COME ON ! Several French people drafted, full of super diverse profiles and who can claim the title of best rookie of the season in this 2024 vintage. So many arguments which convinced us to relaunch the Race to ROY section. And after a month of competition for all the young talents arriving in the NBA this summer, Jared McCain (Sixers) is in the lead for the TrashTalk editorial team!
IMPORTANT: Unlike the MVP rankings that you are used to reading on our wonderful site, here we will not take into account victories and defeats in the Rookies ranking. Yeah, otherwise the top 10 would be unplayable for those in Washington.
10. Donovan Clingan (Blazers)
Stats : 5.7 points (55.3% shooting including 20% 3-point shooting and 83.3% shooting), 5.6 rebounds, 0.2 assists, 2.1 blocks, 2.8 lost balls on average , in 16.2 minutes per match (14 matches played).
The big stem of the Blazers showed good things in the first month of competition. Enough to crack the last place in the top 10. An element that has taken on a certain importance very quickly in the Blazers' defensive system, Donovan Clingan is not THIS kind of pivot that the NBA and its developments would have us imagine. Quite slow, with hands that still have room for improvement, but an already well-established defense with very good vision in most of his movements, particularly when finding the balance between his player and the danger that the ball represents. He made a strong impression against Rudy Gobert in the Blazers' victory in Minnesota where he had his best career game, with 17 points, 12 rebounds and 8 blocks. A huge defender in the making who can establish himself as a big name in the field this season. Efforts to continue.
9. Yves Missi (Pelicans)
Stats : 6.7 points (at 53.3% shooting including 64.5% on throws), 6.9 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.1 blocks, 0.7 interceptions and 1.6 lost balls on average, in 23.5 minutes per match (15 matches played).
Destiny sent Yves Missi to a team that had to deal with an infirmary as long as a queue at Fnac on the last weekend before Christmas. An exceptional situation which propelled the rookie into the Pelicans' major five almost as soon as he arrived in the NBA. The result? It clicks pretty well. What we like about this great start to the boy's season: the moves are not yet perfect in execution, but this constant freshness in desire and intensity opens wide the doors to playing time and competition for him. progression. With an interesting game vision allowing him to take advantage of his fixation ability to distribute gifts to friends. His enormous athleticism has already done damage in the NBA (Myles Turner will say something about it if he dares) and he is theoretically capable of defending any shot thanks to his exceptional measurements. It's up to him to continue to keep them once the group's executives return to the field, to consolidate its place in this ranking.
8. Ryan Dunn (Suns)
Stats : 6.9 points (42.2% shooting including 32.2% from 3-point range and 16.7% from throws), 2.6 rebounds, 0.6 assists, 0.5 blocks, 0.5 interceptions and 0.6 lost balls in 18.6 minutes per match (14 matches played).
Ryan Dunn sees his very good start to the season with the Suns rewarded by a place in this top 10, but be careful. Formidable skill during the first regular matches, his statistics are declining, as is his defensive contribution. However, we cannot deny that his first steps in the NBA had an echo much further than Arizona. A sniper capable of reading the game rather cleanly defensively and ensuring without making too many errors in the mission entrusted to him, Dunn must now go beyond the threshold of astonishment to reach that of norm. His performances must stabilize so that he can remain in this ranking. The Suns' recent injuries are a “good” starting point for him, with his playing time being big enough to allow him to be tested not only technically but physically.
7. Stephon Castle (Spurs)
Stats : 9.9 points (38.2% shooting including 27.8% 3-point shooting and 69% shooting), 2.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 0.4 blocks, 0.8 interceptions and 1, 7 lost balls in 25.3 minutes per match (15 matches played).
The Spurs rookie point guard is already having a major impact on the game of Gregg Popovich's men. With Chris Paul as his mentor, he has directly taken on a vital importance in the construction, so much so that his teammates play several notches below collectively when he is not on the field. In defense, he doesn't throw himself and is not afraid to come up against bigger players than him. He is only 7th, because his individual statistics are fragile compared to the competition above. But by progressing in this aspect, it will only be able to make its mark in the first part of the ranking.
6. Dalton Knecht (Lakers)
Stats : 11.3 points (52.3% shooting including 46.4% 3-point shooting and 92.3% shooting), 2.5 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 0.5 interceptions, 0.4 lost balls on average, in 21.5 minutes per match (14 matches played).
Have the Lakers made – for once – a (very) good pick in the Draft? Dalton Knecht has yet to find his cruising speed, but the latest flashes shown by the player trained at the University of Tennessee bode very well. 19 points against Memphis, 14 in San Antonio then 27 in New Orleans… before a huge 37-point card last night against the Jazz. A shooter capable of punishing as soon as he receives the ball, an option which the Lakers had lacked until now and which could do the franchise a lot of good. Also effective on percussion, his reading of the game is already very developed. What he must continue to do: his movements without the ball. Major aspect for a profile like his, he already makes effective cuts to create movement without the leather. On the defensive side, Knecht still has to make a lot of effort, often being missed by the percussion. It is imperative to work on this side to limit as much as possible the impact of the variable “marksmanship” on game nights. However, the new Californian is on the right track and should quickly – if he is consistent – skyrocket in this ranking.
5. Carlton Carrington (Wizards)
Stats : 10.4 points (43.8% shooting including 38.9% from 3-point range and 80% from throws), 4.4 rebounds, 5 assists, 0.3 blocks, 1.2 steals and 1.8 balls lost on average, in 30.3 minutes per match (13 matches played).
Bub Carrington in the top 5 of the first rookie rankings of the 2024-25 season. Logical for an impressive start to the season in many respects. Leader of the rookies in terms of assists per match, the Wizards leader is already proficient in a number of areas in terms of creation. For himself and for others. Washington has a very promising profile in his person, who must now increase his individual offensive contribution to regularly occupy the podium. It remains to be seen, however, whether the return of Malcolm Brogdon to the rotation will have an impact on his playing time. It would be damaging, especially for a developing team like the Wiz'.
4. Zaccharie Risacher (Hawks)
Stats : 12 points (38.6% shooting including 25% 3-point shooting and 68% shooting), 3.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.8 blocks, 1 interception and 1.3 lost balls on average, in 26.4 minutes per match (15 games played).
Zacharie Risacher, number 1 in the Draft. Great offensive evenings, with a card against the Knicks at 33 points. The Frenchman has been in good shape since the start of the season, but his inconsistency in shooting does not allow him to go higher for the moment. He must be able to achieve slightly better percentages, which are more in line with the cleanliness of his game (he only forces very few actions, already reads a majority of situations extremely well) to climb to the top of this ranking. In defense, he is tough on the players he is given and makes few mistakes. He will gain strength with the sequence of matches, there is no doubt about that.
3. Jaylen Wells (Grizzlies)
Stats : 11.5 points (42.6% shooting including 36.8% from 3-point range and 73.3% from throws), 3.1 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.3 blocks, 0.3 interceptions, 1.1 lost balls on average, in 25.6 minutes per match (15 matches played).
One of the Grizzlies' strong men since the start of the season. A certain regularity in shooting, and a confident confidence. In defense, we are dealing with a boy who does not let go of the steak he has between his fangs. Injuries propelled him into the Grizzlies' major five, and he even earned the admiration of LeBron James during the game against the Lakers. A fact which obviously does not enter into account in his ranking, but which still indicates the attention around the rookie, selected with the 39th choice. Without complexes, he already knows how to punish the opponent very well in catch and shoot, but also makes his way towards the circle with percussion. Promising for the future, although like other players in this top 10, the return of major players in the squad risks overshadowing him in the weeks to come.
2. Zach Edey (Grizzlies)
Stats : 11.1 points (61% shooting including 60% 3-pointers and 66.7% shooting), 6.9 rebounds, 1 block, 0.9 interceptions on average, 1.6 lost balls on average in 20 .1 minutes per match (14 matches played).
An already significant defensive threat in the Grizzlies squad, and a shooting efficiency that does not need to be proven for the one who was at the start of the season the bookmakers' favorite in the race for Rookie of the Year. From ? He actually showed that he was there for this competition. In attack, it is definitely a deviation that must be taken to get around a screen that he has just set. He dunks, knows how to use his hands very well, and even shoots a few 3-pointers with a percentage that is currently crazy given his measurements. In defense, he alternates the good and the less good, being quite effective on opponent pivots and vigilant in defensive aids to put in counters when the ball approaches the circle. However, its somewhat “old-fashioned” pivot mobility is a real obstacle when you have to leave your kingdom which is the racket. In the current NBA, he will absolutely have to adapt to stay in this ranking, because the teams that play Memphis will necessarily use this to put him in trouble regularly.
1. Jared McCain (Sixers)
Stats : 15.2 points (at 47.7% shooting including 40.8% on 3-pointers and 100% on throws), 2.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 0.5 interceptions and 1 lost ball on average in 21 .2 minutes per game (13 games played)
Who else but him? The Sixers rookie has been the boss of the franchise for 10 days. Paul George injured, returned but very average, Joel Embiid being only a shadow of himself… Those who were expected to pull the strings are absent, and the only ray of light for Philadelphia fans is called Jared McCain. Absolute confidence in the game, more than correct skill and absolutely crazy performances for a rookie. The best youngster of the 2024 vintage is with the Sixers, there is – for the moment – no possible debate on this subject. Within a group that is still figuring out how basketball works, it floats and shines all the more, in individual and even collective creation. If he remains at this incredible level of performance over time (28.2 points on average last week!), the trophy risks quickly being decided.
Mentions honorables : Alexandre Sarr (Wizards), Kyle Filipowski (Jazz), Kyshawn George (Wizards), Ajay Mitchell (Thunder)
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