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The Washington Wizards have almost as many compelling rookies as they have victories so far this season.
Alex Sarr, Bub Carrington and Kyshawn George give hope for the future in a present that, at 6-36, hasn’t been much fun. With second-year guard Bilal Coulibaly, the Wizards have a young core to nurture and several veteran players available as the Feb. 6 trade deadline approaches.
Meanwhile, no member of the Class of 2024 has generated more buzz this week than the Miami Heat’s Kel’el Ware. Here are updates on him and the other more sensible signings for 2024-25. . .
• A weakness of the scale in the monitoring of the recruits from the beginning to the end of the season is to capture those who are out of time at the right time. That is why Ware is making his debut here, after a dazzling period during the last 10 days. North Little Rock foot, Ark. , He played little or nothing in the first 25 Miami games. But its minutes have increased from 6. 9 before December to 22. 1 this month, and its production has followed: 12. 9 points, 6. 8 rebounds and 1. 4 plugs consisting of the January game.
Ware scored 25 in a matchup with Victor Wembanyama on Sunday, then had 20 against Portland in his first start Tuesday. The Heat were +8 in his 39 minutes against the Blazers, -17 in the nine minutes he sat, and using him alongside Bam Adebayo gives Miami a formidable double-big look. Ware’s work ethic and progress now have Heat coach Erik Spoelstra cautioning against over-exuberance from fans and media.
“I know Kel’el generates a lot of opinions,” Spoelstra said. Let’s do our job. Let him do what he did. ‘”
• Utah has a pair of rookies getting more traction lately, too. Guard Isaiah Collier averaged 10.7 assists across three games this week and now leads all rookies in that category (4.8 per game). Center Kyle Filipowski is fifth in rebounds (4.9) and has averaged 6.3 points and 6.3 boards in January.
• N ° 1 Pick Zaccharie Risacher deposits the scale for the first time this season. He recently sidelined with a left adductive strain.
• Folks in Chicago have been clamoring for more court time for forward Matas Buzelis. But at least fans may get to see him at All-Star Weekend.
Bringing out the rookies. Options will soon be announced for Castrol Rising’s stars in the 2025 NBA All-Star. The mini-tournament also faces the NBA All-Stars in the new format on Sunday. This can be a way to motivate the biggest names in the game: to throw them into the war as opposed to the younger, hungrier, and less jaded competition in the league.
(All statistics until Tuesday, January 21)
1. Alex Sarr, Washington Wizards
His complicated shots (34. 7% and 22. 7% in the weekly pattern), but Sar Statistics (1. 6), while occupies the 3rd place in rebounds and the 5th in annotation.
2. Stephon Castle, San Antonio Spurs
We’ll see how his play translates to this opposite Wemby adventure (from the United States to France) for the Spurs, but he’s been impressive last week, with games of 23, 26 and 20 numbers before scoring 11 in Miami on Sunday.
3. Jaylen Wells, Memphis Grizzlies
You can figure out the chicken-or-egg order of this, but in Memphis’ victories, Wells has shot 46.9% overall and 43% from the arc. In its losses, his accuracy droops to 39.2% and 29.6%.
4. Yves Missi, New Orleans Pelicans
He hasn’t played since January 15 (12 points, six rebounds, two blocks against Dallas) and was doubtful (illness) before the Pelicans faced the Bucks on Wednesday.
5. Zach Edey, Memphis Grizzlies
Do more with less: Big Fella’s minutes are down (17. 7 per game in January to 26 mpg last month), but he’s still a starter for the Grizz. His numbers in 36 minutes are 16. 2 points, 12. 7 rebounds and 1. 8 blocks for the season. .
6. Bub Carrington, Washington Wizards
Still seeking his first 15/5/5 game of 2025. No rookie has more than his three.
7. Tristan da Silva, Orlando Magic
The 23-year-old’s second visit to Toronto Tuesday (9 points, 3-of-10, L) didn’t go as well as the first (25 points, W) on Jan. 3.
8. Kel’el Ware, Miami Heat
He made his debut on the ladder “with a ball” after averaging 15. 5 points, 10. 3 rebounds and 1. 5 blocks this week.
9. Ryan Dunn, Phoenix Suns
Challenge as a starter? Defending without fouling. He’s averaging 4.4 fouls per 36 minutes, second only to Portland’s Donovan Clingan (5.5) among rookies who have played 30-plus games.
10. Kyshawn George, Washington Wizards
He was hidden in the mythical 11th or 12th highest step of the season until he got 24 bench problems (with six 3-point shots) opposite the Suns.
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Steve Aschburner has written about the NBA since 1980. You can send it by email here, its files here and keep it in X.
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