had him. I hope the shot keeps developing, because Dunn is a critical defensive piece for a Suns team that looks like a real threat when Kevin Durant is healthy.
10. Yves Missi, New Orleans Pelicans
Missi has been the rare bright spot in New Orleans this season. While he’s a bit overtaxed as a starter right now, the frenetic energy he brings on both ends paired with visibly growing confidence makes for a fun watch.
Honorable mentions: Donovan Clingan, Blazers (a legitimately frightening shotblocker); Ajay Mitchell, Thunder (high two-way feel for the game); Kyshawn George, Wizards; Tristan da Silva, Magic
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