NBA 2019-20: Rookie of the Year Power Rankings Week 4

Ja Morant has been among the standout performers during the first three weeks of the season
Ja Morant has been among the standout performers during the first three weeks of the season

#2 P.J. Washington - Charlotte Hornets

P.J. Washington continues to impress for the Hornets
P.J. Washington continues to impress for the Hornets

PJ. Washington was selected 12th overall by the Charlotte Hornets, and the 21-year-old made an impressive start to his NBA career as he scored 27 points on his debut against the Chicago Bulls. While Washington has yet to better that tally of points, he has remained a starter for the Hornets and his performances have been incredibly consistent for a rookie.

Through 10 games, Washington is averaging 13.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 1.4 steals, while his field goal percentage sits at an impressive 51%. Over the past week, he recorded five blocks against the Boston Celtics, before recording 15 points and 4 steals against the Philadelphia Sixers. The Hornets have drafted poorly over the past few seasons, although Washington already looks like a key part of Charlotte's ongoing rebuild.


#1 Ja Morant - Memphis Grizzlies

Ja Morant has been the most impressive rookie in the NBA so far this season
Ja Morant has been the most impressive rookie in the NBA so far this season

Plenty of rookies around the NBA have cooled down after excellent starts to the season, although Ja Morant continues to look like a future superstar. The 20-year-old started his third week in the NBA by dropping 23 points on the Houston Rockets - missing just six of his sixteen field goal attempts. Morant followed that performance up by scoring 26 points in as many minutes against the Minnesota Timberwolves, and while he managed just eight points against the Orlando Magic, his playmaking skills were on show as he picked up seven assists.

Through nine appearances, Morant is averaging 17.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 5.2 assists, and his accuracy from 3-point range sits at a surprisingly good 44 percent. Averaging just 27.1 minutes per game, there is a sense that more is to come from Morant this season, and he remains the frontrunner to be named Rookie of the Year.

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