1/25
No. 2 pick James Wiseman has not yet been able to meet the high expectations of the Warriors. It still takes time to develop, but some other star centers of today have had a similar experience. SPOX takes a look at their rookie seasons
2/25
KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS (Minnesota Timberwolves) | Draft 2015: 1st pick | Stats rookie season: 18.3 points, 10.5 rebounds and 1.7 blocks with 54.2 percent FG and 34.1 percent three-pointers in 32.0 minutes (82 games)
3/25
KAT already showed in his rookie season what potential he had. He led all the newbies in points, rebounds and total blocks, was named Rookie of the Month six times in a row and unanimously won the ROTY.
4/25
KRISTAPS PORZINGIS (New York Knicks) | Draft 2015: 4th pick | Stats rookie season: 14.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.9 blocks at 42.1 percent FG and 33.3 percent three-pointers in 28.4 minutes (72 games)
5/25
Together with Towns, Porzingis also sparked the unicorn hype in 2015/16. In its first year, the 7-footer showed its qualities as a shooter and shot blocker. Afterwards, injuries caused problems for today’s Mavs star.
6/25
MYLES TURNER (Indiana Pacers) | Draft 2015: 11th Pick | Stats rookie season: 10.3 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.4 blocks at 49.8 percent FG in 22.8 minutes (60 games)
7/25
Due to injury, he missed a few games, from the middle of the season he blossomed into a starter. So he helped PG-13 and Co. in the playoffs, but where it ended in the first round. In the year with Towns and Porzingis, after all, all-rookie 2nd team.
8/25
JOEL EMBIID (Philadelphia 76ers) | Draft 2014: 3rd pick | Stats rookie season (2016/17): 20.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.5 blocks with 46.6 percent FG and 36.7 percent threesome in 25.4 minutes (31 games)
9/25
Speaking of injuries: They made sure that Embiid had to wait two years for his NBA debut. In 31 games, the Big dominated in 16/17 before a meniscus tear ended his season again. Despite strong performances, that was not enough for the ROTY.
10/25
NIKOLA JOKIC (Denver Nuggets) | Draft 2014: 41st Pick | Stats rookie season: 10.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.4 assists at 51.2 percent FG in 21.7 minutes (80 games)
11/25
The Joker stayed in the Serbian homeland for a year after the draft. In Denver he pushed Nurkic onto the bench, showed his great touch and overview and often left the Coke in the cupboard. The result: All-Rookie First Team.
12/25
RUDY GOBERT (Utah Jazz) | Draft 2013: 27th Pick | Stats rookie season: 2.3 points, 3.4 rebounds and 0.9 blocks at 48.6 percent FG in 9.6 minutes (45 games)
13/25
It took a while for the French to gain a foothold in the NBA. In its premiere season he was only used sporadically and played in the G-League, among others. That changed the following season when he became a starter and took part in the MIP race
14/25
ANTHONY DAVIS (New Orleans Hornets) | Draft 2012: 1st pick | Stats rookie season: 13.5 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.8 blocks at 51.6 percent FG in 28.8 minutes (64 games)
15/25
Typically for rookies, AD looked like the star he was to become in some games, and it didn’t work in others. The lack of consistency caused him problems just like injuries, in the end only second place in the ROTY race behind Lillard.
16/25
DRAYMOND GREEN (Golden State Warriors) | Draft 2012: 35th Pick | Stats rookie season: 2.9 points, 3.3 rebounds and 0.3 blocks at 32.7 percent FG in 13.4 minutes (79 games)
17/25
His stats are not necessarily eye-catching, but the second round pick developed an increasingly important role as the season progressed. In the playoffs, too, the rookie (18 G, 18.6 min) was not an insignificant factor in the first-round win against the Nuggets.
18/25
NIKOLA VUCEVIC (Philadelphia 76ers) | Draft 2011: 16th pick | Stats rookie season: 5.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 0.7 blocks at 45.0 percent FG in 15.9 minutes (51 games)
19/25
In his rookie season, hardly anyone suspected that he would later be the big win in a Dwight Howard trade. If Spencer Hawes was backed up with manageable production, then it went to Orlando in a four-team trade.
20/25
BROOK LOPEZ (New Jersey Nets) | Draft 2008: 10th pick | Stats rookie season: 13.0 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.8 blocks at 53.1 percent FG in 30.5 minutes (82 games)
21/25
Splash Mountain had little to do with its current nickname back then. Instead, the center scored highly in the Lowpost, which later made it an all-star. Part of the All-Rookie First Team at the end of the season.
22/25
DEANDRE AYTON (Phoenix Suns) | Draft 2018: 1st pick | Stats rookie season: 16.3 points, 10.3 rebounds and 0.9 blocks at 58.5 percent FG in 30.7 minutes (71 games)
23/25
Among other things, the Suns spurned Doncic in order to grab a potential franchise center. Ayton initially had enormous problems defensively, but was among the 3 finalists for the ROTY Award. Continuously developed since then.
24/25
BAM ADEBAYO (Miami Heat) | Draft 2017: 14th Pick | Stats rookie season: 6.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 0.6 blocks at 51.2 percent FG in 19.8 minutes (69 games)
25/25
Bam spent his first two years in the NBA as a backup behind Hassan Whiteside, but was already hinting at his potential. In the course of the rookie season he got more and more playing time and showed a good development. In 19/20 he exploded into an all-star.
