NBA Rookie Grades Ahead of Zion Williamson’s Debut

1. Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans

ESPN flexed the Pelicans Spurs game so everyone can see his debut on Wednesday. Let’s go!

Grade: N/A

2. Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies

The standard for getting an A+ on the rookie grade is a tad below where Luka Doncic was last season. Ja Morant is right there. Not only is he leading all rookies with 18.0 ppg and 6.9 apg, but the Grizzlies are currently positioned as a playoff team in the West. Barring injury or super Zion, Morant is a near-lock to win Rookie of the Year.  

Grade: A+

3. RJ Barrett, New York Knicks

After a strong start to the season, RJ Barrett has begun to cool down. While he’s third among rookies in points per game, his efficiency hasn’t been excellent as he’s shooting 39.3% from the field and 32.9% from deep. His free throws are his most significant issue, as his 60.3% from the line is 110th out of 113 qualifiers.   

Grade: B+

4. Deandre Hunter, Atlanta Hawks

Hunter= Glorified Trevor Ariza. I will keep calling Deandre Hunter that until he proves to me otherwise. Drafted for his three and D ability, Hunter hasn’t been great on either end of the floor with a -3.0 OBPM and a -2.0 DPBM. I’m not sure why scouts thought he was special.  

Grade: C+

5. Darius Garland, Cleveland Cavaliers

After an underwhelming start to the season, Darius Garland has started to look a lot more comfortable at the NBA level. In Janaury, Garland is averaging 16.3 ppg and 6.1 apg on 43.5% from the field; all of those numbers are way up from where they were at the start of the season. Trading Jordan Clarkson to Utah has helped Garland develop.  

Grade: B

6. Jarrett Culver, Minnesota Timberwolves

While he’s had some glorious moments, Jarrett Culver has overall been very underwhelming for the Timberwolves. He ranks twelfth among rookies in scoring, getting 9.5 ppg, but he hasn’t shot the ball with a 39.5 FG% and 26.2 3PT%.   

Grade: C+

7. Coby White, Chicago Bulls

Coby White has had flashes of greatness, most notably scoring 28 in a one-point win against Charlotte on November 23rd, and hitting seven threes against the Knicks on November 11th. However, he hasn’t been consistent enough as he’s shooting just 37.9% from the field and 34.4% from deep.   

Grade: B-

8. Jaxson Hayes, New Orleans

With Derrick Favors missing a lot of time early on, Jaxson Hayes got the opportunity to play, and he has taken advantage of this. He leads all rookies with 46 total blocks (1.2 per game) and is shooting 65.8% from the floor. As I’ve stated before, give him time, and he will be the best player from this draft class.  

Grade: B+

9. Rui Hachimura, Washington Wizards

Before suffering a groin injury that’s caused him to miss the Wizards’ last 16 games, Hachimura was playing very well, putting up 13.9 ppg on 48.2% from the floor. His defense needs some work as he is often too late to rotate, but the Wizards should be encouraged by what they’ve seen from him this season. 

Grade: B+

10. Cam Reddish, Atlanta Hawks

While he’s gotten somewhat better from the beginning of the season where he was utterly atrocious, Reddish is still struggling. He has just 326 points on 335 shot attempts this season with a -4.9 OBPM — not a great look for someone who was supposed to be a great scorer.  Still, he’s young and a rookie, so the Hawks should freak out yet.

Grade: D

11. Cameron Johnson, Phoenix Suns

While far from terrible, the 23-year-old rookie has been quite underwhelming this season. Johnson is getting just 7.8 ppg on 42.0% from the floor in 19.8 minutes per game.   

Grade: C+

12. PJ Washington, Charlotte Hornets

PJ Washington has done a solid job for the Hornets this season as he is 7th among rookies with 12.4 ppg. He is money from the corner, shooting a blazing 57.5% on corner threes as well. The Hornets should like what they’ve seen from Washington so far this season.   

Grade: B+

13. Tyler Herro, Miami Heat

Herro has hit many big shots for the Heat this season and he ranks sixth among rookies by getting 13.4 ppg. His best moment of the season was knocking down a three in transition to send the game to OT against Philadelphia on December 28th.   

Grade: B+

14. Romeo Langford, Boston Celtics

After spending the beginning of the season in the G League, Langford finally got some playing time in late December. While he’s shown flashes of what he can do defensively, Langford has looked very stagnant on offense. He’s scored just 25 points in 106 minutes this season. 

Grade: C-

15. Sekou Doumbouya, Detroit Pistons

With the Pistons possibly headed for a rebuild, Dwane Casey added Sekou Doumbouya to the starting lineup, and he has flourished. In eight games this month, Doumbouya is putting up 14.0 ppg and 5.3 rpg on 54.4% from the field and 41.4% from deep.     

Grade: B

16. Chuma Okeke, Orlando Magic

Okeke suffered a torn ACL at Auburn last season and remains out for the year. 

Grade: N/A

17. Nickeill Alexander-Walker, New Orleans Pelicans

Drafted to be a sharpshooter, Alexander-Walker has seen inconsistent minutes since the start of December. He has struggled with his shooting, with just 197 points on 208 shot attempts this season. 

Grade: D

18. Goga Bitadze, Indiana Pacers

Drafted for his rim-protecting abilities, Bitadze has been active defensively a 2.6 DBPM, second-best among rookies. However, he’s struggled to shoot and is getting only 3.1 ppg in 9.4 mpg this season.   

Grade: B-

19. Luka Samanic, San Antonio Spurs

Samanic is still stuck in San Antonio’s G League and has yet to make his debut.   

Grade: N/A

20. Matisse Thybulle, Philadelphia 76ers

At age 22, Thybulle is already an elite defender with a 3.5 DBPM. While he had concerns regarding his shot at the draft, he is shooting well from behind the arc at 40.5% from deep. When he plays 20+ minutes, the 76ers are 14-2; when he plays under 20 minutes, they are 13-14. 

Grade: A-

21. Brandon Clarke, Memphis Grizzlies

The Grizzlies did an incredible job drafting as they came away with two of the best players from the draft. Clarke is looking like a steal at pick 21 as he is putting up 12.3 ppg in 21.4 mpg with a ridiculous 65.9 eFG% this season. Among qualifiers, he has the best box plus-minus among rookies at 2.5 BPM. 

Grade: A-

22. Grant Williams, Boston Celtics

As I said before the draft, Grant Williams, is Jared Dudley in every aspect of his game. Williams is solid defensively due to his size, with a 1.5 DPBM. However, he has struggled to score as he started the season 0/25 from deep and is shooting just 19.2% from deep.  

Grade: B-

23. Darius Bazley, Oklahoma City Thunder

For as good as Bazley may become, the Thunder made an enormous mistake in trading Brandon Clarke for him on draft night. Bazley has struggled with a -4.6 BPM this season. . 

Grade: C-

24. Ty Jerome, Phoenix Suns

In 12 games since coming back from injury, Jerome has struggled, getting just 3.5 ppg on 32.7% from the floor in 11.4 mpg. Not a great start for the one-time national champion at Virginia. 

Grade: D

25. Nassir Little, Portland Trail Blazers

Little’s production has taken a hit after the Carmelo Anthony signing sent him back to the bench. He is getting just 3.3 ppg in 12.1 mpg this season. 

Grade: C-

26. Dylan Windler, Cleveland Cavaliers

After Windler suffered a leg injury, the Cavaliers announced he will miss the rest of the season. 

Grade: N/A

27. Mfiondu Kabengele, Los Angeles Clippers

Kabengele only appears in blowouts and has 29 points in 44 minutes this season. 

Grade: C

28. Jordan Poole, Golden State Warriors

To this point in the season, the case can be made that Poole has been the worst qualified player in the NBA. He has just 263 points on a ridiculous 299 attempts for a -5.1 OBPM, and a -7.8 BPM. Having -1.1 win shares in 762 minutes played is almost unattainably horrible for the rookie.

Grade: F

29. Keldon Johnson, San Antonio Spurs

Johnson has scored two points in seven minutes this season. The rookie has spent most of the season in the G- League.  

Grade: C

30. Kevin Porter Jr., Cleveland Cavaliers

After struggling to start the season, Porter Jr. has taken a step in the right direction since the beginning of December. However, he is now expected to miss 4-6 weeks with a knee injury. 

Grade: B-

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