Tag: Rayan Rupert

Trail Blazers make history with all rookie starting lineup in consecutive games

With the Trail Blazers down several veterans, coach Chauncey Billups has been forced to lean on his rookies of late.

With the Portland Trail Blazers down several veterans, coach Chauncey Billups has been forced to lean on his rookies and it has resulted in a rather rare starting lineup combination.

Playing without Deandre Ayton (elbow), Malcolm Brogdon (elbow), Jerami Grant (hamstring), Shaedon Sharpe (core muscle), Anfernee Simons (knee), Robert Williams III (knee) and Matisse Thybulle (ankle), the Trail Blazers have had been short-handed.

Billups started five first-year players on Saturday against Denver: Kris Murray, Toumani Camara, Duop Reath, Rayan Rupert and Scoot Henderson. It marked the second time a team started five rookies in a game since starters were first tracked on box scores in the 1970-71 season; Golden State became the first team to do so in April 2012. Billups kept that starting lineup on Monday against Houston, making them the first team to start five rookies in multiple games in the same season.

The lineup dropped to 0-2 after losing 110-92 to the Rockets in the first of a seven-game road trip. Dalano Banton paced the team with 28 points, 11 rebounds and five assists off the bench, while Henderson had 15 points and Camara added 12 points for the Trail Blazers (19-53).

Murray (4 points), Reath (8) and Rupert (9) combined for 21 points.

Billups expects some of their injured players to return at some point over their last 10 games of the season. However, in the meantime, that starting group of rookies will have the opportunity to log extended minutes to close out the season.

“I think we have so much growth and development that needs to happen,” Billups said, via Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian. “Obviously, we know we’re not going to the playoffs. But these dudes need to get better. They need to get to know each other while paying. The only way you get better at basketball is playing basketball.”

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2023 NBA Mock Draft 5.0: 58 projections after the early entry withdrawal deadline

Rookie Wire took a look at where the next draft class stands following the early entry withdrawal deadline.

The NBA pre-draft process crossed another important checkpoint on the schedule with the early entry withdrawal deadline coming and going this week.

Prospects had the opportunity to test the waters and meet with teams to gain feedback on their potential draft stock. To maintain their remaining college eligibility, they had to withdraw from consideration by 11:59 p.m. EDT on Wednesday.

The deadline saw several potential second-round picks withdraw from the draft and return to school. With name, image and likeness playing a prevalent role in college basketball, players were likely swayed to stay one more year to work on their games and capitalize financially.

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The 2024 draft is also projected to be weaker than in past years, which also may have played a role in some players opting against turning pro. They likely believe they will have a greater chance of being a first-round pick next year.

With several players off the board, teams can prioritize workouts and interviews with those individuals remaining in the draft. As a result, players’ stock will continue to fluctuate with less than three weeks to go until the draft.

Rookie Wire took a look at where the draft stands following the early entry withdrawal deadline. Team needs were taken into consideration for these picks.

2023 NBA Mock Draft 4.0: The latest projections after the draft lottery

Rookie Wire took a look at where the next draft class stands following the lottery.

The order of the 2023 NBA draft was decided this week by the lottery, and the San Antonio Spurs received the No. 1 pick for the third time in franchise history.

Of course, that means the Spurs will have the first opportunity to select 7-foot-4 French phenom Victor Wembanyama. They are apparently the team he had his sights set on, and he will now likely look to continue his basketball journey in San Antonio.

Elsewhere, Charlotte and Portland made jumps in their lottery positioning, and they now have more options to consider on draft night. Detroit dropped the furthest from No. 1 by virtue of having the worst record to No. 5.

With the order set, teams will ramp up their draft preparations.

This week, the league converged in Chicago for the G League Elite Camp and draft combine. Though many prospects skipped the 5-on-5 scrimmages and other testing, several seemingly helped themselves with great showings on the court.

Teams will continue to prioritize seeing those individuals that declared as early entrants since the deadline for them to return to school is May 31. Several prospects will have tough decisions to make in the coming days but should have more clarity after the combine.

Rookie Wire took a look at where the draft stands following the lottery. It is important to note that team needs were not necessarily taken into account with each pick. The projections are rather a look at where each individual player stands at this point of the process.

Brooklyn Nets projected to take Rayan Rupert with 22nd overall pick

The Nets are projected to take Rayan Rupert with the 22nd pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, according to Cody Taylor of The Rookie Wire.

The Brooklyn Nets are projected to select New Zealand Breakers guard Rayan Rupert with the 22nd pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, according to the latest mock draft done by Cody Taylor of The Rookie Wire. The Breakers are part of the National Basketball League (NBL) based in New Zealand.

Rupert, 18, played one season in the NBL and averaged 6.6 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game while shooting 36.4% from the field and 25% from three-point land. He played just 19.7 minutes per game, but it’s possible that he could have played more if it wasn’t for a wrist injury that put him out of action for about two months.

Rupert, 6’7″, 192 LBs, brings ball-handling and defensive potential to the table thanks to his wingspan at the guard position. The main weakness of Rupert is shooting the basketball, but that is something that can be improved over time. The potential of what Rupert could be in the future could be enticing for the Nets as they enter a critical offseason for the direction of their franchise. Here’s what Taylor had to say about Rupert:

“Rupert, who was born in France, averaged 5.9 points and 2.1 rebounds on 35% shooting from the field with the NZ Breakers in the NBL. He missed nearly two months of action early in the season due to a wrist injury but returned on Jan. 3. He has shown the ability to penetrate into the paint and kick it out when necessary.

On the other end, his 7-foot-3 wingspan and strong instincts can often create havoc in the passing lanes. He will need to improve on his shooting and overall offensive package, but it is his defense and overall potential that teams will covet. He is training in Dallas and already looks to be busy working on those areas.”

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French guard Rayan Rupert officially declares for 2023 NBA draft

Rupert averaged 5.9 points and 2.1 rebounds on 35% shooting from the field in 28 games with the New Zealand Breakers.

Rayan Rupert, a 6-foot-7 guard in the National Basketball League, told Jonathan Givony of ESPN on Wednesday that he has officially declared for the 2023 NBA draft.

Rupert, who was born in France, averaged 5.9 points and 2.1 rebounds on 35% shooting from the field in 28 games with the New Zealand Breakers. He scored in double figures six times, including a season-high 14 points on Jan. 3.

The soon-to-be 19-year-old missed nearly two months of action early in the season due to a wrist injury but returned in early January and finished the season. He has since arrived in the United States and is training for the draft in Dallas, Texas.

Rupert is considered a mid-to-late first-round pick this year given his ability to penetrate into the paint and kick it out when necessary. On the other end, his 7-foot-3 wingspan and strong instincts often create havoc in the passing lanes.

He will need to improve his shooting and overall offensive package, but it is his defense and overall potential that teams will covet. He is viewed as the best international prospect outside of Victor Wembanyama and should join his fellow countryman as a first-round pick on June 22.

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2023 NBA Mock Draft 3.0: Projections for every pick post-March Madness

Rookie Wire took a look at where the next draft class stands following the NCAA Tournament.

The NBA pre-draft process is in full swing as prospects around the world prepare to transition to the next level.

Teams around the league will begin hosting private workouts in the coming weeks as they finalize their draft boards. There will be various pro days on the radar and, of course, the draft combine and G League Elite Camp next month in Chicago, Illinois.

Underclassmen have until April 23 to declare for the draft. Several notable players have already decided to return to school, including Kyle Filipowski, Harrison Ingram, Baylor Scheierman and Kel’el Ware. Others are still mulling over their decisions.

Related: Key dates for NBA draft, combine, lottery and deadlines

With players still in the process of making decisions, some prospects were excluded from this mock draft because they are projected to return to school next season. However, most players projected to be drafted have already announced their decisions.

Rookie Wire took a look at where the draft stands following the NCAA Tournament. It is important to note that team needs were not necessarily taken into account with each pick. The projections are rather a look at where each individual player stands at this point of the process.

Note: The order of the draft was pulled from Tankathon as of April 14. The draft will have only 58 picks this year because the Bulls and 76ers were stripped of their second-round picks by the NBA due to tampering violations.

2023 NBA Mock Draft 2.0: Wembanyama, Henderson on top; Freshmen rising in latest projections

Rookie Wire took a look at where the next draft class stands at the midway point of the season.

The 2022-23 basketball season is in full swing as the next wave of prospects across the college level and the professional ranks look ahead to the 2023 NBA draft on June 22.

Of course, Victor Wembanyama and Scoot Henderson remain at the top of draft boards at the start of the new year. Both could shut down their seasons right now and still be viewed as the best two players in the class. In other words: They are locked in at Nos. 1 and 2.

Elsewhere, though, fortunes change seemingly nightly.

Several prospects have improved upon their preseason rankings, while others have struggled and had their stock fall. The latest look at the class even has several freshmen on the rise after some impressive performances through the first half of the year.

Rookie Wire took a look at where the first round stands at the midway point of the season. It is important to note that team needs were not necessarily taken into account with each pick. The projections are rather a look at where each individual player stands at this point of the process.

Note: The order of the draft was pulled from Tankathon as of Jan. 10. The draft will have only 58 picks this year because the Bulls and Sixers were stripped of their second-round picks by the NBA due to tampering violations.

2023 NBA mock draft: Potential Houston Rockets picks next summer

Courtesy of For The Win’s Bryan Kalbrosky, here’s a very early look at who the Houston Rockets could consider with their two first-round draft picks in 2023.

With the 2023 NBA draft under a year away, the Rockets currently own two first-round selections. They will have the higher of two picks between Houston and Brooklyn, thanks to a swap right obtained from the January 2021 James Harden trade, and a Milwaukee pick obtained via a combination of the Harden deal and a subsequent PJ Tucker trade.

As of now, Houston is not slated to have a 2023 second-round choice.

With that in mind, For The Win’s NBA draft guru Bryan Kalbrosky recently took his first crack at delivering a 2023 mock draft. While the ordering is undoubtedly subject to change based on production from the ensuing 2022-23 seasons, this is a good look at where things stand going in — along with who Rockets fans may want to keep an eye on during upcoming college basketball and international campaigns.

Scroll on for Kalbrosky’s early outlook on the Rockets and the 2023 draft class, both for their own pick and the one from Milwaukee.

2023 NBA Mock Draft 1.0: An early look at the top prospects next year

Rookie Wire took a very early look at the next rookie class and some of the top prospects to monitor over the course of the 2022-23 season.

With the basketball world over a month removed from the NBA draft, many have started to look ahead to the next rookie class and which prospects may be available.

The class is headlined by French phenom Victor Wembanyama, who is considered one of the top prospects in recent memory. He has performed well in the top basketball league in France and looks to already be locked in as the top pick in 2023.

Elsewhere, there are several other prospects that will be worth monitoring over the course of next season. The rankings will certainly change but it can be a productive exercise to see how prospects moved up and down draft boards ahead of next year.

Rookie Wire took a very early look at the next rookie class and some of the top prospects to monitor as the 2022-23 season approaches in a couple of months.

Note: The order of the draft was determined by the reverse championship odds set by Tipico Sportsbook. The 2023 draft will only have 59 picks after the Bulls were stripped of their second-round pick by the NBA due to a tampering violation involving the signing of Lonzo Ball.