10 NBA Rookies Most Likely to Make an Immediate Impact

Each of the NBA rookies showcased in this piece will be looking to make an immediate impact for his team. Jahlil Okafor of the Philadelphia 76ers did not just accomplish that goal in his pro debut. 

Okafor generated headlines and praise with his play.

The 76ers have gotten plenty wrong en route to becoming an NBA laughingstock. Philadelphia has a history of rookies either making insignificant impacts during seasons or not being able to get on the court. Okafor alone will not be a savior for the 76ers. No one player could turn this franchise into a winner. 

Okafor may, however, represent a step in the right direction for the 76ers. 

It should not be much of a surprise to anybody that Karl-Anthony Towns was solid in his NBA debut for the Minnesota Timberwolves. The young man selected first overall in the 2015 NBA draft should theoretically be the best of all of the NBA rookies this season. 

Emmanuel Mudiay of the Denver Nuggets flashed some good and some bad in his first pro game. Such up-and-down play is to be expected from NBA rookies.

And what of Kristaps Porzingis? Fans of the New York Knicks who were displeased when the Knicks drafted Porzingis have, early on, been forced to eat those criticisms. 

Talent matters as it pertains to NBA rookies being hits right out of the gate. Even more important, though, is the amount of playing time those rookies earn once regular-season play begins. We have been provided with brief looks at how teams will use NBA rookies in the final months of 2015. 

Okafor looks like the real deal. 

10. D’Angelo Russell

Enjoy the highlights from the NBA debut of D'Angelo Russell for what they are: evidence that the Los Angeles Lakers made a mistake with the handling of the rookie. 

Coach Byron Scott has already made a switch with Russell, according to Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News:

"

Scott’s experiment to feature Russell as an off-ball guard will become a one-hit wonder. Russell will start at point guard and assume ball-handling duties when the Lakers (0-1) visit the Sacramento Kings (0-1) on Friday at Sleep Train Arena.

“The one thing I have to get D’Angelo to get better at is pushing the tempo,” Scott said. “He’s probably a better decision maker even at 19 years old and it’s his rookie year. So we’ll have him on the ball right now.”

"

That is probably what is best for the second overall pick of the 2015 NBA draft. There is little reason to not pair Russell up with veteran Kobe Bryant early and often. The Lakers aren't going anywhere this season. 

Let Russell learn on the court. 

9. Raul Neto

Raul Neto is not your average NBA rookie. The 23-year-old has multiple years of professional play in Europe on his resume. Neto was in the starting lineup for the Utah Jazz versus the Detroit Pistons on October 28. 

He left little question about his toughness in the second quarter of his NBA career. 

You can see Neto roll his knee at about the 45-second mark of the included highlights. Neto was visibly in pain, and he limped to the locker room. It did not look good for the rookie or for Utah. 

Neto eased the minds of his coaching staff when he returned to the court in the second half. He even buried a three while he was wearing a supportive sleeve. 

The Jazz will be hoping to have Neto in the lineup moving forward. Neto, per Matt Payne of UtahJazz.com, ended the game against the Pistons with a team-best net rating of plus-12. He should be expected to start so long as he is healthy. 

That will give Neto a plethora of chances to make an impact for the Jazz. 

8. Myles Turner

The Indiana Pacers' drafting Myles Turner did not, at first, make a ton of sense. Indiana then dealt Roy Hibbert to the Los Angeles Lakers in the summer, a trade that opened up playing time for Turner. Turner began his first official NBA game off the bench. 

He made an impact not long after he was on the court. 

Turner's first memorable moment featured in highlights of his debut involves the rookie's stuffing JaMychal Green of the Memphis Grizzlies. Not only did the play result in a tie-up, but Turner won the subsequent tip. He brought the home crowd to their feet late in the opening quarter when he turned a rebound into an immediate two-handed dunk. 

A first-year backup center can only make such an impact early into his career. Turner will earn himself additional minutes if he continues to be a spark for the Pacers.

Nate Taylor of the Indianapolis Star took notice: "In 18 minutes, Turner scored eight points, grabbed four rebounds and blocked one shot. When he was on the floor, the Pacers outscored the Grizzlies by three points, a positive sign that (Coach Frank) Vogel appreciated from his first-round rookie."

7. Devin Booker

In the highlights for his NBA debut, the commentator refers to Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns as "perhaps the best shooter in the NBA." That's quite the advertisement for any NBA rookie. 

Booker may prove himself worthy of such high praise. 

He made his NBA debut off the bench when the Suns were getting massacred by the Dallas Mavericks. The shooter was an immediate spark for his team's offense. Booker connected on his first attempt from the field. The rookie ultimately went 6-of-7 and finished the outing with 14 points, according to ESPN.com. 

Just as impressive as Booker's shooting touch was his attitude following his debut. "First time I went out there, Coach said he was just trying to get my feet wet," Booker told reporters after the game (h/t Kentucky.com). "I knew my second opportunity in there, I was going to go as hard as possible. Whatever I have to do to help the team win is what I’m out there trying to do." 

Even if Booker remains out of the starting lineup, the shooting guard can still make an immediate impact for the Suns. 

6. Stanley Johnson

As Pat Borzi of USA Today explained, Stanley Johnson was a star for the Detroit Pistons over the summer: "Johnson dominated in Orlando Summer League play, averaging 17.8 points and shooting 64.3 percent from the field before going 3-for-10 in his final game. Johnson might be dynamic enough to force his way onto the floor for Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy."

Johnson soon learned that summer ball is not the same as real NBA action. 

He had a rough go of it in his official NBA debut against the Atlanta Hawks. Johnson went a lowly 3-of-10 from the field (h/t ESPN.com). He missed on each of his final five shots. Johnson also added a turnover to his box score. In all, Johnson ended the night with seven points after playing in just 24 minutes. 

While he again went 3-of-10 against the Utah Jazz on October 29, Johnson looked a bit more composed on the court. You can see, in his highlights against the Jazz, that Johnson scored fast-break points for Detroit on multiple occasions. He also went 4-of-4 from the charity stripe, an indication that Johnson may already be settling into becoming a pro. 

5. Mario Hezonja

Mario Hezonja was better than advertised when the Orlando Magic began the season against the Washington Wizards. Hezonja, as is evidenced in the highlights, looked confident with the ball in his first half of NBA basketball. He drained a trio of three-point attempts (h/t ESPN.com). He added an additional field goal for a total of 11 points. 

Just as important, as Connor Renfro of Orlando Magic Daily wrote, was how those around him played when Hezonja was on the court: 

"

If the eyeball test is not enough, the Magic were statistically better offensively with Hezonja on the floor.

The team scored two points per-minute with Hezonja in the game as compared to 1.6 with him sitting. Additionally, Orlando’s point differential was +0.1 per minute with Hezonja in the lineup as opposed to -0.1 per minute without him.

These numbers may not seem significant, and in a way they are not, but we are talking about a grand total of 48 minutes of total season time here and 25 minutes for Hezonja so there is in fact something here.

"

The harsh reality for the Magic is that the 2015-16 campaign will be more about improving and learning than about competing for a title. Hezonja can, of course, learn plenty as a bench player who earns minutes along the way. That is a proven method of developing athletes across multiple sports. 

One worry here, however, is that Hezonja may be able to help the Magic now. 

Keep an eye on the situation over the first few weeks of the campaign. Do not be surprised if Hezonja is given a chance to play 30-plus minutes in multiple games before the holiday season arrives. 

4. Emmanuel Mudiay

NBA rookies who are trusted to handle the basketball often during NBA games will produce both good and awful moments. That was true of Emmanuel Mudiay when he and the Denver Nuggets opened the campaign against the Houston Rockets on October 28. 

Watch highlights of the 19-year-old from his NBA debut, and you will see a confident scorer who isn't afraid to take three-point shots. There were times when Mudiay looked like an old pro in distributing the ball to teammates. He came close to opening his NBA career with a double-double. 

As the Elias Sports Bureau (h/t ESPN.com) explained, Mudiay's good came with plenty of bad: 

"

Mudiay, who started in the backcourt, scored 17 points and handed out nine assists, but turned the ball over 11 times, the most for any player in his NBA debut since the league began tracking turnovers for individual players in the 1977-78 season. The previous turnover high for a player in his first NBA game was eight, by the Clippers' Gary Grant (1988), Orlando's Shaquille O'Neal (1992) and Philadelphia's Jahlil Okafor (earlier Wednesday night).

"

Mudiay will likely serve as a reminder that "instant impacts" from NBA rookies can be minuses as well as pluses. 

One thing made clear in his first NBA game is that the Nuggets intend on putting Mudiay through a trial by fire. He is going to make errors, forced and unforced, when learning what to expect from NBA defenses. There will be nights when Mudiay frustrates Denver fans. You should also expect him to be an effective offensive general as he was against the Rockets. 

3. Kristaps Porzingis

Casual followers of the NBA should find it easy to root for Kristaps Porzingis. The New York Knicks were ridiculed by fans and analysts when the team drafted Porzingis. New York supporters in attendance at the 2015 NBA draft booed and jeered when the Porzingis selection was announced.

He is quickly turning those jeers to cheers. 

Porzingis, as can be seen in the highlights of his NBA debut, was aggressive as an offensive weapon. Nine of the 16 points that Porzingis scored against the Milwaukee Bucks came from the free-throw line (h/t ESPN.com). In total, he ended his NBA debut with 16 points and five rebounds in 24 minutes.

As Scott Davis of Business Insider (via Yahoo) wrote, Porzingis may not be as much a project as some first believed.

"

With a slender 7-foot-3 frame, Porzingis, who was 19 when he was drafted, would need time to add muscle, gain weight, and figure out his role in the NBA, considering his diverse skill set.

Two games into his career, however, Porzingis looks far more ready than anyone expected. While he is still raw and figuring his way around the court, he is averaging 13 points (only 33% shooting) and six rebounds, and he has two blocks.

"

Expectations for the 2015-16 Knicks are understandably low. The Knicks are not a season away from contending alongside the likes of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat. Unless he falls flat on his face at some point in November, Porzingis should be given opportunities to be an impact player. 

Let him learn on the court, New York. It's what is best for your future. 

2. Karl-Anthony Towns

The first overall pick of any NBA draft should have the goods to make an immediate impact for his team. Karl-Anthony Towns did not disappoint the Timberwolves when Minnesota faced the Lakers in Los Angeles on October 28. Towns, in fact, outperformed D'Angelo Russell in front of a national television audience. 

As Marino Eccher of the Pioneer Press explained, Towns made some team history in his debut: "To begin with, he did at least one thing no Wolves rookie has done before in recording a double-double in his first game. He was also one of just 32 rookies over the past three decades to do so (that's as far back as Basketball-Reference.com tracks the stat)."

Towns, per Eccher, finished the evening with 14 points and 10 rebounds in 32 minutes of action.  

As was explained in the game highlights, it was the Minnesota second team that kept the 'Wolves in the game against the Lakers. Regardless of which unit is on the court for Minnesota, Towns should see significant playing time. Center Nikola Pekovic is recovering from ankle surgery. Respected veteran Kevin Garnett is more a mentor than he is an All-Star these days. 

Towns will have plenty of chances to make an impact during the first few months of the NBA season. 

1. Jahlil Okafor

Jahlil Okafor did not just silence some critics when the Philadelphia 76ers faced the Boston Celtics on October 28. Okafor, per Derek Bodner of PhillyMag.com, put on a performance for the record books:

"

The 26 points Okafor scored was a historic output for an NBA debut. It was the third most points scored by a Sixers player making his NBA debut in franchise history, behind only Allen Iverson (30 points) and Jerry Stackhouse (27). It was the second most points scored by a center making his NBA debut since the start of the 1963-64 season, trailing only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's 29. He was the first player, at any position, to score at least 26 points in their NBA debut since 2002, and his 26 points were the second highest total by a teenager making his NBA debut since the start of the 1963-64 season, behind only the 30 Lamar Odom scored.

"

Okafor added seven rebounds and a pair of blocked shots in the losing effort. 

Some might want to point out that the 76ers were blown out by the Celtics in this game. The 112-95 scoreline may have been generous to the 76ers, all things considered. No reasonable person should think, after one game, that Okafor is carrying Philadelphia anywhere near a title. 

He at least gives fans a reason to watch the 76ers as fall turns to winter. 

Where you would rank Okafor in this list depends on your definition of "immediate impact." Those expecting Okafor to turn Philadelphia around before Christmastime will be disappointed. Fans hoping to see some promise for the future of the 76ers should, however, be excited about what Okafor could bring to the table.