'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The beginning of the 2021-22 NBA season marks the debut for the newest rookie class. The 2021 NBA Draft class was headlined by a promising group of Cade Cunningham, Jalen Green, Evan Mobley, Scottie Barnes, and Jalen Suggs.
Cade will not participate in the Detroit Pistons' season opener due to a slight injury. Jalen Green played well, but not great, in his debut for the Houston Rockets. The Cavaliers and Evan Mobley were destroyed by the new-look Chicago Bulls. Jalen Suggs' play did not jump off the page. All of the aforementioned names have extremely bright futures, but their preseason openers weren't particularly impressive.
The most recent draft class goes much deeper than those five, and some of the latter names shone in their NBA debuts.
Trending
Here are the five 2021 NBA rookies that stood out in two days of preseason games.
Explore the NBA Draft 2024 with our free NBA Mock Draft Simulator & be the GM of your favorite NBA team.
#5 Josh Giddey
Some were surprised when the Oklahoma City Thunder elected to select NBL's Josh Giddey at pick six in the 2021 NBA Draft. Aside from Josh Primo, Giddey was the youngest player taken in the first round and the Thunder have clearly embraced a patient approach to their rebuild.
The 6'8" point guard started in his first game in the NBA, and will likely be given the opportunity to play through his growing pains. Lining up alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander should ease his initiating responsibilities and that seems to have been the case in his debut.
Against the Charlotte Hornets, Giddey tallied 18 points, seven rebounds, and three assists in 29 minutes of playing time. Eight of his 12 attempts from the field were converted, two of four from beyond the arc, and zero from the free throw line.
That statline makes for a solid debut for the Australian native and should excite the Oklahoma City fanbase.
#4 James Bouknight
At the time of the NBA Draft, I was surprised by how far James Bouknight fell. He ended up heading to the Charlotte Hornets at pick 11, a team that already has substantial guard depth.
Bouknight is behind Terry Rozier, LaMelo Ball and probably Cody Martin. If the connecticut rookie is hoping for minutes at small forward, then he is competing for minutes with Miles Bridges, Kelly Oubre Jr., Wes Iwundu and Jalen McDaniels.
In his first 21 minutes with the Hornets, Bouknight proved he is going to make the decision of playing time difficult for head coach James Borrego. Throughout those minutes, Bouknight logged 20 points, four rebounds, two assists, and three steals while converting 7-of-12 from the field, 1-of-3 from three, and 5-of-5 from the free throw line.
The rookie could play his way into the sixth or seventh man on this Hornets' roster if he continues to impress.
Also check out: Complete NBA Preseason TV Schedule for 2021
#3 Trey Murphy III
Some draftees are pegged as future stars, while others project as role players. Virginia's Trey Murphy III falls into the latter category, but role players have extreme value in complimenting stars.
The New Orleans Pelicans opting for Murphy could end up being a perfect addition to the high usage maximum contract feature players Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram. Murphy's elite three-point ability, on significant volume, and defensive versatility at 6'9" with a 7'1" wingspan were on full display during his NBA debut.
His final statline included 21 points and six rebounds while knocking down 7 of his 16 field goal attempts. 10 of his 16 attempts were from beyond the arc, and just one of his six made looks were inside the arc.
Murphy is a rare rookie who could end up impacting his NBA team from an early point in his career.
#2 Nah'Shon "Bones" Hyland
Nah'Shon Hyland is the lowest drafted player to make this list. "Bones" was drafted by the Denver Nuggets at pick 26, nine selections after the aforementioned Murphy. With the absence of Jamal Murray due to an injury, the Nuggets have a scoring hole in guard position.
Hyland has an uphill battle to climb because head coach Michael Malone is known for being hesitant to trust rookies, but his first showing wearing Nuggets' threads was a step in that direction.
His 24 minutes led the team and he recorded 19 points, four rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block while knocking down 8-of-13 from the field, 1-of-5 from three, and 2-of-3 from the free throw line.
It's an uphill battle for Bones Hyland, who is probably behind all of Murray, Monte Morris, PJ Dozier, Facundo Compazzo, Austin Rivers, and Markus Howard, but breaking into the rotation is not out of the question.
#1 Scottie Barnes
Scottie Barnes's infectious energy is unmistakable, and the Toronto Raptors got their first taste of that in his NBA preseason debut against the Phiadelphia 76ers. He was given the start, but who knows if that will be the case when Pascal Siakam, Gary Trent Jr., Chris Boucher and Khem Birch are all available to Nick Nurse.
The fourth overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft proved his ability to make an immediate impact on both ends of the floor. Given his length, strength, quickness, and desire to be impactful on defense, his impact in that aspect wouldn't be surprising.
During his freshman season at Florida State, Barnes effectively functioned as a point guard for most offensive positions. I thought that his playmaking may have been overstated when translating to the NBA game, but his six assists have forced me to reconsider.
Along with the six assists, Scottie Barnes recorded 13 points, nine rebounds, two steals, and two blocks while remaining efficient from the field and impactful on defense. Many viewed the selection of Barnes at pick four in the NBA Draft as a reach, but a continuing this level of play will silence those voices quickly.
