By We’re only a little over two weeks into the NBA regular season. It may seem a bit early to check in on this year’s collection of rookies, but if we are being honest … this group of talent is that good.
To me, the early part of the season is all about curiosity. Teams don’t quite have all of their “go-tos” in place, game plans are not quite as firm, rotations are expanded, and teams are trying to figure out which combinations and schemes work. Why not apply that to these young players trying to find their way?
What feels unique this year is that there is so much new talent being asked to contribute right away on so many different teams. Taking a glimpse this early in the season allows us to see what is working well and to understand the areas of opportunity. Then we can track where growth takes place, where consistency solidifies, and what happens when some of these scouting reports get updated.
I am always one to gently tap the patience button with young players. A slow start can still bring important reps that aid in development down the line. A quick rise can be met with resistance and stagnation.
The best thing you can do as a rookie is showcase a knack for something you bring to the table every single night. The more you do that, the more opportunity you will have to showcase the other things you can do.
Here are my top 10 rookies early in the season:
1. Cameron Boozer, Grizzlies
If you’re wondering why the Grizzlies were the league’s last undefeated team standing and matched their best start in franchise history, you can point to Boozer, who last week became the second-youngest player in NBA history to record a triple-double. The versatility of his game, mixed with what the Grizzlies have wanted to do offensively, has been a hand-in-glove fit.
Boozer can be used at both the 4 and the 5. At the 4, his ability to space and keep things flowing allows Memphis to run actions on both sides of the floor. If teams want to switch, Boozer has no issue going right to the post. His ability to win mismatches has been key: patience on his catch, an effort to get to his spot. If help comes, he can pass it out, which allows Memphis to attack tilted defenses. When moved to the 5, his ability to screen, roll, and quickly get to space opens things up. The short-roll passing speaks for itself, but pay attention to his timing and footwork when he screens.
His ability to mix in catch-and-shoot 3s has helped, too, as some of his finishing skills continue to develop. His drives have been aggressive — he’s at his best when he delivers a blow with his shoulder — but he will have to balance that with gathering early and finishing over size and length. If these are the building blocks at the start, Boozer is putting himself in a great spot to be impactful all year long.
2. Yaxel Lendeborg, Warriors
Many things have jumped out at me about Lendeborg’s start, but it’s the trust he’s earned from Steve Kerr that stands out. After Sunday’s game against the Clippers, Kerr said: “We scored 124 points and Yaxel is the main reason that we were high powered.” Lendeborg is attacking in transition, and he’s involved in pick-and-roll as both a ball-handler and a screener. There is a trust in his ability to see the floor, but also to attack matchups. The Warriors are running their ever-present post splits through him for him to score. He’s confidently taken the keys and gotten off to the races.
The blend offensively has been impressive. The drives have been there: he’s unafraid to deliver physicality and get to his spot, showing patience, shiftiness, and good footwork, and doing what it takes to turn the corner. The passing has been underrated: once he draws help, the ball is out on time and on target. The 3s have added to the overall package: he’s the first rookie in NBA history to have multiple games with six or more made 3s in his first seven games. And these aren’t just the catch-and-shoot variety, these are pull-ups over the defense. There’s a confidence that tells me these reps will pay off down the line.
3. AJ Dybantsa, Wizards
From summer league to the preseason to the regular season, ruthless aggression has been the name of the game for Dybantsa. There is a level of force that he plays with on the court, including the way he drives the basketball. He will have to work on the balance between pull-ups and initiating contact on drives, but what we’ve seen is an ability to find a way to get to his spots. You feel him the most in the open court — it’s almost as if he is gliding at times — and the result could be a pull-up, a spin, or a finish at the rim.
Being paired with Trae Young and Anthony Davis is a good launching point for Dybantsa, giving him plenty of runway without having to carry a large amount of playmaking responsibility. There have been flashes of what he can be as a playmaker, reading defenses and nailing skip passes. He can get to those types of plays within the flow of the offense off wide pindowns without having to create every single one. I am intrigued to see how he builds on his defensive potential, too. There’s a level of physicality and activity he displays when his man is in off-ball actions. He needs that to translate to consistent screen navigation.
4. Caleb Wilson, Bulls
Wilson had at least 15 points, 1 steal, and 1 block in his first six games, which tied for the second-longest streak by a rookie to start his career. He plays with consistent and kinetic energy in transition whether he has the ball or not. That’s the area where he’s felt the most comfortable attacking for himself and his teammates. The mix of his shots will be key going forward: he’s shooting 68.4% from the restricted area, but 33% or below in other shot areas. He’s been a very willing 3-point shooter (44 of his 63 3PA have come from above the break), and when it’s falling, it’s dynamic.
He’s at his best defensively when he’s able to showcase his athleticism and timing. Running through passing lanes to get a steal. Appearing out of nowhere to get a block near the rim. He has a knack for being in help position off-ball and closing the window on a pass that seemed opened. Different matchups will produce different outcomes, but one thing that has not shifted is his will to compete.
5. Darius Acuff Jr., Kings
It appears Acuff will be a lightning rod for those who enjoy the sport of discourse. My brain wonders whether that should take away from what he does well. How much do we factor in the context in Sacramento? How important is the production? And how do we track the improvement? One thing is for sure: he is an electric scorer. He’s the first rookie since Luka Dončić in 2018-19 to have three straight games of 25 points, 5+ rebounds, and 5+ assists. He’s currently a top-10 scorer in the NBA. He also just so happens to be taking as many shots a night as Luka and Shai, and maybe that’s where the eyebrows get raised.
Acuff is a tough shot-maker, which by default also makes him a tough shot-taker. The misses are going to feel loud. But is he taking what the defense gives him, or is he aggressively seeing space as an invitation to take a stepback or attempt to turn the corner? What’s the balance between him making quick decisions and waiting to come off a screen? His scoring is drawing attention from defenses. The Pelicans worked to get to the level and put two on the ball (which opened up some passes). The Lakers not only put Matisse Thybulle on him but also gave him the switch-and-double treatment. Getting those types of reps early has value.
Let’s talk about the def- …
6. Kingston Flemings, Hawks
Flemings has grown during this early stretch of the season by taking reliable qualities (effort, defense, passing) and building on top of them. He plays with poise, composure, and certainty. He has a feel for the game and an understanding of where the ball needs to go and when. That’s a great quality for a young guard, and even better for a young guard who has speed.
It rarely feels like he relies on the turbo button. He works to get in space, and works to engage bigs. He’s not afraid to take a pull-up or turn the corner, but he’s perfectly fine taking what the defense gives him and making the right play out of it. There have even been moments where he has seen a defensive coverage, let them recover, and then attacked the other way. That does not mean it’s automatic every time down the court, but that ability, plus his lack of fear, is a positive sign going forward.
7. Darryn Peterson, Jazz
Despite the expectations and the early results in Utah, Peterson is doing a very important thing for a rookie: He’s figuring it out. A Jazz offense based on flow, tempo and movement felt like one Peterson would immediately add to. The rhythm has been slightly off to start the season. There can be a bit of a learning curve to find the gaps in which to place your talent.
In spite of that, the best moments from Peterson have come when he’s decisive. Win, lose or draw, a quick decision has allowed him to make the right reads and make the right plays. Adjusting to ball pressure and physicality has not changed his ability to read defenses. In fact, he’s consistently worked to play at his speed, mixing in bursts but trying to have a constant cadence to his play in pick-and-roll. If and when the full array of shot-making returns to form (the 3 has been there), the overall package may feel even stronger.
8. Trevon Brazile, Nuggets
Energy and effort can sometimes come across as buzzwords. But if you turn on a Denver Nuggets broadcast, you’re going to see Brazile make a play. On either end of the floor. A block at the rim, a lob catch, an attack in transition. He’s going to do something. He’s brought a consistent level of effort to a Nuggets team that has needed it.
He has a knack for cutting from the corner or flashing around the dunker spot that fits right into what Denver wants to do (especially playing with Nikola Jokić). Defensively, his ability to rotate, close out, contain drives and contest shots has been a bright spot. To put it simply: he’s all over the place (in a good way).
9. Aday Mara, Thunder
Mara’s preseason showed once again that the Thunder would have a quality basketball player ready to contribute to their machine. The injuries that have been thrown at the Thunder mean Mara will have to contribute a little more quickly than expected.
Mara’s defense has shown both his potential and where he can contribute right now. Having the ability to protect the rim with size is one thing; doing it in different ways is another. He has showcased the ability to rotate from the elbow or wing and be in position. Knowing how and when to execute different pick-and-roll schemes with the Thunder’s defenders is another positive. His passing ability, meanwhile, fits right into a team that was working toward more movement and having multiple actions running on both sides. With his size and touch, rolling is a given, but being able to flash into open areas will help.
10. Mikel Brown Jr., Nets
The biggest thing that has stood out to me from Brown is his moxie on the court. No matter what the box score or scoreboard says, if you watch him, you cannot tell exactly how things are going. He has good speed and good skill, but the fun is watching when he truly understands how to use that speed: when to change speeds to throw a defender off and find an advantage, and when to attack in transition, off handoffs or in pick-and-roll.
The passing is something I have also enjoyed watching. He just zips the ball where it needs to go. The shot may bring him to the dance, but the ability to dip into making plays is where the balancing act becomes fun — the moments where he’s unafraid to explore space in pick-and-roll and see if he can get to the second level of a defense, or see if he can get a defense to help. There’s also a willingness on the defensive end that I think will serve him in the long run.
Honorable mentions
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Keaton Wagler, Clippers
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Meleek Thomas, Cavaliers
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Morez Johnson Jr., Mavericks
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Brayden Burries, Bucks
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Braden Smith, Pacers
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Nate Ament, Bucks
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Allen Graves, Raptors
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Bennett Stirtz, Thunder
