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The 2022-2023 NBA ROTY race continues to hold steady at the top week after week, dominated by 2022 No. 1 pick Paolo Banchero. Meanwhile, a few different rookies continue to swap places outside the top two.
On that note, here’s this week’s ROTY ladder.
#5 Keegan Murray | Sacramento Kings
Previous week’s ROTY ranking: 5th (-)
Last Week: Games played - 3, Games won - 2, Games lost - 1
Overall: Games played - 27, Games won - 15, Games lost - 12
Last Week: PPG - 13.7, RPG - 2.3, APG - 0.0, SPG - 0.7, BPG - 0.7
Overall: PPG - 11.9, RPG - 3.9, APG - 0.7, SPG - 0.7, BPG - 0.7
Last Week: FG% - 44.1%, 3PT% - 47.4%, FT% - 50.0%
Overall: FG% - 43.0%, 3PT% - 37.7%, FT% - 80.0%
Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray kept up his hot shooting last week, shooting 9-of-19 (47.4%) from 3-point distance through three games. He also had one 20-point game in a win over the Detroit Pistons.
Murray now leads all rookies in 3-pointers made per game at 2.2. However, his lack of peripheral stats has limited his ability to climb higher up the ROTY ladder so far.
#4 Jabari Smith Jr. | Houston Rockets
Previous week’s ROTY ranking: 3rd (↓1)
Last Week: Games played - 3, Games won - 0, Games lost - 3
Overall: Games played - 29, Games won - 9, Games lost - 20
Last Week: PPG - 10.0, RPG - 7.7, APG - 0.7, SPG - 0.7, BPG - 0.7
Overall: PPG - 11.9, RPG - 7.1, APG - 0.7, SPG - 0.4, BPG - 0.9
Last Week: FG% - 33.3%, 3PT% - 6.7%, FT% - 75.0%
Overall: FG% - 37.6%, 3PT% - 34.1%, FT% - 83.1%
Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. finally entered the top three in last week’s ROTY rankings. He did so on the back of his improved shooting efficiency and strong rebounding.
Smith kept up his good work on the boards last week, averaging 7.7 rebounds per game over three games. He now ranks second among rookies at 7.1 RPG on the season. Smith also had a 15-point, 11-rebound double-double in a close loss to the Miami Heat.
However, Smith’s shooting deserted him last week, as he shot just 1-for-15 (6.7%) from beyond the arc through three games. This brought his overall shooting percentage down to just 33.3% for the week and 37.6% for the season.
So offensive inconsistency has seen Smith drop back out of the top three in this week’s ROTY ladder.
#3 Jaden Ivey | Detroit Pistons
Previous week’s ROTY ranking: 4th (↑1)
Last Week: Games played - 4, Games won - 1, Games lost - 3
Overall: Games played - 29, Games won - 8, Games lost - 21
Last Week: PPG - 16.8, RPG - 3.5, APG - 3.8, SPG - 0.8, BPG - 0.0
Overall: PPG - 15.5, RPG - 4.3, APG - 4.0, SPG - 1.0, BPG - 0.3
Last Week: FG% - 55.8%, 3PT% - 40.0%, FT% - 71.4%
Overall: FG% - 42.1%, 3PT% - 30.8%, FT% - 72.1%
Detroit Pistons point guard Jaden Ivey struggled with efficiency over the first two weeks of December. He shot just 36.6% and 24.2% respectively from 3-point land. As a result, Ivey slipped out of the top three in last week's ROTY rankings.
However, he was able to redeem himself over the past week after shooting a blistering 55.8% and 40.0% from beyond the arc through four games. This included a career-high 30-point performance on 10-of-14 (71.4%) shooting in a loss to the Utah Jazz on Tuesday.
Following his improved shooting last week, Ivey is right back in the top three in this week’s ROTY ladder. However, it will likely take a little more consistency for him to maintain his position going forward.
#2 Bennedict Mathurin | Indiana Pacers
Previous week’s ROTY ranking: 2nd (-)
Last Week: Games played - 3, Games won - 1, Games lost - 2
Overall: Games played - 31, Games won - 15, Games lost - 16
Last Week: PPG - 20.3, RPG - 5.0, APG - 1.7, SPG - 0.7, BPG - 0.3
Overall: PPG - 17.9, RPG - 4.1, APG - 1.5, SPG - 0.6, BPG - 0.1
Last Week: FG% - 41.3%, 3PT% - 40.0%, FT% - 89.5%
Overall: FG% - 41.5%, 3PT% - 35.4%, FT% - 81.1%
Indiana Pacers shooting guard Bennedict Mathurin’s shooting picked up again last week. After shooting just 21.6% from 3-point distance over the first two weeks of December, Mathurin improved to 40.0% through three games last week.
He also scored 20 or more points in two of three games. Mathurin’s week was highlighted by a 24-point, six-rebound performance with four made 3-pointers in a win over the Golden State Warriors.
Following his strong week, the Pacers guard continues to be the second-highest scorer among rookies at 17.9 points per game.
#1 Paolo Banchero | Orlando Magic
Previous week’s ROTY ranking: 1st (-)
Last Week: Games played - 4, Games won - 3, Games lost - 1
Overall: Games played - 25, Games won - 8, Games lost - 17
Last Week: PPG - 22.3, RPG - 5.3, APG - 5.3, SPG - 1.5, BPG - 0.8
Overall: PPG - 21.8, RPG - 6.6, APG - 4.0, SPG - 0.9, BPG - 0.6
Last Week: FG% - 41.5%, 3PT% - 50.0%, FT% - 82.1%
Overall: FG% - 44.8%, 3PT% - 31.3%, FT% - 76.1%
The Orlando Magic continued to trend up last week, going 3-1 to improve to 11-21 on the season. Their only loss came by just one point against the Atlanta Hawks. Paolo Banchero was a big reason for the Magic's success as he finished with 20 or more points in three of four games this past week.
Banchero’s week was highlighted by a 31-point, six-rebound performance in a win over the Boston Celtics. He notably knocked down six of his seven 3-point attempts against the Celtics.
For the week, Banchero shot 12-of-24 (50.0%) from deep after previously shooting just 25.3%.
Banchero is now the leading scorer among rookies by almost a full 4.0 points per game (21.8 PPG). If he can keep up his improved shooting, that gap will likely increase even further.
Additionally, Banchero continues to put up the most well-rounded stat lines among rookies. So all things considered, he is still looking like the clear-cut favorite to win ROTY.
For last week's ROTY ladder, click here.
