Tag: Rui Hachimura

Rookie Wire Power Rankings: Paschall, Hachimura climb in Week 6

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

With another week in the books, the rooks continue to show out.

From Eric Paschall to Rui Hachimura, the class had a number of outstanding performances and they show no signs of slowing. Players continue to progress in their development and it has made for some entertaining basketball.

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 6:

All stats are through games played on Dec. 3

5. Rui Hachimura, Wizards

Stats: 13.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists

Rank Last Week: Honorable Mention

Rui Hachimura has seemingly broken out of his recent slump and has done so in a big way. The ninth overall pick is averaging 16.8 points, 7.3 rebounds and two assists over his last four games, including a career-high 30 points on Sunday against the Los Angeles Clippers. His performance garnered praise from the likes of Paul George and Kawhi Leonard as they believe Hachimura can be one of the best long-term rookies from this draft class.

4. Tyler Herro, Heat

Stats: 14 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2 assists

Rank Last Week: 5

Herro is still fifth among all rookies in scoring at 14 points per game. He recently drained a career-high five 3-pointers on Friday en route to 19 points against the Golden State Warriors. Herro is just a hair under 40% shooting from beyond the arc, something the Heat will certainly need throughout the season in order to maintain their strong start. The group is coming off of an impressive overtime win over the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday and they appear to be among the best in the Eastern Conference.

3. Kendrick Nunn, Heat

Stats: 15.7 points, 3.4 assists, 2.5 rebounds, 1.2 steals

Rank Last Week: 2

Despite being named the Eastern Conference Player of the Month, Nunn has struggled as of late. The undrafted guard is averaging 10.5 points over his last four games while he is shooting just 29.3% from the field, including 17.9% (5-of-28) from 3-point range. Nunn has certainly played like one of the top rookies to this point of the season but has gone cold over the past week or so. Given the work he has put in, it seems reasonable to believe he’ll snap out of his slump and return to the player that put up 16.4 points per game in October and November.

2. Eric Paschall, Warriors

Stats: 17.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists

Rank Last Week: 3

With injuries decimating the Warriors, Paschall has been arguably the MVP of the team this season. He has been among the hottest first-year players after averaging 20.8 points over his last four games on 53.8% shooting from the field, including 62.5% (5-of-8) from 3-point range. Paschall has utilized his strength and athleticism to score over defenders and has also used his mid-range shot to add to his array of offensive skills. The injury to Ja Morant could potentially open the door for Paschall in the Rookie of the Year race and he could be the top player to benefit should Morant miss extended time.

1. Ja Morant, Grizzlies

Stats: 18.6 points, 6.4 assists, 3.2 rebounds, 1.4 steals

Rank Last Week: 1

Though Morant is considered to be week-to-week with back spasms, the Western Conference Rookie of the Month held onto the top spot–for now. After crashing into a courtside camera operator on Nov. 25, Morant played in the next two games for the Grizzlies before aggravating his back injury on Friday against the Utah Jazz. Morant still put up 15.5 points, 7.5 assists, four rebounds and 2.5 steals in two games while dealing with a sore back. The Grizzlies are certainly going to be cautious with his injury so his status moving forward will be worth monitoring.

Honorable Mention:

R.J. Barrett, Knicks: 14.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.3 steals

Barrett appeared to be back on track after recording at least 16 points in three straight games but followed that up with a two-point performance on Monday in which he missed all nine shot attempts. Even worse than that, the Knicks lost by 44 points to the Milwaukee Bucks. The up-and-down swings will likely stay throughout the season, as is the case with most rookies, but Barrett has at least proven to be entertaining to watch. The same can’t be said for the rest of the team.

De’Andre Hunter, Hawks: 12.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.7 assists

After a slow start to the season, Hunter is up to eighth in scoring among rookies. He is coming off of an 18-point performance Monday on his 22nd birthday but suffered a dislocated right index finger and is listed as doubtful to play Wednesday against the Brooklyn Nets. In any case, the injury doesn’t sound too severe so he may not miss much time, if any at all.

Brandon Clarke, Grizzlies: 11.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists

Clarke has been among the most efficient players in the league this season and has emerged as a key contributor for the Grizzlies. Unfortunately, Clarke is also considered to be week-to-week after aggravating a left oblique injury. Clarke re-injured himself in the first half on Monday and did not return to the game. While Clarke could miss a few games, he has still been a bright spot this season.

On the Rise:

P.J. Washington, Hornets

After a strong start to the season, Washington trailed off a bit but has gotten back on track. Over his last four games, Washington is averaging 15.3 points and four rebounds. The Hornets are 6-1 when Washington records at least 15 points.

Darius Garland, Cavaliers

Garland has emerged for the Cavaliers over the past few weeks as he appears to be settling in. Head coach John Beilein believes Garland is beginning to really grasp the offense and that has resulted in improved play from the fifth overall pick.

Dropped Out:

Coby White, Bulls

Week 1 Power Rankings | Week 2 Power Rankings | Week 3 Power Rankings | Week 4 Power Rankings | Week 5 Power Rankings

Rui Hachimura counts famous MLB, NBA players among fans as game grows

Wizards rookie Rui Hachimura is picking up fans in a hurry as he settles into his game, some of which are star athletes themselves.

Washington Wizards rookie Rui Hachimura’s fanbase is only going to grow after the night he had against the Los Angeles Clippers, but he’s already gaining fans, some of them pretty well-known.

Even before he poured in a career-high 30-point, nine-rebound performance against the Clips, Hachimura found Shohei Ohtani courtside in support of his fellow countryman and athlete.

Ohtani, a Japanese pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels, was in attendance for the Gonzaga product’s 16-point outing against the West’s first-place Los Angeles Lakers, cheering on the Toyama native courtside.

They met up before the tilt — unfortunately for Rui, a 125-103 loss for the Wizards — to talk and sign autographs, unbeknownst to both on the eve of Hachimura’s breakout performance.

“It’s encouraging to be around Japanese baseball players excelling in the major leagues. I’m really happy he got to see the game,” offered the first-year forward about Ohtani, via the Japanese Times.

“We’re part of the same younger generation [of athletes from his home country] striving to do our best,” he added, perhaps thinking of the trailblazing Wataru Misaka, who helped smooth the path for people of Japanese ancestry to play major league sports in North America.

Hachimura, who met Misaka briefly before the NCAA tournament run that helped raise his profile among NBA teams ahead of the 2019 NBA Draft, will soon have a small army of supporters should he more consistently find the bottom of the next as he did Sunday evening.

Garnering praise from the likes of Clippers superstars Kawhi Leonard and Paul George for the offensive eruption, the former Bulldog showed flashes the Wizards front office gambled on by taking him higher than most analysts had expected.

Currently, on the fringes of most Rookie of the Year boards, Hachimura could move up the ladder of prospects in a hurry if he can produce even a facsimile of the play he deployed against one of the league’s best defenses.

In the meantime, however, the rookie forward is starting to turn heads — and a few of those heads are known for doing the same.

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Rui Hachimura has career night, earns praise from Paul George, Kawhi

Paul George and Kawhi Leonard took notice of Rui Hachimura and his career-high 30 points Sunday night in Los Angeles.

Washington Wizards rookie Rui Hachimura set a new career-high Sunday night after scoring 30 points during a 150-125 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.

But, perhaps most impressive, is the praise he earned from a few superstars.

Hachimura snapped out of a recent cold streak as the Wizards faced the two teams based in Los Angeles. On Friday, Hachimura recorded 16 points before going off for his first 30-point performance.

The first-round pick finished 13-of-23 from the field, including 2-of-5 from 3-point range, while adding nine rebounds and three assists. The outing was even more impressive considering the Clippers are 10th in defense.

Paul George and Kawhi Leonard took notice of his game on Sunday:

The breakthrough for Hachimura was certainly a positive for the rookie after a recent shooting slump. Hachimura has struggled at times with consistency issues this season and has played sporadically as a result. Once he can find ways to contribute on a nightly basis, Hachimura could have a bright future in the league.

George and Leonard certainly think so…

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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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From Rui to Wat: How Wataru Misaka paved the way for Hachimura & more

While Rui Hachimura may be the first Japanese-born first-round pick, the path was forged by Wat Misaka, the NBA’s first player of color, in 1947, a Japanese-American drafted by the New York Knicks.

Washington Wizards rookie Rui Hachimura made waves this summer after becoming the first Japanese-born player to be drafted in the first round of the NBA Draft, but he wasn’t the first person of Japanese descent to play in the league — a mark he missed by more than a half-century.

That honor falls to Wataru “Wat” Misaka, who was not only the first player of an Asian background to play in what would become the NBA, but the first player of color to grace the hardwood for any team.

The two players crossed paths in Salt Lake City, Utah briefly in March 2019, before Hachimura’s Gonzaga squad dispatched their first-round matchup with Fairleigh-Dickinson, and before Misaka’s passing earlier this week.

Despite the pioneer’s relative fame in nearby Ogden, Utah and their shared heritage, the future Wizard knew little of “Kilowatt”, as Misaka was sometimes called in his playing career.

“Honestly, actually in Japan we don’t talk about him that much. I think people should know more about him,” Hachimura said (via the Standard-Examiner’s Patrick Carr).

“It looks like he’s got all the tools,” Misaka said of his time-distant counterpart (via the Spokesman-Review’s Jim Meehan). “It’s exciting and I’m really wishing him all the luck in the world. He seems such a nice person besides being such a good athlete.”

Misaka played for the New York Knicks in the 1947-48 season back when the NBA was still known as the Basketball Association of America (BAA), having previously played in the NCAA ranks for the Utah Utes in 1944 and 1947, winning an NCAA title in 1944, serving in the US Military’s post-World War II occupation of Japan in the interim.

The former Ute would land himself in the NBA by virtue of a strong performance in the 1947 National Invitation Tournament title game, and would later be drafted by the Knicks (for whom he played a mere three games) in the 1947 BAA Draft, breaking the sport’s color barrier in the same year Jackie Robinson did so in baseball.

Despite the short career he had with New York, Misaka never believed he was discriminated against by teammates (though he recalled being given bad advice on purpose from teammates who were competing for final roster slots with him, per the New York Times’ Liz Robbins), but hedged when pressed as to whether he thought race might have been a factor in being cut.

“I guess at the time I felt like it didn’t have to be a reason,” Misaka explained. “Being a minority, we learned to live with that sort of thing without complaining. So that was not anything new.”

If anything, much like today, the bulk of discrimination the briefly-tenured Knick experience came from the general public more than anywhere else.

“I wouldn’t go into a nice restaurant without my teammates,” he said (via the Ottawa Citizen’s Bryan Meler). “[or] go out much at all. It was just basketball, eat, sleep.… The New York fans were probably better than the fans back home. But I still heard a few yell, ‘Jap, go home.’ And they weren’t talking about Utah.”

Misaka’s stature was likely a factor behind his being cut by New York, as he stood only 5-foot-7, diminutive even in those formative years.

Using words that could very well be used to describe a number of college stars who never made the leap to the NBA in the seven decades since, Hall of Fame teammate and friend Carl Braun related, “He was so small to be put in that position to make it into the pros … to put someone in that size is difficult. You have to have an exceptional toughness or quickness.”

So ended Misaka’s brief playing career, as the NIT finalist would decline to join the Harlem Globetrotters, returning to Utah, where he’d earn a degree in engineering. “The salary for a rookie and the salary for starting engineer weren’t much different,” he explained (courtesy of Sports Illustrated’s John Wertheim). “So I was fine. History has a way of smoothing things out.”

Wat rarely spoke of his time as an NBA player even with his own family — his daughter did not learn of it herself until she was in college; “I didn’t want to put pressure on my children when they were growing up,” he offered, instead channeling his love for the game into steadfast attendance of Jazz and Utes games, and supporting Asian-American players through the decades.

One of those players was Hachimura, who was lucky enough to meet Misaka in the final months of his 95-year life just as he was about to embark on his own pro career, already considerably longer than the Ogden legend’s brief stay in the league was.

“He was nice, he was very honored … he gave me a picture that showed me when he was playing in the NBA. It was very cool,” offered Hachimura, who stands at a much more robust 6-foot-8 and appears poised to have a long career ahead of him, unlike his modest predecessor.

“I was never that good to make more than anybody else. I wanted to be good, even if I was Japanese,” Misaka explained via NBC’s Doha Madani. “It made you feel good if you’re good. I never had any idea that I wanted to be the first Japanese player to win an NIT trophy or anything like that.”

But, his excellence helped pave the path for players like Rui, Jeremy Lin and Yao Ming (among others) to forge a path to even bigger achievements for Asian and Asian American players in the NBA today. Despite his modesty, stature, and brief time in the league, his role in their careers will not go unnoticed.

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Rookie Wire Power Rankings: Ja Morant continues reign on top in Week 4

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

As the NBA heads into a new week, the rookie class appears to be settling into the 2019-20 season.

The players that have performed well to this point are continuing to make a splash and others are beginning to rise up the ranks onto the mainstream radar after some strong recent outings.

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 4:

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

All stats are through games played on Nov. 19

5. R.J. Barrett, Knicks

Stats: 15.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.3 steals

Rank Last Week: 4

While questions still linger about his workload, Barrett continues to go out and perform for the Knicks. As discussed on a recent episode of The HoopsHype Podcast with Alex Kennedy, the Knicks would like to prioritize Barrett seeing heavy minutes in order to work through his mistakes on the court to grow as a player. Barrett has shown that he isn’t afraid of the moment playing in New York and is showing maturity at his age. His efficiency has improved some after shooting 42.9% from 3-point range over his last three games and, suddenly, the Knicks have won two of three and could be on the verge of turning the corner.

4. Brandon Clarke, Grizzlies

Stats: 12.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.2 blocks

Rank Last Week: 5

Clarke continues to impress for the Grizzlies. The 21st overall pick has scored in double figures in seven straight games and is shooting 61.9% from the floor this season. As mentioned last week, Clarke is staying within his game, isn’t forcing things and is taking the shots he is comfortable with: Floaters, mid-range, layups, etc. With Ja Morant handling the bulk of the ball-handling duties, Clarke doesn’t need to be ultra-aggressive, which allows him to play his game. He is shooting 44.4% (8-of-18) from 3-point range and has been highly effective on offense.

3. Eric Paschall, Warriors

Stats: 16.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists

Rank Last Week: 3

If you had second-round pick Eric Paschall as the first rookie this season to record multiple 30-point games, give yourself a pat on the back because Paschall recently accomplished that feat on Sunday. He recorded 30 points for the Warriors in a loss to the Pelicans and previously had a career-high 34 earlier in the month. Paschall is now second among rookies in total points scored this season, trailing only Ja Morant. While the Warriors have certainly struggled this season, and could be on the verge of missing the playoffs, Paschall has emerged as a bright spot in an otherwise down season.

2. Kendrick Nunn, Heat

Stats: 17.8 points, 3.2 assists, 2.5 rebounds, 1.6 steals

Rank Last Week: 2

Kendrick Nunn has been an absolute revelation this season for the Heat and is a huge reason why they are third in the Eastern Conference. Nunn was recently nominated for the NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week award, the second time he has been a finalist, after scoring at least 20 points in three straight games. He is second among all rookies in scoring average and first in field goals made and 3-pointers made. Nunn is on pace to shatter a number of Heat franchise rookie records and doesn’t appear to be slowing down any time soon.

1. Ja Morant, Grizzlies

Stats: 18.5 points, 6 assists, 3.2 rebounds

Rank Last Week: 1

Ja Morant continues his reign atop the Power Rankings for the third straight week. The Grizzlies guard is first in scoring among all rookies and is averaging 20.3 points over his last four games. He has proven to be a player the Grizzlies can trust in late-game situations as evident by his game-winner on Nov. 13 against the Charlotte Hornets. Warriors head coach Steve Kerr compared him to Allen Iverson given his size and toughness and it is easy to see the similarities between the two. While the Grizzlies may not be a playoff team this season, Morant has them as a must-watch team on League Pass.

Honorable Mention:

Coby White, Bulls: 13.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists

The Bulls rookie has that boom-or-bust potential that daily fantasy users know about all too well. White recently became the first rookie in NBA history to hit at least six 3-pointers in consecutive games but followed that up with a seven-point effort on Saturday. White will need to work on gaining consistency this season off of the bench but he has proven to have his moments in a small sample size.

Tyler Herro, Heat: 13.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists

An ankle injury limited Herro to just two games over the last week but Herro still put up 14 points per game in those outings. Herro has proven to be a solid scoring option off of the bench that can seemingly get hot at any moment. He ranks fifth in scoring among all rookies in the early going this season.

Rui Hachimura, Wizards: 13.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists

Hachimura had a bit of a quiet week after managing just 14 points in his last two games after scoring 21 on Nov. 13 against the Boston Celtics. He remains a work in progress on defense but has looked to be a better scorer and shooter than he was in college last season. Though he may not be among the best rookies yet, he has had a solid start to his career.

On the Rise:

Cameron Johnson, Suns: 9.1 points, 3.2 rebounds

Suns head coach Monty Williams recently shortened his rotation, paving the way for more playing time for Johnson. He is up to 11th in scoring among rookies and his 40.4% shooting from 3-point range is seventh among first-year players that have at least eight appearances this season.

Terence Davis, Raptors: 5 points, 2.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists

While his overall numbers don’t jump off of the page, he is averaging 8.5 points per game and shooting 50% from 3-point range over his last six games as he sees more time on the court.

Shout Out:

Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Pelicans: 7.2 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists

Alexander-Walker recently had a two-game stretch in which he tallied 46 total points but followed that up with a three-point outing on Tuesday night. His playing time has been sporadic so it has likely been a bit tough to settle in but he has shown flashes recently.

Daniel Gafford, Bulls: 21 points, 5 rebounds, 2 blocks

With an injury to Luke Kornet, the second-round pick stepped up in his first extended look of the season, recording a team-high 21 points on Monday night. If he can continue seeing consistent playing time, Gafford could be a name to look out for this season.

Dropped Out:

P.J. Washington, Hornets

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Jordan-Shaq factor: Early grades for the top 15 picks in 2019 draft

While keeping the Jordan-Shaq Factor in mind, we have made some early grades for the first 15 players selected in the 2019 NBA Draft.

With each new NBA draft class, there’s always hope—argumentatively speaking—that one select rookie will one day become the next Shaq or the “Air Apparent.” And that’s still a problematic prognostication, especially this early in a rookie’s career. (It’s almost impossible if we’re honest.)

But Michael Jordan, who dropped 45 against San Antonio in only his ninth game, and Shaquille O’Neal, who was averaging double-doubles with ease at the same point, do highlight a key benchmark: Grading rookies this early in the season, looking for signs of possible elite talent, can be done.

So, while keeping that Jordan-Shaq Factor in mind, let’s take a look at the early grades for the top 15 picks from the 2019 draft.

15th pick: Sekou Doumbouya

(Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images)

Taken out of the French League by the Pistons, Sekou Doumbouya is only 18 years old—that’s young. But if he’s developed in the G League and becomes something close to one of the NBA stars he looks up to—Pascal Siakam—then look out!

Early Grade: TBD

Sekou Doumbouya :: Romeo Langford :: Tyler Herro :: P.J. Washington :: Cam Johnson :: Cam Reddish :: Rui Hachimura :: Jaxson Hayes :: Coby White :: Jarrett Culver :: Darius Garland :: De’Andre Hunter :: R.J. Barrett :: Ja Morant :: Zion Williamson

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Rookie Wire Power Rankings: Ja Morant stays on top for Week 3

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

With three weeks officially in the books, it appears as though players are beginning to feel the rigors of the NBA season. More guys are getting banged up each week and some have missed time as a result.

When it comes to the rookie class so far, some players are starting to heat up while others are regressing after a hot start to open up the year. The fascinating part about this crop of first-year players, though, is there have been some players emerge seemingly out of nowhere to gain notoriety and perform well in the early going.

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 3:

Week 1 Power Rankings | Week 2 Power Rankings

All stats are through games played on Nov. 12

5. Brandon Clarke, Grizzlies

Stats: 11.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.4 blocks, 1 assist

Rank Last Week: N/A

While Brandon Clarke is still just ninth among rookies in scoring, the 21st overall pick has really emerged over the past week or so. He is averaging 15 points and six rebounds over his last three games and is shooting a blistering 69.2% from the field. In fact, his 60% field-goal percentage on the season ranks fifth in the NBA among all players. He went a perfect 7-of-7 from the field on Nov. 6 for 18 points and shot 6-of-7 two games later on Monday for 14 points. Clarke is taking shots he is most comfortable with and is rarely forcing things. He may not shoot 60% all season long but if he continues taking good shots and doesn’t it, he should have a strong first year with the Grizzlies.

4. R.J. Barrett, Knicks

Stats: 16 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.4 steals

Rank Last Week: 2

Prior to recording 21 points on Tuesday night, R.J. Barrett had struggled over his previous two games, recording just 12 combined points on just 25% (5-of-20) shooting from the field. His workload remains astronomical this season with the Knicks and doesn’t appear to be slowing down, at least as long as David Fizdale is running the show. Barrett started off the season strong but has since struggled with his efficiency from all over the court — the mid-range, 3-pointers and at the rim. Given his workload and role in the offense as the main option, Barrett could see his inconsistent play continue until he breaks out of his slump but it shouldn’t take away from the fact that he has been an exciting player to watch this season.

Exhibit A:

3. Eric Paschall, Warriors

Stats: 15.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists

Rank Last Week: 4

As the Warriors continue to struggle, Eric Paschall has been among the few bright spots thus far this season. After dealing with so many injuries, 11 players have missed at least one game this season, the Warriors have been forced to rely on Paschall. He has responded by averaging 15.6 points per game, good for fourth among rookies. He was forced to miss a game recently due to a hip injury but he returned on Monday to score eight points and six rebounds in a losing effort. Touted as a player that could contribute now, Paschall has shown that he has the potential to go off during games as evident by his career-high 34-point performance on Nov. 4. While the Warriors could miss the playoffs this season, the emergence of Paschall has been encouraging for the future.

2. Kendrick Nunn, Heat

Stats: 16.9 points, 2.8 assists, 2.3 rebounds, 1.6 steals

Rank Last Week: 3

The undrafted Kendrick Nunn continues to show that he belongs near the top of the rookie class this year. On Tuesday, Nunn helped the Heat overcome several injuries, including one to rookie teammate Tyler Herro, by scoring 20 points in a 117-108 win over the Detroit Pistons, shooting 4-of-8 from 3-point range. Nunn ranks second in scoring among rookies, just trailing Ja Morant. Nunn had been a bit quiet over his previous five games but bounced back in a big way on Tuesday and continues to be an under-the-radar player on the verge of a strong season.

1. Ja Morant, Grizzlies

Stats: 17.8 points, 5.2 assists, 3.6 rebounds, 1 steal

Rank Last Week: 1

Since erupting for 26 points on Nov. 6, Ja Morant has struggled some over his last two games but the second overall pick has been sensational for the Grizzlies this season. After that game, Morant became the first player since Michael Jordan during the 1984-85 season to average at least 20 points and five assists on 50% shooting through his first seven career games. His numbers have dropped a tad since then but Morant is still first among rookies in scoring and perhaps the frontrunner for Rookie of the Year at this point. Of course, there is still plenty of basketball left to be played but Morant is showing his potential early on this season.

Honorable Mention:

P.J. Washington, Hornets: 13.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.4 steals

While P.J. Washington dropped out from our Week 2 rankings, the 11th overall selection had a solid week for the Hornets and is still sixth in rookie scoring. He still leads the class among qualified players in 3-point shooting at 48.6% and is second in rebounding and third in steals. He is getting it done on both ends of the floor given his versatility and has proven to be fun to watch this season.

Rui Hachimura, Wizards: 13.6 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.5 assists

Rui Hachimura is coming off one of his finest performances of the season after recording 21 points and seven rebounds on Friday against the Cleveland Cavaliers. He has battled through consistency issues — he went scoreless in 20 minutes on Nov. 6 — but has shown to have a short memory to bounce back the next night. Still, he has been one of the most entertaining rookies to this point.

Tyler Herro, Heat: 13.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists

The Heat rookie did not play Tuesday due to a sprained ankle but he has had a solid season to this point. Perhaps most impressive is Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra spoke very highly of him recently after saying he has seen improvement from Herro in each game. Herro has also drawn praise from his teammates for his work ethic, something that will only carry Herro in the future.

On the Rise:

Coby White, Bulls: 12.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists

After hitting seven 3-pointers alone in the fourth quarter on Tuesday night, it shouldn’t be a surprise White is on the rise. His burst gave him the highest scoring average among rookies over the past week and he will certainly try to continue that moving forward.

Cameron Johnson, Suns: 7.4 points, 2.8 rebounds

Suns head coach Monty Williams recently shortened his rotation, which has led to more playing time for Johnson. He has scored in double figures in back-to-back games for the first time this season and is coming off of an 11-point performance against the Lakers on Tuesday.

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