NBA rookie rankings: Warriors' Wiseman clear-cut No. 1 early on
The 2020 rookie class was talked down to. Most scout and experts believed it was a subpar class that wouldn't yield many high-level talents.Through a handful of games, they appear to have been wrong.The rookies are, indeed, all right.James Wiseman and Anthony Edwards, the top two picks, have been outstanding, while late first-round picks like Payton Pritchard and Precious Achiuwa have given title contenders an instant boost.Oh, and the Kings did indeed pull off a draft-day heist.Through the first handful of games, here are the top five rookies in the NBA.
The Memphis product already is making the defending Eastern Conference champion Miami Heat better.
Taken with the No. 20 pick in the first round, Achiuwa already has gained the trust of coach Erik Spoelstra, who asked the rookie to guard both Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram on Christmas Day.
Through four games, Achiuwa is averaging 7.3 points and 3.8 rebounds but hasn't got to show all he can on the offensive end yet.
It has only been four games, but Achiuwa already appears to be one of the steals of the 2020 NBA Draft.
Many were stunned when the Chicago Bulls elected to take Williams at No. 4 overall, passing on Deni Avdija, Onyeka Okongwu and others.
But the Florida State product has been good early on for a Bulls team still finding itself under new head coach Billy Donovan. In five games, Williams is averaging 10.6 points per game while shooting 48.6 percent from the field and 50 percent from 3-point range.
Williams has shown a good feel for the game on both ends and has rewarded the Bulls' faith early on.
If your teammates start calling you the GOAT just five games into your NBA career, you must be doing something right.
The Oregon product has been a godsend to the Boston Celtics early on this season. Pritchard has become a fixture in the Celtics' rotation and now almost has to be part of their crunch-time five until Kemba Walker returns.
The Celtics are plus-11 with Pritchard on the floor and minus-15 with him off it. He has been a tenacious defender and is giving Boston a much-needed threat from beyond the arc. In five games, he's averaging 8.2 points on 60.7 percent from the field and 55.6 percent from 3-point range.
The No. 1 overall pick has not disappointed.
In four games with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Edwards is averaging 15 points per game on 41.8 percent shooting from the floor.
The 6-foot-6 combo guard has been impressive at attacking and finishing at the rim. He became the first Timberwolves rookie to open his career by scoring 15 or more in each game and should shoulder even more of a responsibility with Karl-Anthony Towns sidelined due to injury.
It won't be a surprise if he's at the top of these rankings come season's end.
Any talk of draft steals has to start and end with Tyrese Haliburton. The Kings landing the Iowa State guard at No. 12 was a heist that would have made Doug MacRay proud and rivals much of Neil McCauley's finest work.
Haliburton has been a revelation for the Kings. He's averaging 10.6 points and 4.4 assists per game on 52.9 percent from the field. Scouts wondered if his jump shot would translate to the NBA game right away, and Haliburton has made them eat crow early on, shooting 50 percent from deep through five games.
The Kings are 3-2 and Haliburton arguably has been their best player so far.
It's only been four games, but James Wiseman has been the clear-cut top rookie early on.
Wiseman was the lone bright spot in what was a brutal start to the season for Golden State. The 7-footer has made his presence felt on both sides of the ball and his play on the defensive end helped the Warriors beat the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday to finish their season-opening road trip at 2-2.
The Memphis product has made an immediate impression on everyone from Steve Kerr to Steph Curry, and Wiseman only will get better as he earns more minutes and gains NBA experience.
Wiseman is averaging 12.5 points and 5.8 rebounds in just 23.5 minutes per game. He has shown an ability to knock down 3-pointers and flashed his insane athleticism with a Giannis Antetokounmpo-like coast-to-coast dunk against the Pistons.
