What interests me is how people balance this race for Rookie of the Year in particular. Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel have had incredible seasons, exchanging “prominence” in different parts of the season. What is valued more: Knueppel’s metronomous consistency or Flagg’s incredible growth? Is it that contrast that makes the race more fun or more difficult? Who gets more credit for the impact: Knueppel helping impact Charlotte’s victory or Flagg handling a heavy responsibility and workload for the Dallas offense?
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Going through the rookie list is also a different thought exercise for me. What is a rookie like? full Is he digesting the season versus how he’s playing toward the end? How do we balance the trades for Derik Queen and Jeremiah Fears, the various injuries that have occurred, and the increased opportunities for Maxime Raynaud and Ace Bailey? It’s a challenge, but it’s mainly due to the high quality of play this class has shown every night.
To me, it says a lot when a rookie develops the ability to not only provide a level of consistency, but also find ways to solve problems, make the right plays and contribute to a team’s game plan.
1. Kon Knueppel, Hornets
The praise continues to pile up for Knueppel, who has been a lethal shooter, leading the NBA in three-pointers made with 216 and setting the rookie record for three-pointers made in a season. When the curtain is drawn behind the goals and shots, his consistent play has been a key piece in elevating the Hornets.
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Knueppel can be used with and without a ball. He opens up his space and keeps him moving, and his screen has been difficult for defenses to solve. The Hornets can build a set to use Knueppel as a blocker, but he’s most lethal when he drops one in at random to keep defenses off balance. It’s hard to argue with the foundation Knueppel has provided all season.
2. Cooper Flagg, Mavericks
An injury may have briefly changed the momentum at the top of the Rookie of the Year race, but there’s plenty of time for Flagg to make a good impression to close out the season. It’s easy to forget that before his injury, Flagg had scored 27 or more points in five of his last six games, shooting 46.2% from 3-point range in four games in February and making 10+ free throw attempts in three of his last five games. What that tells me is the continued growth, confidence and dominance Flagg has shown this season.
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Flagg has gone from not hesitating when attacking in pick-and-roll to working to read and break down defenses. In the pick-and-roll, if the defense is down, he comes off the screen slowly, keeping his dribble alive to force the bigs to make a decision. If the defense jumps to take the 3 (improved) away from you, they will move in and out to get past you. He’s exploring his opportunity and then making the right read/play versus the opposite that we saw earlier in the season.
3. VJ Edgecombe, 76ers
It’s easy to call Edgecombe a “distant third” when it comes to the Rookie of the Year race, but he should be recognized as a more consistent third. His position seems more a recognition of the efforts of the first two than a discredit of what he has done. Without Edgecombe’s consistency, how stable do we think the Sixers’ ship would really be?
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Edgecombe’s transition attacks help the Sixers avoid outright trouble, but there’s a certain poise he’s developed over the year. In the half court the numbers may not reflect the impact, but he is not afraid to hit a drive or a pull-up depending on how the defense protects him. No matter the matchup, Edgecombe is always ready to attack.
4. Dylan Harper, Spurs
There’s a reason Harper was named Western Conference Rookie of the Month, and I promise it’s not fair because Flagg was injured. The Spurs have been at their best when their guard play has been consistent and strong, and Harper returned to form in February.
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His RBIs per game increased from 6.2 per game in January to 8.5 in February. It may not seem like much, but Harper is at his best for the Spurs when he is able to go downhill, get paint touches, finish or force help to create offense for San Antonio. The best thing about Harper is that the confidence remained after a difficult stretch. He remains a threat for a Spurs team that is thriving in the Western Conference.
5. Derik Queen, Pelicans
Now there’s a thought bubble hanging over Queen’s rookie season: How do we process him being moved to a bench role, still being effective but not showing up the same way? I’m shaking all the speech as They caught him and that They gave up to achieve it, and respecting the effort they have given for most of the season.
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If there is a concern beyond the minutes, it is that assist production has been cut in half. He still has an artistry to his offense that stands out, but it will be interesting to see how much rein the Pelicans are willing to give him offensively and how that can alter the balance of what he brings to the defense.
6. Cedric Coward, Grizzlies
Coward hasn’t been available for the Grizzlies more than they’d like, but it’s hard to deny the fact that he’s been very good when he’s been available. Before getting injured, he found his confidence in shooting, which adds a layer to how he helps the Grizzlies offensively.
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Being able to space is one thing, but understanding when and how to cut when spaced is huge, especially considering how the Grizzlies want to play. The key for Coward is finding a way to consistently utilize his combination of size, shooting and driving and cutting ability offensively. That could and should lift Memphis in this season of misery.
7. Maxime Raynaud, Reyes
Raynaud has made the most of his extended opportunity with the Kings down the stretch, ranking second among all rookies in rebounding. He was the first rookie in seven years to average 15+ points and 10+ rebounds on 60% shooting over a 10-game span and is first among all rookies in double-doubles.
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He’s a strong rim runner in transition, but has really found his way in the pick-and-roll with good footwork and a knack for staying in a guard’s vision to receive a pocket pass and finish. The Kings’ context may not be ideal, but Raynaud has done everything he can to show that he can produce with the minutes he has.
8. Jeremiah Fears, Pelicans
There’s a confidence within Fears’ gameplay that helps you appreciate his efforts while waiting for the shooting to reach a level that some would consider acceptable. He is a tough player, has been and always will be.
The key is to watch what you build on top of that: rejects in the pick-and-roll to get the defense to commit to a kick in the pick-and-roll; drive and kick and move to the perimeter to get a cleaner shot; be ready without the ball when you are one pass away from a driver; mixing more units to try to turn the corner and finish the painting. The trick is to see what Fears is trying to do versus what he knows he can do.
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9. Collin Murray-Boyles, Raptors
CMB is the type of player whose impact can be forgotten or lost in the shuffle. The Raptors ask him to defend, play with energy and attack. And every time you see him on the court that’s exactly what he’s doing.
The success the Raptors have found with CMB at the 5 speaks for itself and shows their overall versatility. He can harass defenders with the ball and contain them without the ball; There are few players you wouldn’t trust him to try to guard. Energy, impact and consistency have been the hallmarks of the WBC season.
10. Ace Bailey, Jazz
Bailey has found his comfort zone offensively within Utah’s system. His strengths have always been on the offensive end of the court, but he found the opportunity to show it during this stretch.
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Movement within Utah’s system opens up dribble handoffs or pins to allow him to go downhill. If there is no size, he is willing to get into the paint. And if you have space, you’re willing to let it fly. The talent was always there, but consistency finally arrived.