January 16-30
The most talked about NBA Rookie in the Philippines is Lamelo Ball at No. 1. This 19-year old looks like so far, the Rookie of the Year. Garnering the starting Point Guard position for Michael Jordan’s Franchise, the Charlotte Hornets who drafted him 3rd at the 2020 NBA Draft. He has affected the team in all categories.
Table 1. Shows the distribution of data points
In 2nd place is James Wiseman of the Golden State Warriors, with him providing rebounds and range as a center. He has averaged a steady 12.2 PPG and 6.1 rebounds, making an instant impact on a franchise that has been depleted since the departure of Kevin Durant and the injuries of Klay Thompson setting them back from reaching the NBA Finals which they have done consistently again and again for the longest time.
Third is Knicks Rookie Immanuel Quickley, whose floaters dazzle the league with its consistency and how Quickley makes it look so easy. The New York Knicks have been struggling with acquiring young talent but the Knicks look like they have a steal with him being drafted way too deep in the lottery (The 25th pick). He has made an instant impact with his spark plug scoring and it is a debate whether he should be given the starting job due to the nature of Knicks Head Coach Tom Thibodeau to rely on his veterans (Elfrid Payton, Julius Randle).
The No.1 Overall pick by the Minnesota Timberwolves Anthony Edwards is sitting at 4th place. His recent viral dunk on Yuta Watanabe has set social media afire and is making critics rave about his crazy potential and athleticism. Initially struggling in the early part of the season, Edwards is slowly making steps to be more consistent, and is given enough minutes to develop. The Timberwolves are famous for drafting inconsistently, with them being known for drafting Anthony Wiggins where critics agree that he still has not lived up to his potential. The front office chose to cash in on someone who looks like he could be a generational talent… a world beater.
Obi Toppin is also talked about by netizens, sitting at 5th. The Knicks rookie was drafted at 8th. Advertised as an explosive scorer due to him having torn the NCAA up with him being the top scorer and POTY, He has struggled to adjust to the league perhaps due to Julius Randle who is having an All-Star season taking up his minutes but the franchise hopes for Obi to make his impact on the Garden.
The Sacramento Kings rookie Tyrese Haliburton is at 6th place. Questions surrounding Tyrese Haliburton before getting drafted led to people arguing whether his shot whose mechanics stray from the normal would translate into the league. It looks like it does as of now because the rookie has already made an instant impact on the team. He has helped offload the offensive struggles of his Kings teammate Buddy Hield, and has provided an instant spark. All scouts look for is upside, and there has been plenty for this young man.
A surprise inclusion is the Dallas Mavericks rookie Josh Green at 7th. Despite not being as famous as the other people in his draft class, the Mavericks have a solid fan base and they have seen plenty from Jeff Green, who is averaging a measly 2 points per game despite having 12 minutes on the floor every game. Perhaps the Australian is a late bloomer, with a lot of players going into the league very raw and untested but forged in fire to bloom into the best iterations of themselves.
At 8th place is Patrick Williams of the Chicago Bulls. A player usually used off-the-bench, Patrick WIlliams has already cemented his starting role on the Bulls with him advertised as a hybrid player that can score, pass and rebound. His range adds to his threat with the three-point shot being the go-to shot for players as of now. He was drafted 4th above players like Okongwu, Okoro, Anthony, etc.
Table 2. Shows the distribution of reactions
9th is Payton Pritchard of the Boston Celtics. Looking like another steal, Payton Pritchard has already made an instant impact on the already stacked Celtics. With Walker struggling this year, he has been given time to show his prowess on the court. A four year commit to Oregon, he was averaging over 20 a year and was his Conference player of the year back in NCAA. A known gym rat, his solid mechanics and good ballhandling look like they are translating well into the league.
Last at 10th is Nico Mannion of the Golden State Warriors. Drafted at the Second round at 48th, Nico is the supposed “steal” of the draft and is talked about due to the ginormous Warriors fanbase that has been amassed throughout the years. Plenty of highlights online only add to the legend of this red-haired baller. Currently he plays for the G-League affiliate Santa Cruz Warriors, of the Golden State Warriors. He is hoping for the call up for the majors, and perhaps he is a secret weapon waiting to be activated. The next Klay Thompson.