Rookie Wire Power Rankings: Herro, Hunter rise up the ranks in Week 5

Rookie Wire took a look at the top rookies through the fifth week of the 2019-20 NBA season.

The 2019 NBA Draft class has continued to impress this season.

The group has produced some fascinating storylines thus far with the emergence of several under-the-radar players while the top players selected are playing as expected.

Rookie Wire will compile the rankings of the five best players each week based on how they performed on the court. The rankings are not for Rookie of the Year purposes but, rather, to illustrate the top-performing players week to week.

Here are the Rookie Wire Power Rankings for Week 5:

Week 1 Power Rankings | Week 2 Power Rankings | Week 3 Power Rankings | Week 4 Power Rankings

All stats are through games played on Nov. 26

5. Tyler Herro, Heat

Stats: 14.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists

Rank Last Week: Honorable Mention

Herro returns to the rankings for the first time since Week 1 after showing out recently for the Heat. The 13th overall pick is back up to fifth in scoring among all rookies after recording 18 points in three of his last four games. Herro has proven to be able to get hot this season and is seemingly always a candidate to go off, thus making him one of the top rookies to watch on any given night. His swag, as Jimmy Butler said, is one reason to tune in.

4. Brandon Clarke, Grizzlies

Stats: 12.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.1 blocks

Rank Last Week: 4

While Ja Morant has captured the bulk of the headlines in Memphis, and rightfully so, Brandon Clarke has also emerged onto the scene. While he is seventh in scoring, Clarke gets it done all over the court and his shot selection has truly been a revelation. He is one of the most efficient players in the league after shooting 63.6% from the field and has developed one of the nicest floaters in the NBA today. An expanded role in the Grizzlies’ system could increase his numbers but he has flourished to this point of the season.

3. Eric Paschall, Warriors

Stats: 16.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists

Rank Last Week: 3

The second-round pick has certainly not played like one this season. Paschall is third in scoring average among rookies but is second in total points scored, trailing Ja Morant by just five. Given the number of injuries to the Warriors, Paschall has emerged as one of the top options on offense and has been a bright spot for the team thus far. He is coming off of his second double-double of the season with 13 points and 10 rebounds in a loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

2. Kendrick Nunn, Heat

Stats: 16.9 points, 3.3 assists, 2.5 rebounds, 1.3 steals

Rank Last Week: 2

Nunn is fresh off of one of his most efficient outings of the season on Monday night. The undrafted guard recorded 19 points against the Charlotte Hornets on 7-of-10 shooting from the field, including 5-of-6 from 3-point range. Nunn recently told Alex Kennedy of HoopsHype that he believes he can be a future All-Star and his first season with the Heat certainly has the makings of a successful career.

1. Ja Morant, Grizzlies

Stats: 19.1 points, 6.3 assists, 3.1 rebounds, 1.2 steals

Rank Last Week: 1

Morant turned in one of his most impressive games of the season on Saturday in a shootout with the Los Angeles Lakers. He recorded 26 points, six assists, five steals and three rebounds in the one-point loss. Morant became the first rookie since John Wall in 2010 to reach those numbers in a game. He followed that performance up with 19 points for his second career double-double on Monday in a game in which he left briefly after taking a scary fall into a courtside camera operator. He would return to the game and appeared to be fine but the Grizzlies certainly caught a break after he wasn’t seriously hurt.

Honorable Mention:

R.J. Barrett, Knicks: 15.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.4 steals

Barrett averaged 10.5 points over his last two games after sitting out Sunday due to an illness. He is still fourth in scoring among rookies and will look to get back on track Wednesday on the road against his hometown Toronto Raptors.

Coby White, Bulls: 13.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists

The boom-or-bust potential with White has been fascinating this season. He recorded a career-high 28 points on Saturday but followed that up with eight points on Monday. If he can gain some consistency this season, White would certainly have a place among the best in the rookie class. He is shooting 43.5% from 3-point range over his last four games.

Rui Hachimura, Wizards: 12.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists

Hachimura has struggled some over his last four games after shooting 43.6% from the field for the Wizards. Like White, he has also had issues with consistency at times as his playing time has been sporadic. Hachimura has shown flashes this season but, like most rookies, is still learning the ins and outs of the NBA.

On the Rise:

De’Andre Hunter, Hawks:

Suddenly, after a slow start to the season, Hunter has been on a tear recently. He scored the most points among rookies over the past week and is averaging 19.5 points over his last four games. He is shooting 50% from the field and 50% (11-of-22) from beyond the arc in that span.

Ky Bowman, Warriors:

The Warriors’ two-way rookie is averaging 19 points over his last three games, including a career-high 24 points against the Thunder on Monday. He has been on fire from all over the floor and is producing in a pinch for the injury-rattled Warriors.

Shout Out:

Tremont Waters, Celtics

With Kemba Walker out on Monday, the Celtics called up Waters from the G League. The two-way guard may have only scored seven points in his NBA debut but he made quite an impression on the team and it likely won’t be the last time we see Waters with the Celtics.

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