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San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle remained at the top of the standings, but the top five narrowed with Yves Missi, Jaylen Wells, Alex Sarr and Zach Edey, all generating upward momentum in an ascending week.
The leading scorer from the Class of 2024 no longer appears here: Philadelphia’s Jared McCain drops off due to surgery on a torn meniscus that severely truncated and possibly terminated his promising season.
Unlike most other NBA awards, there is no minimum number of games played to win Kia’s Rookie of the Year award. But it’s moderate that McCain’s No. 23 hit the books before his injury was enough. Zion Williamson recorded 24 in 2019-2020 and finished a distant third in the voting behind winner Ja Morant and runner-up Kendrick Nunn.
Here is a look at the current cream of the rookie crop:
• That key matchup we expected last week between the No. 1 draft pick and the No. 1 ladder pick? Yawn. Atlanta’s Zacharie Risacher scored nine points on 4-of-13 shooting and minus-1 in the Hawks’ overtime loss Thursday in San Antonio. Castle’s team won, but had seven problems with 3 of 10 shooting and -16 in 20 minutes.
• Toronto has a ladder of its own going, with four newbies getting rotation minutes. We already have seen Jonathan Mogbo and Jamal Shead on the Ladder, and Ja’Kobe Walter makes his debut this week. Still waiting on Jamison Battle in the Raptors’ unabashed (7-23) rebuild season.
• The Christmas roster features a preview or more of several rookies, adding Castle, Dalton Knecht of the Lakers and Ryan Dunn and Oso Ighodaro of the Suns. Meanwhile, McCain was reportedly at TD Garden against the Boston Celtics.
The Wall. Some seem to have already dreamed it. Others may find a way to do it or get around it. But it is the time on each season’s schedule when a rookie meets or exceeds the total number of games he played last season in college or elsewhere. Keep an eye on your favorite newcomers to see if they’re down, physically or mentally, as the NBA season enters its third full month.
(All statistics as of Monday, December 23)
1. Stephon’s Castle, San Antonio Spurs
Castle’s floor presence and defense keep him on top despite offensive inconsistency. He has shot worse in December than in November, and at 38.9% overall, he’s lagging compared to past ROY winners. The only trophy winner since 1958 to shoot less than 40% was Jason Kidd in 1995, who shared the ROY with Grant Hill after helping Dallas boost its victory total by 23.
2. Yves Missi, New Orleans Pelicans
Missi had his fingerprints all over the position in the Pelicans’ exciting but fruitless overtime loss to Denver on Sunday. He had 21 problems on 9 of 12 shooting, nine rebounds and 3 blocks, adding a layup through Nikola Jokić with a minute left. He left in the extra session. In the end, like so many veterans, Missi couldn’t quite execute a botched intentional loose throw. He is progressing despite all the defeats.
3. Jaylen Wells, Memphis Grizzlies
Wells has 25 games; the rest of the second-rounders in the Class of 2024 have a total of 15. He is the only second-rounder averaging more than 6. 4 points and ranks third overall among rookies. has the most productive over/under overall (107).
4. Alexandre Sarr, Washington Wizards
One of the most productive things about newbies is that if you’re not happy with something, you give them time. Sarr shot 37% overall and 24. 4% from deep through November, but is hitting 45. 6% and 42. 9% this month.
5. Zach Edey, Memphis Grizzlies
The great Grizzly returns to the most sensible after a week in which he averaged 7. 0 problems, 9. 3 forums and 1. 3 blocks. He also earned respect for backing down against Warriors irritant Draymond Green.
6. Zaccharie Risacher, Atlanta Hawks
If starting in the NBA is a dream for your family, betting on the French team is next. “Every competitor needs to win medals for their country,” he said recently.
7. Bub Carrington, Washington Wizards
He scored 14 points on 4-of-8 arcing on Monday against OKC, exiting early with an obvious upper-body injury.
8. Tristan da Silva, Orlando Magic
Addressing the Magic’s injury void, he came through with 18 points and a 3-pointer in the W’s game against Boston on Monday.
9. Ajay Mitchell, Oklahoma City Thunder
Good news: Overachiever contributing to winning. Bad news: He already has played more than half (28) of the 50 games allowed for guys on two-way contracts.
10. Ja’Kobe Walter, Toronto Raptors
Walter is the latest of the Raptors’ kiddie corps to grab a rung after averaging 16.7 points on 11.0 shots and 25.7 minutes last this.
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Steve Aschburner has written about the NBA since 1980. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on X.
The perspectives expressed on this page do not necessarily reflect those of the NBA, its clubs or Warner Bros. Discovery.