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The race for the 2022-2023 NBA Rookie of the Year award didn’t change much over the past week. No. 1 pick Paolo Banchero didn’t play at all, while other rookies failed to gain much ground on him. However, there were still a few impressive rookie performances throughout the week.
On that note, here’s this week’s Rookie of the Year Power Rankings by Sportskeeda.
No. 5: Tari Eason, Houston Rockets
Previous week’s Rookie of the Year Power Ranking: 5th (-)
Last Week: Games played - 3, Games won - 0, Games lost - 3
Overall: Games played - 14, Games won - 2, Games lost - 12
Last Week: PPG - 9.3, RPG - 3.7, APG - 2.7, SPG - 3.3, BPG - 0.0
Overall: PPG - 8.4, RPG - 4.8, APG - 1.1, SPG - 1.6, BPG - 0.5
Last Week: FG% - 38.5%, 3PT% - 25.0%, FT% - 85.7%
Overall: FG% - 43.7%, 3PT% - 42.9%, FT% - 78.9%
Tari Eason continues to make a strong impact for the Houston Rockets in limited playing time. In just 19.1 minutes per game over three games last week, Eason tallied 10 steals.
He now ranks first among all rookies in steals per game (1.6SPG). He also ranks third in offensive rebounds per game at 2.1. Despite a poor shooting week, Eason is still shooting 42.9% from three on 2.0 attempts per game this season.
The Rockets may be just 2-12 and 15th in the Western Conference, but they are still significantly better with Eason on the court. The Rockets rank just 29th in the NBA in team defensive rating at 116.8.
However, when Eason is on the court, their defensive rating improves to a team-best 107.7 which would rank third in the league. With Eason on the bench, the Rockets' defensive rating falls to 121.0 which would rank dead last in the league.
Plus, Eason is the only Rockets rotation player with a positive on/court net rating (+1.0). So overall, if Houston ever increases his minutes, Eason could put up some big-time defensive stats and contend for the Rookie of the Year.
No. 4: Keegan Murray, Sacramento Kings
Previous week’s Rookie of the Year Power Ranking: 4th (-)
Last Week: Games played - 4, Games won - 4, Games lost - 0
Overall: Games played - 12, Games won - 7, Games lost - 5
Last Week: PPG - 10.3, RPG - 2.8, APG - 0.3, SPG - 1.5, BPG - 0.5
Overall: PPG - 12.0, RPG - 3.7, APG - 1.1, SPG - 1.0, BPG - 0.8
Last Week: FG% - 45.7%, 3PT% - 42.9%, FT% - N/A
Overall: FG% - 45.1%, 3PT% - 37.5%, FT% - 77.8%
Keegan Murray had an up-and-down week for the Sacramento Kings. He had two good games where he scored 14+ points with 4+ made 3-pointers. This includes a 21-point game against Golden State. That game marked Murray's second 20-point game of the season.
However, Murray also scored just two points in the game before that against the Lakers. He then left the Kings' most recent game against Brooklyn on Tuesday after just 12 minutes due to a back injury.
But overall, Murray is still one of the most productive rookies this season. Murray ranks fourth in points (12.0), third in steals (1.0SPG), and second in 3-pointers per game (2.3-3PG) among rookies.
He also plays a key role in a Kings team that has now won four straight games to move up to 7-6 and eighth in the Western Conference. If he maintains his levels of on-court productivity, Murray could be a legitimate contender for Rookie of the Year.
No. 3: Jaden Ivey, Detroit Pistons
Previous week’s Rookie of the Year Power Ranking: 3rd (-)
Last Week: Games played - 4, Games won - 0, Games lost - 4
Overall: Games played - 14, Games won - 3, Games lost - 11
Last Week: PPG - 19.0, RPG - 5.3, APG - 5.3, SPG - 1.0, BPG - 0.0
Overall: PPG - 16.1, RPG - 5.0, APG - 4.1, SPG - 1.4, BPG - 0.4
Last Week: FG% - 44.4%, 3PT% - 41.2%, FT% - 75.0%
Overall: FG% - 44.0%, 3PT% - 33.9%, FT% - 73.8%
Jaden Ivey continued his stat-sheet-stuffing ways for the shorthanded Detroit Pistons last week. Ivey had a near triple-double against Boston with 19 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists. He also had back-to-back 20-point games in another game against the Celtics as well as against Toronto. His performances against the big teams makes him a candidate for Rookie of the Year.
Among rookies, Jaden Ivey now ranks third in points (16.1PPG), fifth in rebounds (5.0RPG), first in assists (4.1APG), and second in steals per game (1.4SPG). Unfortunately for Ivey, it still hasn’t translated to wins. The Pistons lost all four of their games last week to fall to 3-12 and 15th in the Eastern Conference.
No. 2: Bennedict Mathurin, Indiana Pacers
Previous week’s Rookie of the Year Power Ranking: 2nd (-)
Last Week: Games played - 2, Games won - 1, Games lost - 1
Overall: Games played - 12, Games won - 6, Games lost - 6
Last Week: PPG - 22.5, RPG - 5.0, APG - 1.5, SPG - 0.5, BPG - 0.0
Overall: PPG - 19.9, RPG - 3.9, APG - 2.3, SPG - 0.4, BPG - 0.1
Last Week: FG% - 51.9%, 3PT% - 69.2%, FT% - 66.7%
Overall: FG% - 45.6%, 3PT% - 45.3%, FT% - 83.1%
Bennedict Mathurin and the Indiana Pacers once again only played two games last week. However, in one of those two games, Mathurin scored 30 points in a close 122-119 loss to Denver. That marked his second 30-point game of the season.
Mathurin also shot 9-for-13 (69.2%) from three over both games. For the season, he is now shooting a ridiculous 45.3% from three. That number ranks second among rookies, making him a strong candidate for Rookie of the Year. However, Mathurin still ranks first in 3-pointers per game among rookies (2.8-3PG).
He is also second in points per game (19.9PPG) as well. Overall, Mathurin’s elite scoring presence off the bench continues to be a huge factor in the Pacers’ surprising record (6-6).
No. 1: Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic
Previous week’s Rookie of the Year Power Ranking: 1st (-)
Last Week: Games played - 0, Games won - 0, Games lost - 0
Overall: Games played - 11, Games won - 2, Games lost - 9
Last Week: PPG - N/A, RPG - N/A, APG - N/A, SPG - N/A, BPG - N/A
Overall: PPG - 23.5, RPG - 8.3, APG - 3.6, SPG - 0.7, BPG - 0.9
Last Week: FG% - N/A, 3PT% - N/A, FT% - N/A
Overall: FG% - 46.1%, 3PT% - 25.6%, FT% - 76.9%
Orlando Magic star rookie Paolo Banchero hasn’t played since last week’s rankings. He missed the Magic’s last three games due to a sprained ankle. However, he’s still comfortably leading all rookies in points (23.5PPG) and rebounds per game (8.3RPG).
He’s also still second in assists per game (3.6APG) as well. Plus, the last two games he played in were his back-to-back 30-point games that made history for Orlando. So for now, Banchero holds on to the top spot.
Paolo Banchero is currently listed as questionable for Wednesday’s game against Minnesota. So hopefully Banchero will be able to return at some point this week and continue to build on his strong case for Rookie of the Year.
For last week's Rookie of the Year Power Rankings, click here.
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