NBA 2018-19: Top 5 Potential Rookie of the Year candidates so far

Any NBA season has its intrigues, successes and failures. Every year, the NBA rookie class presents us with all three aspects. Sometimes the highest ranking draft picks are the least successful. Sometimes the least likely rookies provide the biggest highlights. Those successes and failures are usually linked to a variety of factors from the team that drafts a certain player to the system the players are playing under.

Some rookies learn quicker than others. As the new season progresses, it is always intriguing to see how the new rookie class fits in. In 2018, the top five draft picks were, Deandre Ayton, Marvin Bagley III, Luka Doncic, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Trae Young. That was the Draft order. As of today , the battle for Rookie of the Year is a scrutiny of the stats and impact these young men have had, in the NBA, so far from the 2018 draft.

Also read: The Favorites to win NBA Rookie of The Year 2018-19

The potential candidates so far for rookie of the year are as follows.

#1 Luka Doncic

Portland Trail Blazers v Dallas Mavericks

The Slovenian power forward, traded at the 2018 draft, to the Dallas Mavericks, has had the biggest rookie impact this season, not only in the league but, for his team. The Dallas Mavericks who were 24-58 last season are 9th in the NBA’s Western Conference at 12-11.

Also, with Dirk Nowitzki quite possibly, in his last season, after a 21-year hall of fame career, Doncic is the present and future, for the Mavericks. Doncic displays a variety of skills, which he employs, at highly effective levels. He can use his dribble to create shots that a defender has taken away. He can beat a defender off the dribble, getting to the basket.

Doncic uses the step back effectively to create shots and his ball handling is very good. Doncic is a splendid passer, as well. He is a good shooter, from distance and mid-range too.

So far, Doncic has amassed averages of 18.1 points per game, 6.5 rebounds per game and 4.3 assists per game. Doncic is currently averaging 32.5 minutes per games and sports a field goal average of 43.8% and 3 point average of 38.2%. At this stage, of the season, Doncic, the 3rd overall pick, of the draft, would be the rookie of the year.

#2 Trae Young

Trae Young is the draftee, who the Atlanta Hawks received, for trading Luka Doncic, to the Dallas Mavericks. Trae Young was selected 5th overall, in the 2018 draft. Trae Young ranks second among rookies, in scoring.

Young shows a great ability to get to the rim and draw fouls. His ball handling and passing skills are excellent. As a rookie, he is 3rd overall, in minutes played, with 731, he is 1st, in field goals attempted, he ranks first in free throws made 80 and attempted 102, mainly because, of his ability, to get to the rim, at will.

He is first, in assists, with 183 or an average of 7.3 per game. Where Trae Young is struggling is directly related to the team around him. The Hawks are rebuilding and the roster is mostly young. Trae Young is averaging 15.7 points per game on 37.7% field goal average.

Young needs to get better with shot selection and or consistent shooting. The Hawks, at 5-20, means Young’s stats are tied to the workload he is being asked to shoulder. Should the Hawks be lucky enough to acquire Zion Williamson, at the June 2019 draft, Trae Young’s shooting averages may correct themselves.

#3 Deandre Ayton

The 1st overall pick, in June, of 2018, is having an impact this season, with Phoenix. He is currently averaging a double-double after 26 games with 15.8 points per game and 10.1 rebounds per game.

Ayton, a 7 foot 2-inch center/power forward, is also the minutes played leader among rookies, with 801, through 26 games. Ayton is also first in field goals made with 181 among the rookie class and averages a field goal percentage of 59.5.

Ayton’s game is on the rise. So far, early, in his career, Ayton recorded an 18 point, 10 rebound 6 assist outing against Dallas. Ayton also produced a 20 point 14 rebound night against Golden State.

Ayton does his best work around the basket and because of it has a really efficient and high field goal percentage. It is perhaps Ayton’s early season play that made the Tyson Chandler buyout, in Phoenix, a possibility. Deandre Ayton’s scoring average is currently second amongst rookies at 15.8.

#4 Collin Sexton

Collin Sexton becomes the name and face to the last 1st round draft pick the Brooklyn Nets gave to Boston, in the Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Jason Terry deal. That 2018 pick, was then swapped to Cleveland, in the summer, of 2017, when Boston sent Isaiah Thomas to the Cavaliers, for Kyrie Irving.

With Cleveland, in full rebuild mode, J.R. Smith sitting at home awaiting a trade, George Hill already traded, as is Kyle Korver, the future is now, in Cleveland. Collin Sexton is the first young piece, of that future, and no longer has to worry about a lot of bitter veterans trying to erode his confidence.

According to Joe Vardon of The Athletic.

“Throughout the organization, the line on Sexton is that he does not ‘know how to play,’” Vardon reported. “He doesn’t know how to defend the pick and roll. He doesn’t know how to set up teammates as a point guard…

Collin Sexton, is a teenager, selected 8th overall, in 2018, and sits 4th overall in rookie scoring at 15.1 points per game, through his first 25 games. He is clearly a good shooter early, in his NBA career, as he is 45%, from the field, and 43%, from behind the arc.

For a point guard, he may need to reveal his passing skills more as he averages just 2.5 assists per game. Collin Sexton currently ranks second among rookies with 735 minutes played. With the rebuilding going on, in Cleveland, expect Sexton’s numbers to increase.

#5 Jaren Jackson Jr.

A 6’11 center drafted, by the Memphis Grizzlies 4th overall, in June 2018, Jackson ranks 5th among the rookie class this year. His development might be coming along slower than hoped, as the Memphis Grizzlies, recently signed Joakim Noah. Noah was waived and bought out, by the Knicks, in October.

However, Jackson Jr. has two great centers to learn his craft from, in Joakim Noah and Marc Gasol. It was widely expected that Jackson would be the best big man out, of the 2018 draft, but, so far, Deandre Ayton ‘s numbers are better.

At the moment, Jackson Jr. is averaging 13.4 points per game and 4.4 rebounds per game in 24 games, so far. At the moment, Jackson Jr. is averaging 25 minutes per game and shoots 51.5% from the field.

In recent matches, Jackson recorded 3 points in 15 minutes against the Pelicans. Against the Clippers, on December 5th, 2018 Jackson Jr. had 13 points in 21 minutes. On December 2nd, 2018 against the 76ers Jackson Jr. recorded 17 points in 23 minutes. Jackson Jr. needs to stay consistent to be the Grizzles option behind Marc Gasol at the center spot.