Although it was initially believed that the freshman class 2022 It could have fewer figures than in previous years, but the passing of the matches has helped to dispel that belief. After the month of January, the intense struggle that will take place for the Rookie of the Year. Some of them even start to look like the best franchise values under reconstruction and others to comply key roles in rising teams.
MORE | The race for the MVP: the ranking with the best of January
With this in mind, the wording NBA of The Sporting News he chose his five favorites for Rookie of the Year end of December. The scoring system is very simple: the 1st receives 5 points; the 2nd, 4; and so on.
Click here to see the votes and positions
#5 – Jalen Williams
- Statistics in January: 13.6 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.1 assists
Oklahoma City Thunder may have taken the steal this Draft. The escort trained in Santa Clara is being one of those responsible for the rise of his team, in the midst of the battle for the Play-In, and during the month of January he has taken a significant step forward.
Williams has been warning since November that he has the potential to be a scorer to watch for years to come. Although his percentages still leave a lot to be desired, especially three (31.1%), in January he has performed like never before. The OKC player has had three different 20+ point performances, including 24 against the Hawks with 68.8% accuracy.
If we add to this a very interesting vision of the game when it comes to reacting in advantage, Oklahoma may have hit a diamond in the rough.
#4 – Walker Kessler
- Statistics in January: 10.0 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.3 blocks
This First Round late pick that came to Salt Lake City as part of the Rudy Gobert trade may turn out to be a big hit for the franchise. Kessler makes correction and having a low profile his virtue. An interior without great fanfare but whose ceiling is huge, almost as high as its height (2.16).
The Georgia native has a chance to join a roster of true legends if he can finish averaging a double-double with 2 plugs. To achieve it would be the first since Tim Duncan y Shaquille O’Nealsomething that puts into perspective the enormousness of his rookie season.
It is always easier to land in the league being an insider than an outsider, but not so much when it comes to a defensive profile like Kessler. A figure who is averaging more blocks than Joel Embiid, Evan Mobley or Rudy Gobert.
#3 – Keegan Murray
- January statistics: 12.7 points, 3.5 rebounds and 0.9 steals
Quietly but steadily, Keegan Murray is walking steadily up this particular rookie ranking. The number 4 in the last Draft is playing at a level that truly jeopardizes Bennedict Mathurin’s second place, especially if one takes into account how regular he is turning out to be.
Murray is right now one of the best shooters in the nba, with the added bonus of being a novice. Among all those who averaged more than 5 shots from long distance this season, the Kings player is the 7th who accumulates the best percentage with a 42,2%. Number higher than others in the same volume range than Jamal Murray (39.2%), Brook Lopez (37.6%) or Devin Booker (37%).
#2 – Bennedict Mathurin
- January statistics: 19.5 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.3 assists
Established as the main alternative candidate, Mathurin has had a more than positive month of January. The 20-year-old has taken advantage of Tyrese Haliburton’s absence to take on a greater degree of responsibility at the Pacers, and the results have been positive. Positive from an individual point of view, since Rick Carlisle’s men closed the first month of 2023 with a balance of 4-11, everything is said.
Except for the first 8 games that took place in October, January has been the best month of Mathurin’s short NBA career. He has seen his minutes increase as well as his offensive relevance, which has led to a surprising increase in his shooting percentage, settling in the 44.7% compared to 39.4% in December.
#1 – Paolo Banchero
- January statistics: 20.1 points, 5.9 rebounds and 3.2 assists
The favorite, the player called to break all records for the Orlando Magic and who is beginning to explore his limits. Banchero walks steadily towards the Rookie of the Year and only an injury can deprive him or put at risk what seems like a sure thing at the end of this season.
All this while Banchero is on pace to join Carmelo Anthony and Luka Doncic as the only players this century to have averaged over 20 points, 6 rebounds and 1 steal in their rookie year. The forward is going under the radar in a campaign of scoring records, an intense battle for MVP and where every night there is a great game to follow.
positions
| Pos. | Player | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paolo Banchero | 20 |
| 2 | Bennedict Mathurin | 16 |
| 3 | Keegan Murray | 10 |
| 4 | Walker Kessler | 6 |
| 5 | Jalen Williams | 5 |
- They also received votes: Jaden Ivey (2) and Jeremy Sochan (1)
voting panel
| Pos. | Agustín Aboy (@AboyAgustin) | Sergio Rabinal (@S_Rabinal) | Juan Estevez (@JuanEstevez90) | Leandro Fernandez (@FernandezLea) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paolo Banchero | Paolo Banchero | Paolo Banchero | Paolo Banchero |
| 2 | Bennedict Mathurin | Bennedict Mathurin | Bennedict Mathurin | Bennedict Mathurin |
| 3 | Jalen Williams | Keegan Murray | Keegan Murray | Keegan Murray |
| 4 | Walker Kessler | Walker Kessler | Jalen Williams | Walker Kessler |
| 5 | Keegan Murray | Jeremy Sochan | Jaden Ivey | Jaden Ivey |
The opinions expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of the NBA or its organizations.
