Now that we’re six weeks into the 2024-25 NBA season, we can take a broader look at the rookie class as a whole.
In keeping with the expectations that were set heading into the 2024 draft, the results this season haven’t been spectacular. Nonetheless, plenty of players are carving out roles, making developmental strides, and in some cases, having a meaningful impact for their teams.
Jared McCain broke out for the Philadelphia 76ers in November, Dalton Knecht has stepped up for the Los Angeles Lakers, Stephon Castle has gotten more comfortable for the San Antonio Spurs, and the Memphis Grizzlies have relied on Zach Edey and Jaylen Wells during a strong start. But it’s been a bit of a slower roll for the top picks in the draft — including Zaccharie Risacher, Alex Sarr and Reed Sheppard — only one of whom cracks this month’s list.
With all that, there’s a new rookie who takes over the No. 1 spot from our last ranking on Oct. 24.
Please note this ranking of the top eight rookies is not an attempt to gauge players’ long-term potential or trade value. It’s simply a barometer of which first-year players have made the most interesting and notable impact at this stage of the season.
Here’s how these players and others stack up so far.
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Top eight rookies
Yet another OKC youngster?
Fit vs. upside debate
: NR
McCain’s emergence has been one of the few bright spots in Philadelphia’s tumultuous season, positioning him as an early leader in NBA Rookie of the Year conversations.
After a streak of seven 20-point games in November, he leads all rookies in scoring, living up to his billing as an excellent shooter coming out of Duke, where he made 41% of his 3s on nearly six attempts per game last season. The 76ers have been thrilled with McCain’s work ethic, a trait that Blue Devils coach Jon Scheyer highlighted when he told ESPN that McCain was the hardest worker he’d been around at Duke.
The Sixers’ well-chronicled struggles have had some developmental benefits for McCain. He has more minutes than anticipated because of Previous ranking: 4
Castle successfully slid into San Antonio’s starting lineup on Nov. 6 to replace the injured Previous ranking: NR
Knecht’s 37-point explosion (Previous ranking: NR
Wells has been a pleasant find for the Grizzlies, providing immediate value as a second-round selection filling in amid a series of team injuries.
He knocks down 3s, takes care of the ball, and has been consistent throughout the first six weeks, carving out a starting role on Oct. 31 and staying there, even as the Grizzlies have returned Previous ranking: 3
Risacher’s 33-point game on Nov. 6 underscored the talent that vaulted him to the top of the draft, but he has struggled with consistency, shooting 41% from the field and 28.2% from 3 thus far. Some of that was to be expected, but he has still started 20 of 22 games.
The Hawks have been pleasantly surprised by his progress on the defensive end, where his 6-foot-8 frame plays up well, and his role within team concepts has been a positive, averaging nearly a steal and a block per game.
In evaluating what was a flat top of the 2024 draft, the Hawks considered his role alongside Previous ranking: 1
Although he has been sidelined since Nov. 17 with an ankle sprain, Edey settled in after a slow start, delivering the type of production his college career suggested he’d be capable of, albeit in 20.1 minutes per game. He’s playing the strong side of a platoon role at center and providing value for the Grizzlies, who prioritized him in the draft to address their need at the position.
While his struggles with foul trouble are noteworthy (3.1 average fouls per game), it’s a two-way street — Edey can impose himself physically on the game already at his size. His efficient offensive diet has translated, underscored by an impressive showing on Nov. 4 in Brooklyn, in which he became the first rookie since Previous ranking: NR
While thrust into action amid a high number of Pelicans injuries, Missi has been more NBA-ready than anticipated, albeit it has come amid a lot of losing. The 4-18 Pelicans have dropped nine straight.
He has likely earned himself continued playing time if New Orleans ever returns to full strength, playing ahead of veteran Previous ranking: 6
Although currently out with a knee sprain, Clingan has begun to block shots at a prolific rate, averaging a whopping 4.6 per-36 and living up to his reputation as the top rim protector in the 2024 class.
He made six starts when DeAndre Ayton missed time, and turned in an eye-popping 17 points, 12 rebounds and 8 blocks in a Nov. 13 win against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
As expected, he is not doing a ton of scoring, but Clingan has been productive on the glass and an impactful defender while platooning with his veteran teammate. It’s pretty clear Clingan will be a foundational piece of Portland’s future, although it might take an eventual Ayton trade to open up a pathway to major playing time.
, a rookie guard who is on a two-way contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder is garnering praise from scouts.
A draft pick out of UC Santa Barbara who fell to the 38th pick, Mitchell has become a fixture off the Thunder bench, finding a consistent role and playing ahead of Oklahoma City’s 26th pick, Dillon Jones, in the rotation.
“Being the 38th pick, on a two-way, and playing real minutes on that roster is wild,” an Eastern Conference scout told ESPN.
While averaging just 5.5 points per game, Mitchell has been steady, shooting 47.7% and supplying useful depth for a Thunder team that has played a lot of small ball because of injuries. Though it’s a small sample, the 22-year-old Mitchell has made a respectable 42.3% of his 3s, pointing to some positive development in a key area of his pre-draft evaluation. Mitchell’s ability to make plays for teammates, guard effectively, and fit alongside other ball handlers has made him a malleable depth player, and pretty clearly the best rookie two-way performer thus far.
“One thing with Mitchell, he was so good getting to the rim at that [mid-major] level that he didn’t have to settle for a ton of 3s. I can understand that,” a Western Conference scout told ESPN. “But it didn’t mean he couldn’t shoot it.”
While the Thunder have assembled a wealth of young perimeter depth, Mitchell’s current role bodes well for his chances of converting onto a standard contract and working from there.
serviceable spot minutes) coming off the board in that order.
We’ll see how long it takes for other rookies to catch them in terms of production.
