Kia NBA ROTY Race: Latest ROTY ladder and power rankings feat. Jaden Ivey, Paolo Banchero, and more

The 2022-2023 NBA ROTY race has been in dire straits lately with most rookies struggling to make a sizeable impact for their respective teams. However, there has still been a major shift over the past week, with a new player moving into the top two.

So 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 - 1, Games lost - 2

Overall: Games played - 30, Games won - 16, Games lost - 14

Last Week: PPG - 12.3, RPG - 3.0, APG - 1.0, SPG - 1.3, BPG - 0.3

Overall: PPG - 11.9, RPG - 3.8, APG - 0.8, SPG - 0.8, BPG - 0.6

Last Week: FG% - 38.7%, 3PT% - 45.0%, FT% - 66.7%

Overall: FG% - 42.5%, 3PT% - 38.5%, FT% - 78.0%.

Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray continued to be the best 3-point shooter among rookies last week. He went 9-of-20 (45.0%) from deep over three games.

His week was highlighted by a 23-point performance with six made 3-pointers in a win over the LA Lakers. Murray has averaged a rookie-leading 2.3 3-pointers per game on 38.5% from deep on the season. However, he is still a bit limited by his lack of all-around production.

#4 Jabari Smith Jr. | Houston Rockets

Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr.

Previous week’s ROTY ranking: 4th (-)

Last Week: Games played - 4, Games won - 1, Games lost - 3

Overall: Games played - 33, Games won - 10, Games lost - 23

Last Week: PPG - 13.3, RPG - 8.0, APG - 1.8, SPG - 0.8, BPG - 1.5

Overall: PPG - 12.1, RPG - 7.2, APG - 0.8, SPG - 0.5, BPG - 1.0

Last Week: FG% - 42.3%, 3PT% - 30.8%, FT% - 100.0%

Overall: FG% - 38.3%, 3PT% - 33.7%, FT% - 83.3%.

Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. had a fairly strong week, finishing with double-digit scoring in three of his four games. Smith also finished with eight or more rebounds in three games. His week was highlighted by a 24-point, 10-rebound performance on 58.8% shooting versus the Dallas Mavericks.

Smith also tallied eight 3-pointers and six blocks over the past week. He continues to be a solid and versatile stretch forward for the Rockets despite his inefficiency.

#3 Bennedict Mathurin | Indiana Pacers

Indiana Pacers shooting guard Bennedict Mathurin

Previous week’s ROTY ranking: 2nd (↓1)

Last Week: Games played - 4, Games won - 3, Games lost - 1

Overall: Games played - 35, Games won - 18, Games lost - 17

Last Week: PPG - 11.5, RPG - 2.3, APG - 1.3, SPG - 0.5, BPG - 0.0

Overall: PPG - 17.1, RPG - 3.9, APG - 1.5, SPG - 0.6, BPG - 0.1

Last Week: FG% - 41.7%, 3PT% - 21.4%, FT% - 92.9%

Overall: FG% - 41.5%, 3PT% - 34.3%, FT% - 82.0%.

Indiana Pacers shooting guard Bennedict Mathurin has experienced a massive drop-off since his hot start to the season. Despite ranking second in scoring among rookies at 17.1 points per game, Mathurin only scored in double digits in two of four games last week. He also shot just 3-of-14 (21.4%) from deep.

Mathurin’s week was highlighted by a 18-point performance in a win over the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday. However, with his consistent lack of production outside of scoring, he has fallen to third in this week’s ROTY ladder.

#2 Jaden Ivey | Detroit Pistons

Previous week’s ROTY ranking: 3rd (↑1)

Last Week: Games played - 3, Games won - 0, Games lost - 3

Overall: Games played - 32, Games won - 8, Games lost - 24

Last Week: PPG - 16.0, RPG - 2.7, APG - 4.3, SPG - 1.3, BPG - 0.0

Overall: PPG - 15.5, RPG - 4.2, APG - 4.0, SPG - 1.1, BPG - 0.3

Last Week: FG% - 37.2%, 3PT% - 44.4%, FT% - 70.6%

Overall: FG% - 41.6%, 3PT% - 31.7%, FT% - 71.9%.

Detroit Pistons point guard Jaden Ivey still struggled with inefficiency last week, shooting just 37.2% over three games. However, he still scored 15 or more points in all three games.

Ivey also finished with eight assists versus the LA Clippers, and his week was highlighted by an 18-point performance against the Philadelphia 76ers.

He also tallied four steals last week, so he is now leading all rookies in both steals (1.1 SPG) and assists (4.0 APG). Ivey is still third in points among rookies (15.5 PPG) as well.

Ivey’s all-around play combined with Bennedict Mathurin’s offensive struggles has seen him move into the top two in this week’s ROTY rankings.

#1 Paolo Banchero | Orlando Magic

Previous week’s ROTY ranking: 1st (-)

Last Week: Games played - 3, Games won - 2, Games lost - 1

Overall: Games played - 28, Games won - 10, Games lost - 18

Last Week: PPG - 15.0, RPG - 8.0, APG - 3.3, SPG - 1.0, BPG - 0.0

Overall: PPG - 21.1, RPG - 6.8, APG - 3.9, SPG - 0.9, BPG - 0.6

Last Week: FG% - 41.5%, 3PT% - 33.3%, FT% - 53.8%

Overall: FG% - 44.5%, 3PT% - 31.5%, FT% - 74.8%.

The Orlando Magic continued their upward trend last week, going 2-1 with wins over the Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs. Magic forward Paolo Banchero scored 18 or more points in both of Orlando’s wins.

His week was highlighted by his 23-point, 13-rebound double-double versus the Rockets. Banchero, however, finished the week with a four-point dud in the Magic’s loss to the LA Lakers on Tuesday.

Despite having a bit of a down week overall, Banchero remains head-and-shoulders above the pack in the ROTY race. With 21.1 PPG, he is now a full four points per game ahead of the second-highest-scoring rookie, Bennedict Mathurin (17.1 PPG).

For last week's ROTY ladder, click here.