As we have reached the finishing line in the 2018-19 NBA regular season, this year’s rookie class has been pretty exciting to say the least. It won’t surprise at all if a couple of those players becomes All-Stars within the next two years and while most of them will become average role players, some of them will definitely be the busts. With that said here are five of the best rookies in the 2018-19 NBA regular season.
#5 Collin Sexton
Collin Sexton is Cavs best draft pick after LeBron James.
He has shown plenty of star power and has been playing his best ball game closing out his rookie season. He scored at least 23 points per game for seven straight games and became the first rookie to do so since Tim Duncan. During the scoring streak, he took 37% of his shots from deep and knocking down 57% of his three’s during that stretch. He has the quickness to collapse defenses, playing for a team with a broken system it’s not his fault that the Cavs are the worst defensive team in the league.
He had a tough start to his career with his veteran teammates constantly yelling and screaming at him and that’s one of the main reasons he’s been able to drastically improve. Coming into the league as a starting point guard this 20-year-old is one of the bright spots for the Cavs going forward.
#4 Marvin Bagley III
Bagley has proved to be a better player than others who were drafted ahead of him.
Marvin Bagley has gotten better week by week, coming off the bench for the Sacramento Kings he has averaged 14.9 points and 7.6 rebounds on 50.4% shooting from the floor this season. The Kings took plenty of criticism for drafting Bagley ahead of a couple of guys drafted after him and he has proved his worth to the franchise and played a lot better than the guys drafted ahead of him.
The team is also very confident that the 6’11’’ power forward will be a future star. Bagley continued to show his speed and aggression and excels playing in the teams up-tempo style. He runs the floor as hard as any big men in the league right now and continues to improve in the face of jumpers and sweeping hopes across the lane. He’s got the complete offensive package, at times the Kings don’t even call out plays for him and he makes great thing happen with his energy and hustle.
#3 DeAndre Ayton
Ayton has the potential to be one of the best Centers in the league.
He is a player who doesn’t get talked about much because of playing for a terrible Suns’ team. The 7-foot center has been terrific to say the least and he has had one of the most efficient rookie seasons of anybody we have ever seen. He has averages of 16.3 points and 10.3 rebounds on 58.5% shooting from the floor but never gets mentioned or brought up as a Rookie of the Year candidate. He obviously wouldn’t win it but he still ranks top 5 in double-doubles recording 37 of them this season.
Regarded as one of the most underrated rookies because he isn’t flashy and not a ball dominant player, he was bad defensively to start his career but made huge progress and has very similar rookie numbers to Karl Anthony Towns but sadly Ayton wouldn’t get talked about much unless his team starts collecting wins.
#2 Trae Young
Trae Young has proved to be a franchise player for the Atlanta Hawks.
Trae Young has been on absolute fire after the All-Star break and least of all the entire season. He always plays with a chip on his shoulder and proves why he’s one of the best players in the game. He was so good that he was named Eastern Conference Player of the week from March 18 to 24. He averaged 19.1 points and 8.1 assists for his entire rookie season and showing lots of Steph Curry potential. He can take over and score at will and when he’s hot he unstoppable.
Only listed at 6’2’’ and 180 pounds, he’s making serious noise in trying to win the Rookie of the Year accolade. He made a big leap to his averages post-All-Star break and averaged about 25 points and 8.8 assists, making a drastic improvement compared to his performance before the All-Star break.
Playing at an All-Star level the 20-year old has a lot of confidence, embraces the challenges and showing the Mamba mentality after hitting the game-winner with 1/10th of a second left against the 76ers and also having three straight games of at least 20 points and 10 assists in that span. It’s no doubt Trae Young will be one of the most exciting players to watch for many years to come.
#1 Luka Doncic
Luka Doncic has shown the potential of being a Superstar and a team leader.
Luka Doncic should already be a lock for the Rookie of the Year. While Trae Young’s had more impressive numbers after the All-Star break but if Doncic was in the Eastern Conference there would be no doubt that he would be an All-Star in his rookie season. He has averages of 21.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 6 assists through the regular season and has better numbers than rookie LeBron James.
Doncic is on the pace to be the first rookie since Michael Jordan to average at least 21 points, 6 boards, and five dimes in his first season. Not only he’s going to win the Rookie of the Year award. One could also make the case that he’s the best rookie of the decade who has excellent court awareness, a deadly step-back jumper which can take over a game anytime he wants.
The 6’7’’ player makes impossible looks normal and is close to becoming a superstar. He has shown his dominance from the very first week of his career, and he has just turned 20. He will be on his way to superstardom in a blink of an eye and perhaps even be an MVP candidate next season.
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