NBA Rookie Rankings: How the Top Rookies Fared After Opening Week
Alright guys, we've been through a week of official, post-lockout NBA Basketball and there have been some ups and downs for each basketball team.
This week's power rankings, however, aren't for each team, but for the top few rookies.
We expected Kyrie Irving and Derrick Williams to get off to fast starts, but did they really live up to the hype? How did the lockout affect the rookies?
I'm not ranking all of the rookies—just the top 17. (Why 17? Because it sounded like a nice, round number.)
So let's continue on and see which rookies stood out in the first week of NBA basketball.
Enes Kanter: C, Utah Jazz
1 of 18Enes Kanter
College: Kentucky*
Drafted: 3rd
| OPP | MIN | PTS (FG) | REB |
| SA | 13 | 7 (2-3) | 2 |
| PHI | 15 | 4 (2-3) | 6 |
| DEN | 14 | 4 (1-5) | 5 |
| LAL | 21 | 5 (1-7) | 11 |
Kanter sat out the entire Kentucky season and still got drafted third.
He snagged eleven boards in his debut, but hasn't shown the scoring touch the Jazz were so desperately hoping to see.
Still, he's a proven rebounder, and though he's been lacking energy lately on the glass, I'm sure we'll see a revitalized Enes Kanter soon.
Josh Harrellson: PF, New York Knicks
2 of 18Josh Harrellson
College: Kentucky
Drafted: 45th
| OPP | MIN | PTS (FG, 3PT) | REB | BLK |
| SAC | 38 | 14 (5-11, 4-8 3PT) | 12 | 0 |
| LAL | 16 | 3 (1-6, 0-2 3PT) | 3 | 1 |
| GS | 4 | 0 (0-1 3PT) | 0 | 0 |
| BOS | 9 | 0 (0-0) | 2 | 1 |
When Amar'e Stoudemire was out with an ankle injury, it was Josh Harrellson who absorbed most of his minutes. And what a way to make a claim for more playing time.
Harrellson had a double-double in his first start as a Knick, but, more impressively, he knocked down four-of-eight threes.
He won't see that kind of PT when Stoudemire gets back, but he's definitely earned some more minutes with his play.
Jon Leuer: F, Milwaukee Bucks
3 of 18Jon Leuer
College: Wisconsin
Drafted: 40th
| OPP | MIN | PTS (FG, 3PT) | REB | STL | BLK | AST |
| WSH | 22 | 4 (2-4) | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| MIN | 20 | 14 (5-7, 4-4 FT) | 8 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| CHA | 0 | - | - | - | - | - |
Jon Leuer has only played in two games this season, so I can't put a finger on how good he'll be.
But so far, he's been pretty solid.
He dropped 14 and eight on a lacking Minnesota defense and used his length to score a couple buckets, but we need to see more of him to really determine how much of an impact he'll have in the NBA.
Markieff Morris: PF, Phoenix Suns
4 of 18Markieff Morris
College: Kansas
Drafted: 13th
| OPP | MIN | PTS (FG, 3PT) | REB | BLK | AST |
| OKC | 16 | 15 (5-8, 3-4 3PT) | 6 | 1 | 1 |
| NO | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| PHI | 27 | 9 (4-5, 1-2 3PT) | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| NO | 25 | 7 (2-5, 1-3 3PT) | 9 | 2 | 2 |
Like Brandon Knight, Markieff Morris had his best numbers in garbage time against OKC, when the Suns were getting blown out of the water—another reason why stats never tell the whole story.
He's shown his deep-shooting ability, and he can grab boards at times, so it'll probably be his potential that keeps getting him minutes in Phoenix.
At least he's doing better than his bench-dwelling brother, Marcus, over in Houston.
Alec Burks: G, Utah Jazz
5 of 18Alec Burks
College: Colorado
Drafted: 12th
| OPP | MIN | PTS | AST | STL |
| SA | 3 | 4 (2-2) | 0 | 0 |
| PHI | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| DEN | 10 | 15 (6-9, 0-1 3PT) | 0 | 2 |
| LAL | 6 | 0 (0-2) | 2 | 0 |
I really, REALLY want to see Alec Burks get more PT in Utah. He's been outstanding when he's been on the court—but he's only played 19 minutes over four games.
He's got to battle Raja Bell and C.J. Miles for minutes, but from what I've seen so far, he's due for a 25-minute game sometime soon.
Burks is a scoring, slashing machine that hasn't been plugged in yet. I wonder how good he'll be when he gets steady minutes.
Chris Singleton: G, Washington Wizards
6 of 18Chris Singleton
College: Florida State
Drafted: 18th
| OPP | MIN | PTS (FG, 3PT) | REB | STL |
| BOS | 14 | 0 (0-1) | 3 | 1 |
| MIL | 24 | 3 (1-3, 1-3 3PT) | 2 | 1 |
| ATL | 26 | 7 (3-4, 1-1 3PT) | 3 | 2 |
| NJ | 22 | 3 (1-3, 1-2 3PT) | 2 | 2 |
Chris Singleton was never really a scorer, he just stopped others from scoring. And he's done so thus far in the season, playing sticky defense in decent minutes with the Washington Wizards.
I don't see him averaging more than eight points this season, but his defense is what will continue to get him minutes.
Kawhi Leonard: F, San Antonio Spurs
7 of 18Kawhi Leonard
College: San Diego State
Drafted: 15th
| OPP | MIN | PTS (FG, 3PT) | REB | STL |
| UTAH | 15 | 7 (3-5, 1-1 3PT) | 6 | 1 |
| HOU | 25 | 8 (3-7, 0-3 3PT) | 4 | 1 |
| LAC | 2O | 2 (1-3) | 8 | 0 |
| MEM | 14 | 6 (2-9, 1-5 3PT) | 6 | 2 |
In the midst of the old, veteran legs that are the San Antonio Spurs, Kawhi Leonard has been a jolt of energy, a breath of fresh air.
Leonard has brought electricity and intensity to a dull Spurs' game plan. He's almost like a forward version of Joakim Noah—just with ridiculous athleticism. He defends well, plays with energy, and lives on the boards.
We'll definitely be seeing more of him in the future.
Jimmer Fredette: G, Sacramento Kings
8 of 18Jimmer Fredette
College: Brigham Young
Drafted: 10th
| OPP | MIN | PTS (FG, 3PT) | AST | REB | STL |
| NO | 21 | 7 (3-8, 1-3 3PT) | 5 | 0 | 2 |
| NY | 26 | 7 (2-10, 1-7 3PT) | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| CHI | 24 | 14 (5-10, 2-4 3PT) | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| POR | 24 | 10 (4-10, 1-5 3PT) | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| LAL | 26 | 6 (3-8) | 3 | 1 | 0 |
After his 21-point preseason debut, Jimmer Fredette, my favorite player out of this year's draft, has been a little disappointing.
I had him down as a Gilbert Arenas-style player (in prime, of course) who would have supreme shooting ability and the capability to carry the Kings in the clutch.
Not only have we not seen him down the stretch when Sacramento needs points, but he's shot a god awful 26.3 percent from downtown.
I know he'll get it together soon, but he needs to stop forcing those tough, BYU-esque shots and work on getting open and knocking down easy shots.
Those will build his confidence and help him sink those 35-foot, Jimmer-range shots we're used to seeing.
Brandon Knight: G, Detroit Pistons
9 of 18Brandon Knight
College: Kentucky
Drafted: 8th
| OPP | MIN | PTS (FG, 3PT) | AST | REB | STL |
| IND | 23 | 6 (3-8, 0-2 3PT) | 6 | 3 | 0 |
| BOS | 26 | 10 (3-11, 2-5 3PT) | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| CLE | 29 | 23 (10-13, 3-T 3PT) | 6 | 1 | 2 |
| IND | 17 | 9 (3-9, 3-6 3PT) | 0 | 1 | 1 |
I didn't see too much of Brandon Knight at Kentucky last year, so I'm not too surprised by the slump in. He scored 23 points in garbage time against Cleveland's second unit and has barely put up points in decent time against other teams.
For a PG, it's never good to have a doughnut in the assist category.
He's got to be the leader Detroit needs him to be. Otherwise, he'll never get the start over Rodney Stuckey.
Jeremy Pargo: G, Memphis Grizzlies
10 of 18Jeremy Pargo
College: Gonzaga (went overseas)
Drafted: FA
| OPP | MIN | PTS (FG, 3PT) | AST | REB | STL |
| CHI | 27 | 4 (2-13, 0-2 3PT) | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| HOU | 22 | 14 (6-10, 0-2 3PT) | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| OKC | 37 | 15 (6-13, 0-3 3PT) | 7 | 3 | 2 |
| SA | 16 | 5 (2-6, 1-3 3PT) | 3 | 2 | 2 |
When Mike Conley got injured early against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Jeremy Pargo absorbed most of his minutes. He put up 15 that game, but hasn't really shown much during any of the other games Conley missed.
That was his chance to shine.
Now that Conley is returning to the rotation for Tuesday's game against Sacramento, Pargo's minutes will revert back down to bench, garbage minutes.
Tristan Thompson: PF, Cleveland Cavaliers
11 of 18Tristan Thompson
College: Texas
Drafted: 4th
| OPP | MIN | PTS (FG, 3PT) | REB | BLK | AST |
| NJ | 17 | 9 (4-5) | 6 | 3 | 0 |
| IND | 17 | 2 (1-3) | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| DET | 25 | 10 (5-8) | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| TOR | 17 | 12 (4-6) | 5 | 0 | 0 |
Tristan Thompson has slowly but surely proven me wrong. I thought that Cleveland, with both the first and the fourth pick, should have grabbed Derrick Williams first and Kemba Walker fourth.
Instead, Thompson has been doing a great job with the limited minutes he's been getting. I think he just might grab that starting position, moving Antawn Jamison down to the three for the Cavs to get the most out of their players.
Still, I stand firm that trading J.J. Hickson for Omri Casspi was a horrible trade.
Derrick Williams: F, Minnesota T'Wolves
12 of 18Derrick Williams
College: Arizona
Drafted: 2nd
| OPP | MIN | PTS (FG, 3PT) | REB | AST | STL |
| DAL | 16 | 4 (1-3) | 7 | 0 | 3 |
| MIA | 21 | 10 (4-6, 2-3 3PT) | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| MIL | 14 | 3 (1-3, 0-1 3PT) | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| OKC | 24 | 13 (6-14, 0-4 3PT) | 6 | 1 | 1 |
I expected so much more from Derrick Williams, but, truth be told, he's not getting the playing time he needs to make a difference in Minnesota.
And with their depth at the forward spot (Beasley, Love), I'm not sure if being a T'Wolf is the best fit for him.
In his rookie debut, he scored 13 points, but it took him 14 attempts. He's been grabbing boards at a decent pace for someone who's only getting a role player's amount of minutes, but I'd love to see a lot more of Williams in the near future.
MarShon Brooks: G, New Jersey Nets
13 of 18MarShon Brooks
College: Providence
Drafted: 25th via Boston Celtics
| OPP | MIN | PTS (FG, 3PT) | REB | AST | STL | BLK |
| CLE | 13 | 0 (0-3) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ATL | 29 | 21 (8-13, 1-2 3PT) | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| ORL | 21 | 17 (7-15, 2-2 3PT) | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| ATL | 28 | 17 (5-12, 7-8 FT) | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| WSH | 8 | 6 (3-7, 0-1) | 2 |
In my initial analysis of MarShon Brooks, way before the NBA Draft, I compared him to Joe Johnson—a smooth player who's not too athletic and not lightning quick, but can put the ball in the hole in a variety of ways.
He's proven my analysis correct, but Brooks has also taken on one of Johnson's bad habits. He'll hold onto the ball for what seems like years before he takes his naturally quick, first step. Johnson can do that because he's a five-time NBA All-Star, but Brooks needs to snap out of that habit and get the ball moving around.
Still, he's been a deadly scorer for the Nets, and a very efficient free throw shooter at 85.7 percent through five games. I think he'll get the start over one-hit wonder Sundiata Gaines sometime soon.
Kemba Walker: PG, Charlotte Bobcats
14 of 18Kemba Walker
College: UConn
Drafted: 9th
| OPP | MIN | PTS (FG, 3PT) | AST | REB | STL |
| MIA | 24 | 17 (6-13,2-4 3PT) | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| ORL | 17 | 2 (1-9, 0-3 3PT) | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| MIA | 20 | 14 (6-9, 1-2 3PT) | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| MIL | 21 | 13 (3-10, 0-2 3PT) | 3 | 7 | 1 |
Kemba Walker's had a run-in with shot selection early in his rookie campaign, but when he hasn't been taking bad ones, he's been doing a very good job of running his team. Still, I expect more from a player with such high expectations.
I think as the season goes on, he'll earn the start over D.J. Augustin, and his confidence will skyrocket with it. He's already got MJ's vote of confidence, now he's just got to translate that into on-court production.
Kyrie Irving: PG, Cleveland Cavaliers
15 of 18Kyrie Irving
College: Duke
Drafted: 1st
| OPP | MIN | PTS (FG, 3PT) | AST | REB | STL | BLK |
| NJ | 28 | 13 (5-11, 3-4 3PT) | 4 | 4 | 0 | 2 |
| IND | 34 | 20 (8-19, 0-2 3PT) | 4 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| DET | 20 | 14 (5-9) | 7 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| TOR | 26 | 6 (2-12, 0-2 3PT) | 7 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
Kyrie Irving is beginning to live up to the hype that comes with a number one overall draft pick. He's still got a ways to go, but a player looking to score on a team with limited scorers is a nice thing to see.
His turnovers have steadily increased game after game, which isn't a good thing at all. Hopefully he can dial those down as the season progresses.
Ricky Rubio: PG, Minnesota T'Wolves
16 of 18Ricky Rubio
From Spain
Drafted: 1st (2009)
| OPP | MIN | PTS (FG, 3PT) | AST | REB | STL |
| DAL | 26 | 14 (4-8, 2-3 3PT) | 7 | 3 | 0 |
| MIA | 31 | 12 (4-7, 2-2 3PT) | 12 | 6 | 1 |
| MIL | 27 | 6 (2-3) | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| OKC | 26 | 6 (2-3, 0-1 3PT) | 6 | 5 | 0 |
Ricky Rubio's been everything I've expected him to be and more. He's a crafty ball handler with smooth passing abilities and great decision making skills.
Every game he's played, Rubio's shot 50 percent or better, and he's proven to be a decent shooter at four-of-six on the season. Lookout Pau Gasol, there's another Spaniard in town.
Norris Cole: PG, Miami Heat
17 of 18Norris Cole
College: Cleveland State
Drafted: 28th via Chicago
| OPP | MIN | PTS (FG) | AST | STL | REB |
| CHA | 20 | 16 (6-8) | 9 | 3 | 1 |
| MIN | 30 | 12 (6-10) | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| CHA | 17 | 5 (2-8) | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| BOS | 29 | 20 (8-16) | 4 | 3 | 4 |
| DAL | 24 | 7 (3-8, 1-1 3PT) | 0 | 1 | 2 |
Norris Cole exploded onto the scene after his 20-point against the Boston Celtics in his second-ever NBA game. He's earned steady minutes and has proven to be an integral part of the Miami Heat.
Mario Chalmers feels the fire under his feet now, because Cole is gunning for that starting PG spot, and if he keeps up his 16 and nine kind of play, Coach Spoelstra will have no choice but to make that change.
Week 1 Power Rankings
18 of 18| Player | Team | GP | MIN | FG% | STL | BLK | AST | REB | PTS | CHG | |
| 1. | G Norris Cole | MIA | 5 | 23.0 | .500 | 1.8 | 0.0 | 3.6 | 2.0 | 12.0 |  |
| 2. | G Ricky Rubio | MIN | 4 | 27.0 | .571 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 7.3 | 4.3 | 9.5 | |
| 3. | G Kyrie Irving | CLE | 4 | 27.0 | .392 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 5.5 | 2.0 | 13.3 |  |
| 4. | G Kemba Walker | CHA | 4 | 20.0 | .390 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 3.5 | 3.0 | 9.5 | --- |
| 5. | G MarShon Brooks | NJ | 5 | 19.0 | .460 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 1.0 | 3.0 | 12.2 | |
| 6. | F Derrick Williams | MIN | 4 | 19.0 | .462 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 5.5 | 7.5 | --- |
| 7. | F Tristan Thompson | CLE | 4 | 19.0 | .636 | 0.3 | 1.8 | 0.3 | 4.3 | 8.3 | |
| 8. | G Jeremy Pargo | MEM | 4 | 25.0 | .381 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 4.0 | 2.3 | 9.5 | |
| 9. | G Brandon Knight | DET | 4 | 23.0 | .463 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 12.0 | --- |
| 10. | G Jimmer Fredette | SAC | 5 | 24.0 | .370 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 2.8 | 1.0 | 8.8 | |
| 11. | F Kawhi Leonard | SAS | 4 | 18.0 | .375 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 6.0 | 5.8 | --- |
| 12. | G Chris Singleton | WSH | 4 | 21.0 | .455 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 2.5 | 3.3 | |
| 13. | G Alec Burks | UTAH | 3 | 6.0 | .615 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 6.3 | |
| 14. | F Markieff Morris | PHX | 4 | 17.0 | .611 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 4.5 | 7.8 | --- |
| 15. | F Jon Leuer | MIL | 3 | 14.0 | .636 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 4.3 | 6.0 | |
| 16. | F Josh Harrellson | NYK | 4 | 16.0 | .333 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 4.3 | 4.3 | |
| 17. | F Enes Kanter | UTAH | 4 | 15.0 | .333 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 6/0 | 5.0 | |
Thanks for reading!
Comment below and come back next week for Week 2's installment of NBA Rookie Power Rankings.
You can follow Kristian Winfield on Twitter @BriscoXCI
