We’re just about at the two-month mark on the NBA season, which means it’s time for another edition of Rookie of the Year rankings. We’ve learned more about this crop of players, primarily that there’s some really solid defenders in this class. Players like Jaylen Wells and Stephon Castle have been trusted heavily by their respective teams to take on some of the toughest defensive assignments every night. Even the top two picks in the draft, Alex Sarr and Zaccharie Risacher, are proving their worth on the defensive end right now.
The defense has been impressive, but what’s been surprising is the lack of scorers in this crop of freshmen. Several players are really unrefined on the offensive end, and it’s going to take a couple years before they’re scoring in bunches. But seeing so many rookies struggling to crack the 10 point per game average is truly surprising given how offense-happy the league is. I said this last time, but we really may end with a Rookie of the Year winner who averages under 15 points a night.
But that’s looking too far into the future, for now let’s focus on the rookies up to this point. We’re breaking down this class two months into the season. We’ll be rolling these rankings out on a month-to-month basis, and they will serve as a Rookie of the Year standings.
Honorable mentions
- Dalton Knecht, Los Angeles Lakers (Season stats: 10.6 points, 3.7 rebounds, 46.8% FG, 37.6% 3P): Since that 37-point outing in mid-November Knecht has slowed down in terms of production. His efficiency has dipped considerably in the last month, and he’s shooting just 41% from the field and 28.1% from 3-point range. But he’s also had bright spots on a Lakers team that is still struggling to find its footing.
- Alex Sarr, Washington Wizards (Season stats: 10.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 38.8% FG, 26.5% 3P): Sarr had a rough go of it offensively to open the season, but in the last month he’s turned in more efficient performances, primarily from 3-point range where he’s shooting 36% from deep in the last four weeks on 4.3 attempts per game. The Wizards are losing a bunch, but Sarr is improving every game, and his impact on defense is still a constant.
- Carlton Carrington, Washington Wizards (Season stats: 9.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 38.6% FG, 32.7% 3P): Carrington’s production has really taken a dive in the last month, but that’s more an indictment of a Wizards team that has won just one game since Oct. 30. Carrington is second among all rookies in potential assists in the last month with 5.9, so if his teammates managed to knock down just a few more of their shots off his passes, perhaps they’d win more games.
And now for the current top five.
No one could’ve predicted that at this point in the season not only would Missi have played the most games for the Pelicans, but also started in the most games. The Pelicans have been hit with the injury bug in a monumental way, but in trying to find the silver lining, Missi has gotten more opportunity than he likely ever imagined when he was drafted by New Orleans in June. It only took five games for him to supplant Daniel Theis as the starting center, and that was before the injuries started to really strike.
Missi’s the rookie leader in rebounds per game, he’s registered the most double-doubles amongst his peers, and in his career-high game of 23 points against the Hawks on Dec. 2 he became the fifth rookie in franchise history to finish with at least 20 points and 10 rebounds.
That performance against the Hawks felt like Missi wasn’t a rookie at all. He was doing all the usual stuff that we expected him to do, which is primarily catch lobs off pick-and-rolls, but he’s also showing impressive strength to finish through contact. There were several times in that game, whether it was Clint Capela or someone else who bumped him as he caught the ball in the low post and he not only got the foul call but got an and-1. Rookies typically lack strength to finish those types of plays, and while Missi can still stand to put on more muscle, he’s not starting out too weak, which allows him to have those and-1 opportunities.
“He is just getting better and better,” Pelicans coach Willie Green said after Missi’s career night. “(He is) a true bright spot with our team. His ability to protect the basket defensively, his ability to screen and get out of screens quickly, go up and finish. I’m really proud of him and how he has handled the last several weeks with us kind of thrusting him into the starting lineup. He is doing a great job.”
While the Pelicans sort out what their plan is with guys like Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram going forward, at least they know they’ve got a solid building block in Missi for the future.
4. Zaccharie Risacher, Atlanta Hawks
The No. 1 overall pick has modest counting stats, and even lower shooting numbers across the board, but Hawks coach Quin Snyder thinks Risacher is right where he needs to be so far in his rookie season.
“He’s doing all the things that I was hopeful that he’d do as he begins his NBA career,” Snyder said.
The standout aspect of Risacher’s game is his defense. While he may be struggling on offense, Risacher remains focused on making an impact on the defensive end. His patient energy and versatility defensively are key strengths that he brings to Atlanta. Despite his offensive struggles, there are glimpses of his scoring potential in some games.
Wells’ determination to fight through screens is a standout quality in his game. Despite facing difficult defensive actions as a rookie, Wells consistently puts in the effort to guard his man and contest shots. His commitment to defense has earned him a spot in Memphis’ starting lineup, showcasing his ability to disrupt star players on the court.
Castle’s standout performance came in a game against the Warriors, where he made life difficult for Stephen Curry. Castle’s attentive defense limited Curry to his worst performance of the season. While Castle’s offense is still developing, he has shown flashes of scoring efficiently at all three levels.
Castle’s mentorship under Chris Paul will be invaluable in his development as an NBA point guard. McCain, currently a frontrunner for Rookie of the Year, suffered a setback with a meniscus tear in his left knee that required surgery. The 65-game minimum does not apply to Rookie of the Year voting, so McCain remains a contender despite missing significant time due to injury.
When he has been on the court, McCain has stood out as the top rookie of the season so far. His offensive skills and basketball IQ have been on full display, drawing comparisons to Stephen Curry for his off-ball movement and shifty playing style.
One of McCain’s standout performances was a 30-point game against the Nets, where he set a Sixers record for most points scored by a guard in their first 15 games. His scoring prowess has been crucial for Philadelphia, especially in close games where his clutch plays have made a difference.
Statistically, McCain’s impact on the Sixers’ offense is evident, with the team scoring significantly more points when he is in the game. He leads all rookies in scoring, has multiple 30-point games, and is the only rookie to achieve a 20-10 game this season.
Despite his impressive season being interrupted by a meniscus tear, McCain’s Rookie of the Year aspirations are still alive. However, the focus now shifts to his recovery and long-term health.
With McCain sidelined, other rookies like Castle and Risacher have the opportunity to make a case for the award. Castle’s increased role and Risacher’s offensive improvement could position them as frontrunners in the race.
As the season progresses, the Rookie of the Year competition is wide open, with new contenders emerging and the race becoming more unpredictable.