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#3 Kenyon Martin Jr.
2020-21 NBA season: MP: 19.3, PPG: 7.1, AST: 0.7, TRB: 4.6, FG%: 55.3
Kenyon Martin Jr. was the lowest-picked player in the NBA Draft on our list but pushes Xavier Tillman for the second-best performing rookie from the second round. The 20-year-old was originally selected by the Sacramento Kings before being traded to Houston. Martin Jr. has been a backup forward for the franchise this campaign.
Martin Jr. is an athletic player who leads the second-round selections for rebounds per matchup and is not afraid of attacking the rim, as can be seen in his posterizing dunk below.
Despite having a losing season, the Houston Rockets have plenty of young talent for the years ahead. They will be excited about the development Martin Jr. can show after a solid breakout campaign.
#2 Xavier Tillman
2020-21 NBA season: MP: 18.4, PPG: 6.2, AST: 1.4, TRB: 4.2, FG%: 52.6
Michigan State center Xavier Tillman fell to 35th in the NBA Draft but has made a name for himself as a backup to Jonas Valanciunas at the Memphis Grizzlies. It's a tough role for any rookie to play, but the big man appears to be growing in confidence as the season has gone on.
Tillman currently ranks second in rebounds per game among those drafted in the second round and is also second in field-goal percentage among those that start regularly. The 22-year-old has also already amassed a defensive win share of 1.1 and has a +/- rating of +1, being one of only four rookies that has played more than 15 minutes to have a positive rating.
#1 Theo Maledon
2020-21 NBA season: MP: 27.3, PPG: 9.7, AST: 3.4, TRB: 3.4, FG%: 37.4
The Oklahoma City Thunder are putting together quite the array of young talent in their season of development. OKC acquired French guard Theo Maledon from the Philadelphia 76ers after he was chosen 34th in the NBA Draft. The 19-year-old has quickly become accustomed to life as a starter.
Maledon has been in the Thunder's starting lineup for 32 out of 48 games this season and has enjoyed a particularly consistent run while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been out injured.
The OKC guard is beginning to find his stride in the league and has scored double-digit points in 22 matchups this season, topped off with his season-high 33 points against the Phoenix Suns at the beginning of the month.
The teenager leads all of the NBA Draft's second-round picks in points per night, assists and minutes. From the beginning of March until now, he ranks fourth among all rookies for points at 12.7 per matchup and was afforded the fourth-most field-goal attempts, sinking 35.8%.
