It was a foregone conclusion Victor Wembanyama was going to win Rookie of the Year honors last season, and while Chet Holmgren did what he could to give him a run for his money, the Frenchman secured the trophy via a unanimous vote.
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This year’s NBA Rookie of the Year race is shaping up to be much more competitive than the one that unfolded last season, as no one really knew what to expect from the players who comprised what most experts described as one of the weakest draft classes in recent memory.
Those new arrivals only have a handful of games under their belt when you consider we’re only a few weeks into the season, but we still have enough evidence to examine the guys who’ve already set themselves apart from the rest of the pack.
Jaylen Wells
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11.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists per game
Jaylen Wells may not have been the first player the Grizzlies picked in the NBA Draft (more on that guy in a second), but he’s shaping up to be the biggest steal of the year based on how he’s played so far.
His stats might not leap off the page at first glance, but he’s emerged as a pretty formidable perimeter defender who can more than hold his own on the offensive side of the ball.
Zach Edey
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11.2 points, 6.6 rebounds, and .9 blocks per game
Zach Edey was a force to be reckoned with at Purdue, but plenty of people were skeptical he’d be able to adequately adjust to the level of competition waiting for him in the NBA.
The Grizzlies took a bit of a gamble by selecting him with the ninth overall pick, and while he got off to a rough start by fouling out after posting just 15 minutes in his NBA debut, he’s settled in pretty nicely.
If Memphis can keep getting production from this solid one-two punch as Ja Morant continues to do Ja Morant Things, there’s a reason to be optimistic about the direction the franchise is heading.
Zaccharie Risacher
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11.7 points, 4 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1.1 steals per game
You’d obviously expect the top overall pick in the NBA Draft to be in contention for Rookie of the Year, and Zaccharie Risacher is doing what he can to help France go back-to-back on that particular front for the first time in NBA history.
Risacher currently leads all rookies in scoring thanks in no small part to the 33 points he posted against the Knicks on November 6th. He needs to work on his consistency, but he definitely has the potential to break out.
Bub Carrington
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9.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 1.4 steals per game
Bub Carrington is arguably the most well-rounded player on the list, and unlike Risacher, he’s also been one of the most consistent since kicking off his inaugural campaign.
Most people understandably thought No. 2 pick Alex Sarr would be the standout rookie for the Wizards, and while that could certainly change in the coming months, Carrington has the edge so far.
With that said…
Alex Sarr
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9.2 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 2.4 blocks
Risacher isn’t the only player with the potential to help France defend its Rookie of the Year crown, although Alex Sarr has plenty of work to do if he wants to end up being the guy who gets the job done.
The 7’0″ Sarr has done a solid job on defense and shown he can hold his own against more experienced big men, but his shooting is a major cause for concern when you consider he’s currently hitting 33% of his field goals and has come in at .400 or lower in eight of the nine games he’s played so far.
Jared McCain
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11.5 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game
The 76ers have needed other players to step up due to the injuries that have hampered Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey, and Jared McCain has done a pretty good job doing exactly that.
It’s a bit hard to imagine he’ll end up being a Rookie of the Year contender based on the reduced role he’ll likely be given once the 76ers get healthy again, but it’s been a pretty promising start.
McCain is currently second in points per game among rookies, which is pretty impressive when you consider most of the other guys on this list have averaged at least 25 minutes per game while he’s logged closer to 17.
Ryan Dunn
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7.0 points and 2.3 rebounds
Dunn’s stats don’t exactly dazzle at first glance, but as is the case with McCain, they don’t tell the whole story when you consider he’s only averaged around 17 minutes per contest.
He’s also a skilled defensive player who has the potential to carve out more opportunities to contribute as the season progresses, and he’s certainly someone to keep an eye on based on how he’s looked so far.
Yves Missi
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6.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.5 blocks per game
There’s obviously one big man in New Orleans who gets the bulk of the attention, but you don’t want to overlook what Yves Missi has managed to achieve a few weeks into his first season with the Pelicans.
Missi has emerged as a pretty serviceable center for a team that needs one, and while his defensive talents are the main attraction, he’s shown he can contribute a bit to the cause on offense as well.