Thursday, Jan 28, 2021. 1:07 AM
After looking at the NBA Draft and targeting the most promising players in the vintage, it’s time to take their first steps into the big league. After the first month of activity, who is the best positioned player to claim the Rookie of the Year title? Take a look at the top five candidates so far.
5. Patrick Williams, Bulls de Chicago
10.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.1 assists
48.5% from court, 50.0% from three points
His best game: January 10 vs. Los Angeles Lakers (6-9 from field, 3-5 from three points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals)
Something to know: Williams has been in the roster in all 13 games played with the Bulls, a significant role change for a player who started off the bench all 29 games played at Florida State, where he clinched the title of Sixth player of the year in the ACC.
4. Cole Anthony, Magic d’Orlando
10.3 points, 4.5 rebonds, 3.3 passes
His best game: January 20 vs. the Minnesota Timberwolves (5-7 from field, 3-3 from three points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block)
Something to know: Anthony’s shot in extremis to defeat the Timberwolves was the first three-point winning shot made by a rookie of this vintage. He joined Celtics guard Payton Richards as the only two rookies to score a winning basket this season.
3. James Wiseman, Warriors de Golden State
11.6 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.3 blocks
50.7% from the field, 37.5% from three points
His best game: January 20 vs. San Antonio Spurs (18 points, 8-11 from field, 6 rebounds, 4 assists)
Something to know: Wiseman is 1.3 blocks per game, a rookie high. The starting center has managed at least two blocks in eight of his 15 games, being the main protector of the Warriors ring.
2. Tyrese Haliburton, Kings de Sacramento
11.1 points, 5.1 assists, 2.8 rebounds, 1.2 steals
50.0% from court, 49.2% from three points
His best game: January 6 vs. Chicago Bulls (17 points, 7-15 from field, 3-7 from three points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals, 0 turnaround)
Something to Know: While rookies are generally ineffective, Haliburton is quite the opposite. With success rates of .500 / .492 / .818, his effective shooting percentage (EFG%) of 63.7% is the ninth-best in all of the NBA (not just rookies) for all players who have attempted at least 100 shots.
1. LaMelo Ball, Hornets de Charlotte
11.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 1.5 steals
40.3% from the field, 33.3% from three points
His best game: January 9 vs. Atlanta Hawks (22 points, 9-13 from field, 3-5 of three points, 12 rebounds, 11 assists, 1 steal, 1 turnaround)
Something to Know: Remarkably, Ball leads all rookies in total points, rebounds, assists and steals. His averages also allow him to dominate all these categories except that of points, where he is second behind Anthony Edwards. In the Hornets’ Jan. 9 victory over the Hawks, Ball became the youngest player in NBA history to land a triple-double. He is the only player of his vintage to have achieved this feat so far.
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