Rookie Report
A look at how some of the most highly touted first-year players have performed so far.
Most Impressive Rookies
Joel Embiid
The fairly obvious choice for most impressive rookie so far is Joel “The Process” Embiid. Embiid already has a huge lead in the race for the Rookie of the Year Award. That’s just how dominant he has been so far. Despite playing on a minutes restriction, Embiid leads rookies in scoring with 18.2 per game, rebounds with 7.8, and blocks with 2.4. Embiid, a 7-foot center, even leads rookies in 3pt. percentage (amongst players that attempt at least 1 3-pointer per game) at 50%!
Embiid looks like he has used the 2 years since being drafted to really improve his game and prepare for this dominant debut. There is an argument to be made that players like Embiid who, despite not playing in an actual game prior to this season, has been in an NBA culture and received NBA coaching for 2 entire seasons since being drafted should not be eligible for the Rookie of the Year Award, but, under the current rules, Embiid is the clear, runaway favorite.
Jamal Murray
Jamal Murray almost found himself in the other portion of this list. Murray did not make a field goal until his 5th career game! Since then though, Murray has been on fire, shooting up to 2nd on the rookie scoring list at 10.5 ppg (yes, Embiid is leading rookies in scoring by nearly 8 points over the second place Murray). At the time of writing Jamal has scored at least 18 points in 4 straight games. Murray is shooting an impressive 42.3% from three on 4 attempts per game.
Most Disappointing Rookies
Ben Simmons
This is no fault of Mr. Simmons, it is just disappointing that we have yet to see the no. 1 overall pick take the court yet for the Sixers, especially considering how dominant his teammate Embiid has been.
Buddy Hield
I was a huge Buddy fan when he was in college. I love the way he played and I hoped that Hield, who played 4 years at Oklahoma, would prove that there is some benefit for NBA prospects to actually stay in college for longer than the usual one-and-done stint. Buddy wasn’t really in a position where he could be drafted to the NBA after one year, so he stayed, improved his stock, and ended up being drafted 6th.
However, Hield has not lived up to expectations so far.
Hield was the pick of many to contend for the Rookie of the Year award. Considering his age, maturity, and his ability to score the ball and a Pelican backcourt that is bereft of pretty much all of those skills, Hield seemed like a safe bet to put up a lot of points. Instead, Buddy is putting up 7.4 pts on 35.6% shooting and an abysmal 3-point percentage of 24%.
Here’s hoping Buddy is just on a temporary cold streak while he adapts to NBA life.
