We are still early into the regular season, but it feels like a good time to check in on this years rookie class. From the draft to summer league to the preseason, we have a taste of what it looks like in the regular season now. Hope and optimism can transition into a variety of question marks, but these young players are giving their all.
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A lot of what determines success for a rookie comes down to fit, opportunity and context. Different players will be asked to do different things based on what their team needs. Some have a clear pathway to consistent minutes with an opportunity to grow. Others may find themselves in and out of the lineup, working to stay ready. The most important thing a young player can do early in the season is showcase something they bring to the table every single night. The more reliable you are, the more opportunity you will have to showcase the rest of your game.
When it comes to rookies, I am always one to press the patience button. The learning curve for taking your skill set through the rigors of an NBA regular season can vary. A slow start does not define an entire campaign, and an early rise does not guarantee sustained success. Game plans may shift, rotations may change, scouting reports may be updated.
Here are my top 10 rookies through the first couple weeks of the season.
Edgecombe scored 34 points in his NBA debut, the third most ever by a rookie, and has not looked back since. His skill set fits right in with what Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid bring to the table. Place him one pass away from Maxey looking to attack 1v1 or an Embiid post-up and he has made defenses pay.
Edgecombe’s consistency from the 3-point line has been a boost for a player who is not afraid to get downhill. His ability to create his own shot is one thing, but his work in pick-and-rolls is another. High pick-and-rolls give him room to get downhill in space, working to not let his defender recover and allowing him to keep attacking. While the shot has been there in the paint, hes been able to force more help and make the right reads to spray the ball to the perimeter. That blend unlocks the Sixers’ drive-and-kick attack and is a big reason theyve surprised early.
Its been hard for the Grizzlies to keep Coward off the court, and its not hard to see why. There is a combination of confidence, energy and effort that jumps off the tape. Its one thing to hope someone will fill the 3 and D box, its another when it happens right away.
Starting the season shooting 48.3% from 3 (14 of 29) stands out, but pay attention to Coward’s cutting when spaced. And his effort on defense is what has made it stick: activity to pressure the ball, including full-court, and the ability to defend multiple positions. Watch for the moments when his man is in the corner, hes in help and he erases the space like that. Leading the Grizzlies’ bench in scoring while being asked to defend Luka Dončić, Devin Booker and Cade Cunningham within a week speaks volume to his start.
While it has not quite been the start many imagined for Flagg, this is your reminder that context is important and success is not always linear. Dallas has worked to move Flagg around the board, initiating offense, running pick-and-roll, being used as a screener, cutting off screens or clearing a side to let him post up. Defenses have not cooperated and have worked to take pieces of that off the board.
The big area of opportunity for him is setting up defenses when he does get a screen, and continuing to read when he comes off screens. These early reps could prove valuable later as he has a stronger understanding of when a shot is available and when a pass is available. This is nothing new for a young player. Flaggs best moments early have been when hes making quick decisions.
The unfortunate news of Harper going down to injury not withstanding, it’s appropriate to salute the start of his rookie year. The youngest guard in NBA history to record a game with at least 20+ points, 5+ rebounds, 5+ assists and 0 turnovers, Harper started the season playing with an impressive level of poise.
His drives have been consistent, helping to add to the versatility of the Spurs offense. He never turns down a chance to turn the corner, and hes a very crafty driver. His footwork has proven NBA ready, and his ability to stop on a dime once he gets in the paint, Euro step and finish adds to the attack. The passing and playmaking also adds a different layer when teams show help. A little thing that stands out is Harpers ability to relocate after a drive that opens up a drive-and-kick with Stephon Castle, allowing Harper to then drive closeouts.
Knueppel has made more 3s than any other rookie in the class, but it does not stop there. The Hornets wing has recorded the most made 3s (22) of any player in NBA history over their first seven career games, and was the first player in NBA history with three or more made 3s in each of his first four games.
Its easy to say that Knueppel does a little bit of everything, but when you watch him its the little things that stand out. When hes spaced on the perimeter, he always does a great job of sliding into an open spot to receive a pass. When hes a screener, he does a great job of running into screens to get his defender on the move, getting good positioning to get a quick touch and slipping out before the defense can switch. He’s not afraid to turn the corner if he sees space, but if he sees nothing he’ll keep things moving.
Zero fear, zero hesitation, zero miedo. However you slice it, Fears is in attack mode every time he gets on the court. A shift to the starting lineup has allowed the Pelicans guard to display even more of his offensive attack.
Fears is incredibly shifty with the ball in his hands, and he uses that to keep defenses on their heels. You never know when hes going to drive or shoot, but you know its coming. In pick and roll, that opens up a reject that can set up a re-screen to get to a pull-up. At any point in time, Fears can hesitate and go in pick-and-roll. If the big is back in drop, Fears will attack the space and try to get to a quick finish. And while his defense is not perfect, as of this writing hes second on the Pelicans in deflections per game.
If you want the definition of energy, effort, activity, dog in them, I present you Murray-Boyles. The Raptors forward consistently plays defense as if everything is on the line on every single possession. There is a physicality and aggression that he plays with that disrupts opponents. Its not easy to get a clean drive against him and his quick hands. And if you do manage to turn the corner on him, hes working hard to recover and contest.
The real intrigue for me is the off-ball timing that he showcases on defense. If his man is screening and the offense thinks it has space, he turns into a late switch to cut the drive off. The Raptors have found something playing him at the 5, which has unlocked him as a roller as his shot develops.
Basketball is beautiful thing, and let me tell you there are few things more authentic on this Earth than a true bucket-getter. The most honest hallmark of a bucket-getter is getting shots up and, as I write this, Johnson is averaging 11 field-goal attempts in 25 minutes a night.
Johnson has zero hesitation to get to his quick release whenever he sees a semblance of space. If you close out to take away the 3, prepare to get a sidestep into a 3-pointer anyway. The Wizards guard works to change speeds to attempt shots at three levels of the floor. Of his 82 field-goal attempts, 44 are 3s (33 above the break), 14 are midrange, and 21 in the paint (non-restricted area).
Second in the NBA in blocks at 2.4 per game, Kalkbrenner defends the paint for the Hornets like hes on the Nights Watch. Height helps with blocks, but when you have a true feel for timing in your soul it pops on the film. The big man consistently has shown very good timing on his rotations to protect the paint; what looks like an open lane to the offense can change very quickly. And its not just the size and the timing; its also the verticality of his challenges.
When he plays in a drop on defense in pick-and-roll and the offense thinks it has a speed advantage, he works to slide back, contain the drive and put himself in position to contest. If you think you have a pocket pass to your big who is rolling, he works to recover and contest. On offense, he provides rim runs in transition and operates in the dunker spot to profit off a drive.
There has been a lot of discourse about the Pelicans trading to select Queen in the draft, but with Zion Williamson out we’re getting a glimpse into the talent he can bring on a nightly basis. Its easy to have a heavy hand when sprinkling the term hub for a big in todays NBA, but there is a reason teams seek them out.
Queens passing ability certainly fits the bill for a Pelicans offense that needs movement. He sees the floor well and has a knack for getting the ball to the right spot at the right time with precision. Keep an eye on the throw-aheads in transition and the development if he is able to grab and go when he gets a rebound. That same movement and spacing allows Queen to showcase his ability to drive, using smooth footwork with a dose of sly finishing.
Honorable mention: