NBA Rookies Already Outperforming Their Draft Spot
The 2017 NBA rookies are off to a hot start, and that includes a number who were taken outside the lottery.
There are a handful of general managers who should already feel good about one of their 2017 picks. There are also other GMs who likely feel foolish for passing on the following nine players.
They've outperformed their draft spot early on, whether it's been with offensive production, or in some cases for second-rounders, by just giving their team minutes off the bench.
Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics, SF/PF)
1 of 9
Draft spot: No. 3
Player efficiency rating: 18.6
Key Stats: 15.2 points, 50.9 percent FG, 50.0 percent 3PT, 86.2 percent FT
General manager Danny Ainge is looking smart through six games. He passed on the chance to take Markelle Fultz and moved down for Jayson Tatum, who's been the best player from the 2017 draft.
While Fultz has struggled, already missing games with shoulder soreness, Tatum has produced like a No. 1 overall pick and emerged as a key contributor to the Boston Celtics' starting lineup.
He's capitalized on a big early role created after Ainge traded Jae Crowder and Gordon Hayward went down.
We've seen his signature skills, footwork and body control scoring off the dribble. But Tatum's jumper has fallen early (8-of-16 from three) and been a huge help while he adjusts to a complementary role after being a top scorer in high school and college.
He's bound to cool off from beyond the arc, but Tatum should continue to see plenty of open looks alongside Kyrie Irving and Al Horford. He'll be in the Rookie of the Year discussion all season, especially if the teams of Ben Simmons, Dennis Smith Jr. and Lonzo Ball keep losing games.
De'Aaron Fox (Sacramento Kings, PG)
2 of 9
Draft spot: No. 5
Player efficiency rating: 18.7
Key Stats: 12.7 points, 5.0 assists
Second among rookie guards in scoring, De'Aaron Fox has fit right in with his speed and athleticism.
He's outscoring, Markelle Fultz, Lonzo Ball and Josh Jackson, three of the four players drafted before him. Fox hasn't needed a jumper to put pressure on defenses. He's beating them down the floor in transition and getting himself layups and dunks off drives and cuts.
Still, Fox has shown he's a threat to shoot off the dribble and make the open rhythm three. And he's also developing a nice rapport with the Sacramento Kings' bigs. He's done a nice job of setting them up for pick-and-pops and easy finishes after diving to the hoop off screens.
His time to start in Sacramento could come sooner than expected. Meanwhile, George Hill suddenly looks like an intriguing trade target.
Lauri Markkanen (Chicago Bulls, PF)
3 of 9
Draft spot: No. 7
Player efficiency rating: 15.7
Key Stats: 15.6 points, 9.6 rebounds, 41.7 percent 3PT
A deeper arc hasn't hurt Lauri Markkanen. He's actually benefiting from and capitalizing on the extra space, which has led to uncontested jumpers and 15 made threes through five games.
He's unsurprisingly shooting it well, but it's the ability to score off the dribble that's drawn attention. He's converted some impressive field goals by attacking closeouts, eluding awaiting bigs in the paint and finishing with either hand.
First in scoring among rookies from the 2017 class, Markkanen is also first in rebounding, an unexpected stat based on his numbers at Arizona. Meanwhile, Jonathan Isaac, the forward taken one spot earlier, has yet to reach double figures in a game.
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Dennis Smith Jr. (Dallas Mavericks, PG)
4 of 9
Draft spot: No. 9
Player efficiency rating: 13.5
Key Stats: 13.2 points, 6.6 assists
Ranking top 15 in the NBA in assists, Dennis Smith Jr. looks comfortable early despite not shooting well.
He's shown a willingness to sit back and facilitate. But he's still flashed an explosive, full-package scoring arsenal, which came to life in a 19-point effort and win over Mike Conley and the Memphis Grizzlies.
He needs to fine-tune his decision-making (three turnovers a game) and improve his shooting range (5-of-21 from three), but Smith, the fifth guard drafted, is poised to outproduce Markelle Fultz and Frank Ntilikina and outscore Lonzo Ball.
John Collins (Atlanta Hawks, PF)
5 of 9
Draft spot: No. 19
Player efficiency rating: 22.0
Key Stats: 11.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, 49.1 percent FG
After leading the country in player efficiency rating at Wake Forest, John Collins now ranks first among NBA rookies from the 2017 draft (minimum 18 minutes per game).
The No. 19 overall pick appears on track to become the Atlanta Hawks' starting power forward.
His athleticism and timing have carried right over, translating to easy finishes on dives, cuts and putbacks. Strong and aggressive under the boards, Collins has been active and victorious during 50-50-ball battles against veteran bigs.
But we've also seen flashes of skill, specifically his mid-range jumper and footwork scoring on the move.
Producing early while showing signs of budding offense and more to come, Collins has jumped out as one of the potential steals from last June's draft.
Jarrett Allen (Brooklyn Nets, C)
6 of 9
Draft spot: No. 22
Player efficiency rating: 13.1
Key Stats: 1.2 blocks, 1.2 steals
Jarrett Allen has earned an early role with rim protection, ranking seventh in the NBA averaging 3.89 blocks per 48 minutes, per ESPN.com.
Considering fellow centers Zach Collins, Bam Adebayo and Justin Patton—who all went before Allen—have only swatted two shots combined, the Brooklyn Nets should be feeling good about their pick at No. 22.
Allen's 7'5 ¼" wingspan comes alive around the rim. He had his biggest game last Sunday against the Atlanta Hawks, as he recorded four blocks and four boards in 15 minutes.
He won't offer a ton of scoring, but between his defensive versatility, which he's flashed on switches, and the ability to give guards a lob and finishing target inside, Allen should be a key player for the Brooklyn Nets during their quest for a playoff berth.
Kyle Kuzma (Los Angeles Lakers, F)
7 of 9
Draft spot: No. 27
Player efficiency rating: 14.9
Key Stats: 13.7 points, 50.7 percent FG
The No. 27 pick in the draft, Kyle Kuzma ranks No. 5 among rookies in scoring.
Showing three-point range and shot-creating skills we didn't fully see at Utah, he's quickly emerged as the Los Angeles Lakers' top offensive option at power forward.
Averaging more points than Brook Lopez, Kuzma has been effective early with his scoring versatility that includes spot-up shooting, off-the-dribble footwork, floaters and off-ball action.
The Los Angeles Lakers may have found a long-term starter with the late first-round pick they received from the Houston Rockets in the deal for Lou Williams. There will be a number of steals from the 2017 draft, but Kuzma at No. 27 looks like the robbery of the year.
Dwayne Bacon (Charlotte Hornets, SG/SF)
8 of 9
Draft spot: No. 40
Player efficiency rating: 4.8
Key Stats: 23.6 minutes, 1.0 3PTM, 5.0 rebounds
The Charlotte Hornets have gotten decent minutes from second-round pick Dwayne Bacon, who's already drawn three starts.
He's averaged a three-point make per game, letting the offense come to him and taking the good shots that find him.
He's also found other ways to contribute by moving the ball and crashing the glass. Bacon managed 11 rebounds in just 19 minutes last Friday in a win over the Atlanta Hawks.
Dillon Brooks (Memphis Grizzlies, SF)
9 of 9
Draft spot: No. 45
Player efficiency rating: 9.1
Key stats: 8.0 points, 1.7 steals, 46.3 percent FG
Dillon Brooks went No. 45 and already has a solid role in the Memphis Grizzlies rotation.
A 19-point, five-rebound, four-steal debut helped.
Questions about his athleticism, defensive potential and lack of versatility kept Brooks from drawing realistic first-round consideration. It turns out the Grizzlies value his scoring off the bench.
Shooting 46.3 percent, he's done an effective job of capitalizing opportunistically, waiting for the right chance to shoot or attack without forcing shots. And he's shown off the high skill level, particularly with his ability to make jumpers and runners off the dribble, that led to Pac-12 Player of the Year production.
It's early and the bar is low, but Brooks has a chance to be the best Grizzlies rookie since O.J. Mayo.
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