The Best Rookies In October For NBA 2021-2022
The NBA Draft features a number of prospects that could take the league by storm. Last year, Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball battled for Rookie of the Year. This year, there are many more players in the running.
Who will come away with the Rookie of the Year award? With young players all potential ROY contenders, it's hard to tell. As usual, the top 3 picks in the draft are always favorite choices for ROY candidates such as Cade Cunningham, Jalen Green and Jalen Suggs.
The NBA season just started, and there are some rookie players who are already making waves. After the first month of the season, here are some of the top rookies that we think should be considered for the Rookie of the Year award at current stage. These newcomers may surprise you, but it's why the NBA Draft is always so interesting!
Franz Wagner
When the NBA season kicks off in October, one of the youngest teams in the league will take to the court. And if you're wondering where this youth came from, the Orlando Magic's front office has you covered. The team signed 6'9" forward Franz Wagner out of Michigan this offseason. In the rebuilding Orlando Magic, there is a lot of opportunity for players to play in different positions. Their versatility allows them to, like Wagner, play both forward positions on the floor. He has competent abilities on both ends of the floor and as a high ceiling player.
Josh Giddey
With three games under his belt, Giddey has proven to be a pro-ready player for the Thunder. Seen as more pro-ready than his counterparts, he has played overseas professionally before.In the past two games, Australian is averaging 9.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.7 steals on 46% shooting from the field. His best game of the season so far was against Philadelphia where he scored 19 points, grabbed eight rebounds, made seven assists, and stole the ball once.
Evan Mobley
Big men typically have a tough time in their early careers. Among other reasons, that’s why Mobley is ranked lower in our preseason NBA Rookie of the Year rankings. Former USC basketball player Evan Mobley is proving everyone wrong. His numbers are 14 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 assists. He's also shooting 55% from the field, which has led to Cleveland's two wins this season.
Chris Duarte
This former Oregon standout has been nothing less than spectacular so far. He is the definite favorite for Rookie of the Year. The guard might be No. 13 in the draft, but he’s averaging 19.8 points and 4.8 rebounds and is already picking up game-winning shots and starting for a playoff contender. He’s not too shabby, after all!
Scottie Barnes
Toronto took Barnes over Suggs this summer, and it's already looking like Masai Ujiri has made another great decision. After four games, Barnes is averaging 16.2 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 assists per game. At 6-foot-9, the forward proved his worth this year with 16.8 points and 8.5 rebounds on 56% shooting for the Raptors. When he’s on the court, the team is plus-15, while resting Barnes leads to a team of plus-3.