Early NBA Rookie of the Year Rankings

Last year the Rookie of the Year Award in the NBA was by and large a runaway. Blake Griffin grabbed a hold of it early on and never really gave John Wall a chance to challenge for it.

This season, however, looks to be a much closer race as the field is much more bunched up than in years past.

Chalk it up to a lack of star power or the need for more player development near the top of this rookie class, but things are jumbled up among the leading contenders.

It seems likely to me that there could be four or five different guys with a shot at this award come April, and there are plenty of guys who are capable of grabbing it.

Right now we are still trying to sort everything out to figure out who is going to be in the running and who is just off to a hot start. So without further ado, here's your Top 10 rookies so far.

10. Kemba Walker

Growing pains were expected with Kemba Walker coming into the season, especially with his size, but he hasn't struggled any more than any of the taller point guards in this year's rookie class.

Walker has been very up and down over the past three games, as he went from scoring two points against Orlando to 17 against Miami and then two again against Cleveland.

Still, he's averaged nearly 10 points a game to go along with three assists coming off the bench, which is pretty good given his situation.

9. Derrick Williams

The world has been enamored with Minnesota's other rookie too much to be paying too much attention to Derrick Williams, but he's been doing just fine so far.

He isn't getting the starting spot at this point, but that could change soon as Michael Beasly has a finger injury that hasn't slowed him down yet, but could take a few minutes away from him.

Williams has averaged just over seven points a game to go along with 4.6 rebounds, one steal and a .517 field-goal percentage

8. Jeremy Pargo

Easily the biggest surprise early on is the emergence of Jeremy Pargo out in Memphis.

After going undrafted in 2009, Pargo spent two years in Europe before he was able to get a job here in the states. Now that Greivis Vasquez is gone and Mike Conley injured, he's starting for the Grizzlies.

Pargo is doing just fine scoring and running the point for Memphis, as he has started the only game that they've won (although he was also starting in their beatdown via Chicago).

However, now that Conley is starting to come back, Pargo isn't going to be getting as much playing time as shown by last night's win over the Spurs.

7. Jimmer Fredette

The Jimmer train has rolled into Sacramento and it's hard to say exactly what we've learned so far about the Scorin' Mormon.

Jimmer has been pretty up and down so far this season, but has two double-digit scoring games to his credit and is now averaging just a shade under nine points a game.

Jimmer had another one of his "up" games last night as he put up 17 points against the Grizzlies and shot 50 percent throughout the game.

The only problem is that he's probably the most defensively deficient player in the Top 10.

6. Tristan Thompson

Tristan Thompson's production isn't going to lead to monster numbers early on, but it's been easy to tell that he's made an impact on the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Thompson is averaging just over 10 points a game and is shooting an impressive 56 percent, making him seem far better on offense than once thought.

His game, however, is defined by defense. He's averaging five rebounds and nearly two blocks a game in just 20 minutes of play, which paired with his physical presence makes him a great addition to Cleveland so far.

5. Norris Cole

In six games, Cole has reached double-digits in scoring four times and shot his team out of reach during a Boston Celtics comeback.

It's hard not to be impressed with the young fellow from Cleveland State when you see that he's averaging 11 points a game and shooting 51 percent, but I guess that's what happens when you play on a team with three All-Stars.

4. Brandon Knight

Brandon Knight has found himself in a difficult place up in Detroit, as their front office seems to be living in the past whilst simultaneously trying to move into the future (that can't work, can it?). 

However, Knight has been able to average 11 points and three assists coming off the bench behind Rodney Stuckey, and has potentially the best game of any rookie so far with a 23-point, six-assist night against the Cavaliers.

3. MarShon Brooks

This is the guy that Boston Celtics fans should be lamenting over. They could have held onto Brooks when they drafted him in July, but they ended up shipping him away for JaJuan Johnson and a future second rounder.

Now, Brooks is hanging out in New Jersey looking like a steal of a pick near the lower half of the draft as he puts up nearly 14 points and four rebounds a night.

2. Ricky Rubio

La Pistola is running around Minnesota (something I thought I'd never see) and looking like a legitimate NBA point guard (something I thought I'd never say). 

Rubio is one of two rookies to have recorded a double-double at this point with his 12-point, 12-assist affair against the Heat (Jorts has the other).

Rubio is having his good days and bad days like every other rookie, but he's shooting great overall at 51 percent and actually has a jumper, contrary to what we were told for the past few years. However, his lack of defense is only surpassed by Jimmer Fredette, but what are you gonna do?

1. Kyrie Irving

Of all the rookies out there getting their feet in the water, none mean more to their team than Kyrie Irving.

Irving has started all five games for the Cavaliers at the point and has done well in every game save his debut.

He's up to averaging 14.6 points to go along with 5.6 assists. four rebounds, one steal and nearly a block a game. He's also been playing some nice defense and has bumped his shooting up to 45 percent after a great game last night.

Kyrie is your Rookie of the Year if the season ended today, but it isn't so clear-cut that we won't have to keep an eye out on these guys as the season rolls along.

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