Rookie Wire Power Rankings: Morant, Nunn maintain lead in Week 8

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

As the NBA has crossed over the quarter-mark of the 2019-20 season, several first-year players have been hit with injuries and are expected to miss some time for their respective clubs.

Of course, others have already dealt with injuries this season but have recovered and have continued to stay productive after missing some game action.

Perhaps the biggest adjustment rookies face each year is the longer NBA schedule. In college, most players appear in less than 40 games but that number will rise up to 82 in the NBA so that should be something to monitor over the course of the next month or so.

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.

Here are the Rookie Wire Power Rankings for Week 8:

All stats are through games played on Dec. 17

5. Eric Paschall, Warriors

Stats: 16.1 points, 5 rebounds, 1.7 assists

Rank Last Week: 3

Speaking of injuries, Paschall recently missed two games for the Golden State Warriors after dealing with hip soreness. The second-round pick is set to return on Wednesday but he will be tasked with getting back on track. Prior to missing time, Paschall tallied just 10 points over his last two games combined, shooting just 25% (4-of-16) from the field. That stretch was easily his worst of the season after recently scoring in double figures in 13 straight games.

4. De’Andre Hunter, Hawks

Stats: 12.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2 assists

Rank Last Week: 5

Hunter has been up and down since scoring a career-high 28 points on Dec. 10 but he is averaging 13.5 points over his last four games for the Hawks. The fourth overall pick is coming off of a 19-point performance Tuesday night in a blowout loss to the New York Knicks while he hauled in five rebounds and dished out four assists. Hunter has struggled with his shot selection this season, often forcing looks or taking shots out of his range, but with the Hawks losers of five straight, that may not be the biggest concern at the moment.

3. Tyler Herro, Heat

Stats: 14.2 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists

Rank Last Week: Honorable Mention

Herro registers his highest ranking of the season this week after posting 16 points and 4.7 rebounds over his last three games for the Heat. After a scoreless performance on Dec. 10 and a seven-point outing on Dec. 13, Herro has combined for 41 points over his last two games, including a 22-point outburst on Monday. The 13th overall pick is fifth in rookie scoring and has been on the shortlist of standouts this season in his class.

2. Kendrick Nunn, Heat

Stats: 16.1 points, 3.6 assists, 2.7 rebounds, 1 steal

Rank Last Week: 2

After recording a career-high 36 points on Dec. 10, Nunn continued his strong play. Nunn is averaging 15.7 points and 4.7 assists over his last three games while he is shooting 43.8% from 3-point range. Perhaps his best highlight of the week came on Friday when he posterized Los Angeles Lakers center JaVale McGee. Nunn adds an aggressive option on offense for the HEat and he has certainly displayed that this season. McGee would likely attest to that, as well.

1. Ja Morant, Grizzlies

Stats: 18.8 points, 6.5 assists, 3.1 rebounds, 1.3 steals

Rank Last Week: 1

Morant has proven to be the most dominant rookie so far this season and has continued to do so even after missing four games recently with back soreness. Since returning on Dec. 9, Morant is posting 20.8 points, 4.5 assists, four rebounds and one steal in four games for the Grizzlies. During that span, Morant even threw down perhaps the dunk of the year after posterizing Aron Baynes. He is coming off of a 20-point performance against the Heat on Monday as he helped the Grizzlies avoid an epic collapse after Miami erased a 17-point deficit.

Honorable Mention:

Rui Hachimura, Wizards: 13.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists

Hachimura will miss the next five games for the Wizards after suffering a groin contusion on Monday when he was inadvertently kicked by a teammate. The injury will put a hold on what was a productive month of December for the ninth overall pick. In eight games, Hachimura is averaging 17.3 points and 6.6 rebounds while he is shooting 49.1% from the field. Hachimura will be re-evaluated after Christmas and could be done until after the new year.

On the Rise:

Brandon Clarke, Grizzlies

Clarke has been on a tear since returning from a four-game absence with an oblique injury. The first-round pick is averaging 18 points over his last three games, the most by a rookie over that span. He is shooting 72.4% from the field and 75% from 3-point range. Clarke is fourth in the NBA in field-goal percentage and has been among the biggest steals of the NBA Draft.

R.J. Barrett, Knicks

After dropping out of the rankings last week, Barrett returns after a career night on Tuesday when he recorded 27 points in a blowout win over the Atlanta Hawks. Barrett has battled through consistency issues this season but he showed off his overall game against the Hawks as the Knicks have suddenly won three of four.

Kevin Porter Jr., Cavaliers

Porter recently recorded a career-high 24 points against James Harden and the Houston Rockets on Dec. 11 and is averaging 13.3 points over his last four games. Porter has had an up and down campaign to this point but appears to be settling in for the Cavaliers.

Shout Out:

Admiral Schofield, Wizards

The second-round pick recently turned in his best stretch of the season for the Wizards after recording 23 points over his last two games in 20 minutes. Whether in the G League or NBA, Schofield has a knack for making the most of his time on the court.

P.J. Washington, Hornets

Like Hachimura, Washington recently suffered an injury that will keep him out for five games with a fractured finger. Washington has had a productive month of December, including back-to-back 13-point performances before suffering his injury.

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