Scoot Henderson m.i.a. Amen not on list due to injury and general lack of minutes. Green's year (Barnes/Mboley) Jabari's year (Paulo) Cam/Amen... (Chet/Wemby). Our guys rarely crack the top 5 in these rookie ladder. Closest is maybe Sengun and Tari in the 6th-10th spot.
Gotta admit, I'm surprised this rookie class has been pretty bad in general. Apart from Wmeby and Chet no rookie has really blown up and the third best guy is Ausar who is basically the Jeremy Sochan of this draft. Instead, we're prob seeing a record no of rookies getting sent to the GLeague or riding the pine cuz they couldn't crack the rotation.
Latest ranking (All stats through Tuesday, Dec. 5) 1. Chet Holmgren, Oklahoma City Thunder Season stats: 17.6 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 2.2 bpg Last Ladder:1 Over the past 15 seasons, one team has had rookies hailed three straight years as the month’s best in their conference. That’s OKC, which added Holmgren to the list that includes Jalen Williams last season and Josh Giddey in 2021-22. Holmgren’s shooting was off from his norms — 48% overall, 1-of-9 from the arc — but he picked up his seventh double-double at Dallas Saturday with four blocks. 2. Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs Season stats: 19.3 ppg, 9.7 rpg, 2.7 bpg Last Ladder: 2 Draft pick: No. 1 Wembanyama scored at least 21 points in four consecutive games before sitting out for the first time this season. That’s notable for a guy many thought would be nurse-maided by overly cautious Spurs bosses. His inactive game was the second of a back-to-back, but Wemby played both ends in San Antonio’s first two such sets. 3. Brandon Miller, Charlotte Hornets Season stats: 14.4 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 2.0 apg Last Ladder: 5 Draft pick: No. 2 overall Miller’s usage rate jumped to 25.5 vs. the Knicks last week in the first game without injured LaMelo Ball. The rookie’s minutes and role should keep growing in that void. He drew praise from a veteran teammate whose job he might eventually take. “The thing that impressed me the most about him was his poise in the pocket, especially with the ball in his hands, not only making plays for himself but being able to see over the defense,” Gordon Hayward told Hoopshype.com. 4. Jaime Jaquez Jr., Miami Heat Season stats: 12 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 2.6 apg Last Ladder: 6 Draft pick: No. 18 Jaquez earned his official recognition while filling a key rotation role for the Heat. A reminder of the instant value a four-year college player can provide, he ranks in the Top 5 in nine individual categories. And the UCLA product has played the entire fourth quarter nine times, one of only 24 players league-wide averaging at least nine minutes per fourth. 5. Ausar Thompson, Detroit Pistons Season stats: 10.7 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 2.7 apg Last Ladder: 4 Draft pick: No. 5 Tough going for the Pistons’ rookie. First, there’s the losing (17 straight games as of this writing). Second, he suffered a right facial fracture. Third, he has moved to the bench and could lose time with veteran shooter Bojan Bogdanovic finally back. Fourth, foul trouble hurts playing time as well. Of such things are rookie challenges and growth made. The Next 5: 6. Keyonte George, Utah Jazz Season stats: 10.5 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 5.0 apg Last Ladder: 7 Draft pick: No. 16 For fun, John Stockton’s stats after 20 games: 7.2 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 6.7 apg. 7. Jordan Hawkins, New Orleans Pelicans Season stats: 12.9 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 1.8 apg Last Ladder: 3 Draft pick: No. 14 Oddly, shooting 44.3% in the first halves of games but only 31% in the second. 8. Dereck Lively II, Dallas Mavericks Season stats: 8.6 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 1.5 bpg Last Ladder: 8 Draft pick: No. 12 Big night vs. OKC with 20 points, 16 rebounds and 7 blocks. His 9 FGA tied his season high. 9. Cason Wallace, Oklahoma City Thunder Season stats: 7.5 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 1.4 apg Last Ladder: Not ranked Draft pick: No. 10 Hitting 52.5% from the arc. At 71.2%, he’s second to Lively (72.2%) in rookie EFG%. 10. Brandin Podziemski, Golden State Warriors Season stats: 7.3 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 2.2 apg Last Ladder: Not ranked Draft pick: No. 19 Draymond Green on Ladder newbie: “Irrational confidence.” https://www.nba.com/news/kia-rookie-ladder-dec-6-2023-edition
Latest ranking (All stats through Tuesday, Dec. 12) 1. Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs Season stats: 18.8 ppg, 10.6 rpg, 2.6 apg Last Ladder: 2 Draft pick: No. 1 Five double-doubles in a row and two gaudy games against the Bulls (21 points, 20 rebounds) and Rockets (15, 18) bump the Spurs’ youngster to the Ladder’s top. That 20-20 game came in his first start at center, which ought to be his focus – he has made just one of his past dozen 3FGAs. 2. Chet Holmgren, Oklahoma City Thunder Season stats: 17.0 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 2.5 apg Last Ladder: 1 Draft pick: No. 2 (2022) Except for blocks (3.7) this week, Holmgren’s numbers drooped as he averaged 13.7 points, 6.7 boards and 1.7 assists. He did get his plus/minus gap vs. Wemby to +271. But he probably did his best work on Instagram. 3. Brandon Miller, Charlotte Hornets Season stats: 14.6 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 2.2 apg Last Ladder: 3 Draft pick: No. 2 overall Miller has scored 10+ points in seven straight games and all but two of his 19 appearances. Miami coach Erik Spoelstra, whose team saw the Hornets forward Monday, had praise for him and the work of his coach Steve Clifford. 4. Jaime Jaquez Jr., Miami Heat Season stats: 12.4 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2.5 apg Last Ladder: 4 Draft pick: No. 18 The East’s NBA-decreed top rookie for October/November is averaging 14.5 points and shooting 51.5% in December. He scored 18 in 24 minutes before fouling out vs. Charlotte. 5. Keyonte George, Utah Jazz Season stats: 11.4 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 5.2 apg Last Ladder: 6 Draft pick: No. 16 Topped all rookies in scoring and assists the past week. And he has dished more assists (120) than any other two rookies combined. The Texas product matched Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – 30 points, 7 assists – vs. OKC Monday. The Next 5: 6. Ausar Thompson, Detroit Pistons Season stats: 10.6 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 2.5 apg Last Ladder: 5 Draft pick: No. 5 The Pistons rookie finds ways to contribute, with or without scoring. 7. Dereck Lively II, Dallas Mavericks Season stats: 9.0 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 1.2 apg Last Ladder: 8 Draft pick: No. 12 Shooting 80.4% (37/46) since Thanksgiving, league-best 73.7% overall. 8. Bilal Coulibaly, Washington Wizards Season stats: 8.9 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 1.8 apg Last Ladder: — Draft pick: No. 7 Bigger role, better results so far in December (12.5 pp, 6.0 rpg). 9. Brandin Podziemski, Golden State Warriors Season stats: 8.1 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 2.4 apg Last Ladder: 10 Draft pick: No. 19 Rank among rotation rooks: 11th ppg, 5th rpg, 9T apg, 3rd 3FG%. 10. Toumani Camara, Portland Trail Blazers Season stats: 6.7 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 1.2 apg Last Ladder: — Draft pick: No. 52 Defense is the surest way for a No. 52 pick to a) start and b) impress.
Latest rankings (All stats through Tuesday, Dec. 26) 1. Chet Holmgren, Oklahoma City Thunder Season stats: 17.3 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 2.7 bpg Last Ladder: No. 2 Draft pick: No. 2 (2022) The Thunder center led all rookies in scoring last week (20.7 ppg) while shooting 59.5% (6-of-15 on 3-pointers). Then the Minneapolis kid bounced back from an off night against the Timberwolves last month (6-of-20 in defeat) to score 20 in OKC’s payback game back home Tuesday. That one included a lot of chatter about posters, here and here, along with this nice Holmgren maneuver. 2. Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs Season stats: 18.3 ppg, 10.6 rpg, 3.0 apg Last Ladder: No. 1 Draft pick: No. 1 Never a dull moment for the Spurs’ phenom. First, he misses Saturday’s game at Dallas after stepping on a ball boy’s foot. Then, he came back on Tuesday to shoot 6-of-15 but finished with 17 points, seven rebounds, four assists and five blocks. Meanwhile, some rumbling that San Antonio teammates are serving his game generously enough. 3. Jaime Jaquez Jr., Miami Heat Season stats: 13.7 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 2.5 apg Last Ladder: No. 3 Draft pick: No. 18 After his yuletide performance, Jaquez credited teammates such as Kyle Lowry and Kevin Love for finding him, enabling him to pounce without plays drawn up for him. Said Heat wing Tyler Herro of the rookie: “What really stands out as a rookie is he’s able to come in here and do all the intangibles.” 4. Brandon Miller, Charlotte Hornets Season stats: 14.6 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 2.2 apg Last Ladder: No. 4 Draft pick: No. 2 overall Denver’s Peyton Watson played the Grinch spoiling Miller’s Christmas by stepping on the Hornets forward’s right ankle Saturday. Yet another Charlotte injury kept him out at the Clippers Tuesday. 5. Dereck Lively II, Dallas Mavericks Season stats: 9.4 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 1.5 bpg Last Ladder: No. 6 Draft pick: No. 12 Back from an ankle sprain that cost him four games, Lively had 20 and 10 against the Phoenix Suns, missed only one of nine shots and the Mavs won. They are 17-7 when he plays, 1-5 when he sits. “He has been playing like he has been in the league for 10 years already,” teammate Luka Doncic said. The Next 5 6. Ausar Thompson, Detroit Pistons Season stats: 9.5 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 2.3 apg Last Ladder: No. 5 Draft pick: No. 5 Pistons coach: “He plays hard every second he is on the floor.” 7. Brandin Podziemski, Golden State Warriors Season stats: 8.9 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 3.0 apg Last Ladder: No. 9 Draft pick: No. 19 Putting up crooked numbers. “I couldn’t tell you how I do it,” he says. 8. Keyonte George, Utah Jazz Season stats: 10.9 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 5.0 apg Last Ladder: No. 7 Draft pick: No. 16 Returned from a six-game layoff (left foot) with 10 points, four assists vs. the Spurs. 9. Bilal Coulibaly, Washington Wizards Season stats: 8.9 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1.8 apg Last Ladder: No. 8 Draft pick: No. 7 Just 6.3 FGA per game — 11th among rookies — but shooting 52% (41.8%). 10. Scoot Henderson, Portland Trail Blazers Season stats: 11.1 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 4.5 apg Last Ladder: Not ranked Draft pick: No. 3 Had 17 points, 11 assists and just one turnover in win vs. Kings on Tuesday.
I was really wrong on this draft class I thought it would be the most stacked compared to the past 2 yrs. I was also wrong on Jaime JJ I thought dude was a late first round talent, in a redraft he'd go top 5 easy.
Latest rankings (All stats through Wednesday, Jan.24) Keep track of how our rookie rankings continue to evolve throughout the season. 1. Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs Season stats: 20.4 ppg, 10.1 rpg, 3.2 bpg Last Ladder: 1 Draft pick: No. 1 The Spurs youngster blocked four shots against OKC Wednesday, giving him 18 games with at least that many. That’s fourth-most by a player before turning 21. Shaquille O’Neal did it 30 times, Anthony Davis 21 and Josh Smith 20. Meanwhile, Wemby doesn’t turn 21 for another 345 days. The kid also got to see big-man greatness — Joel Embiid’s 70-point performance — up close as the opposing center at Philadelphia on Monday. He scored 33 himself. 2. Chet Holmgren, Oklahoma City Thunder Season stats: 17.1 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 2.6 bpg Last Ladder: 2 Draft pick: No. 2 (2022) In addition to the win Wednesday and a 4-0 week, Holmgren enjoyed a couple of honors. His Thunder teammates joined him at Minnehaha Academy over the weekend when the prep school retired his jersey (the team was in Minneapolis to face the Timberwolves). Then Holmgren was named as one of the 41 NBA players in the pool for 2024 USA Basketball. A cutdown to 12 for the Paris Olympics will come later. Holmgren played for the FIBA U-19 squad that took gold in the 2021 World Cup. And his college coach from Gonzaga, Mark Few, is one of Steve Kerr’s assistants on Team USA. 3. Brandon Miller, Charlotte Hornets Season stats: 15.1 ppg, 4 rpg, 2.3 apg Last Ladder: 4 Draft pick: No. 2 overall Boosted his scoring average by more than a point by averaging 24.3 on 57.4% shooting the past four games, including 14 of 31 3s. With Terry Rozier off to Miami, more offensive load may fall to the Alabama rookie. 4. Jaime Jaquez Jr., Miami Heat Season stats: 14 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 2.7 apg Last Ladder: 3 Draft pick: No. 18 Has missed five in a row with a groin strain, with the Heat going 1-4. His value to that rotation is clear, courtesy of Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press: Miami is 20-9 when Jaquez scores 10 points or more vs. 4-11 when he does not (including DNPs). 5. Dereck Lively II, Dallas Mavericks Season stats: 8.8 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 1.4 bpg Last Ladder: 5 Draft pick: No. 12 The Mavs big got a graduate seminar last week against Lakers star Anthony Davis (28 points, 12 rebounds, nine assists). Mercifully coach Jason Kidd switched Maxi Kleber onto Davis in the second half. “With the ball [he] makes you just try to press up on him and make him get out of his game,” Lively said. “But it’s hard.” The Next 5: 6. Brandin Podziemski, Golden State Warriors Season stats: 9.2 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 3.2 apg Last Ladder: 6 Draft pick: No. 19 Solid off the bench (10 points, +19) vs. Hawks after Warriors’ sad layoff. 7. Jordan Hawkins, New Orleans Pelicans Season stats: 10.9 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 1.4 apg Last Ladder: No. 8 Draft pick: No. 14 Tops all rookies with 87 3FG, takes 60% of shots from the arc and makes 39.4% of them. 8. Keyonte George, Utah Jazz Season stats: 10.9 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 4.4 apg Last Ladder: 7 Draft pick: No. 16 Dragged down by and contributed to 3-game skid (19% FG, 6.0 ppg). 9. Scoot Henderson, Portland Trail Blazers Season stats: 12.4 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 4.7 apg Last Ladder: 9 Draft pick: No. 3 Better results for Blazers (3-2 week), same inconsistency from young guard. 10. Ausar Thompson, Detroit Pistons Season stats: 8.3 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 2.0 apg Last Ladder: 10 Draft pick: No. 5 Detroit’s better FG% lately has opened up space for Thompson’s game.
