2016-17 NBA Rookies Who Are Already Making Us Rewrite Their Scouting Reports
Five NBA rookies have already surprised with unexpected skills or ability.
Thus, their scouting reports out of college (or from overseas) now look outdated. These first-year players have quickly improved a specific aspect of their games or added something new, and it's led to early minutes, production and hope.
One rookie's offensive attack looks completely different than it did last season, and it's allowed him to fit right in and fill a specific hole in his team's rotation. And all of these guys are doing things most said they wouldn't or couldn't—at least not this early in their careers.
Domantas Sabonis (Oklahoma City Thunder, PF)
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Biggest Change to Scouting Report: Shooting and defense
No player has changed his identity more or faster than Domantas Sabonis. Since 2014, he's gone from freshman energizer to sophomore post scorer to the Oklahoma City Thunder's new starting stretch 4.
Last year's breakout was mostly a result of Sabonis emerging as a go-to, back-to-the-basket option. He'd sharpened his footwork, moves and touch, while added counters. He did flash extended shooting range, though the 22 total perimeter shots he made, per DraftExpress' Mike Schmitz.
But that still didn't help forecast Sabonis' speedy transformation.
He's already hit 15 three-pointers through 11 games, which is more than Buddy Hield (14), who notched 147 last year compared to Sabonis' five. Of the latter's first 31 made NBA field goals, 19 have come on jump shots.
The improved jumper is a significant development when you consider his lack of explosiveness and length, weaknesses that raised questions concerning his ability to stay efficient at the pro rim.
He's even looked better guarding away from the basket, showing the lateral quickness to stay attached defensively in face-up situations. It didn't seem likely Sabonis had the chance to become a plus defender, but early success has changed that perception.
Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers, C)
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Biggest Change to Scouting Report: Perimeter scoring
When Joel Embiid took the nation by storm as a freshman at Kansas, he did so mostly with flashes of advanced post moves. He attempted just 11 jumpers the entire season, per DraftExpress' Matt Kamalsky, and finished the year with one three-point make and a 68.5 percent clip from the free-throw line.
Fast forward through two lost seasons to injury and through his first six NBA games, and now his shot chart looks fairly different from the one he produced in 2013-14.
He's gone 7-of-14 from three, 12-of-25 in the mid-range and 39-of-49 (79.6 percent) on foul shots. He already looks comfortable behind the arc and potent when rising and firing in the mid-range—a scary development when you consider that his elite post-scoring potential remains on track.
Ironically, he's had some trouble early on converting at the rim (46.5 percent inside five feet), where he finished at a 76.3 percent clip in college, per Hoop-Math.com. But Embiid has mixed an old-school, back-to-the-basket game with new-school stretch offense to immediately become one of the most versatile scoring threats at the position.
Malcolm Brogdon (Milwaukee Bucks, SG)
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Biggest Change to Scouting Report: Point guard play
35 players were drafted before Malcolm Brogdon, who currently ranks top-five among rookies in scoring, assists and steals.
Despite all of his college success and production, along with a strong 215-pound frame and high basketball IQ, there was skepticism surrounding his transition to the pros due to a lack of explosiveness, quickness and one signature skill to lean on. To stick in the NBA, it seemed he'd have to do so as a three-and-D shooting guard, given the fact he's not a blow-by playmaker.
So far, those early projections have looked off.
Averaging 5.7 assists per 40 minutes after dishing out 3.6 per 40 (a career high at Virginia) as a senior, Brogdon has managed to compensate for limited shiftiness and speed with terrific decision-making, which the Milwaukee Bucks have valued in a backup point guard role. He's delivering the right passes and ultimately dishing out dimes, even without an exciting off-the-dribble game.
And though he's only making 31.3 percent of his triples, he's still finding ways to score within the offense by taking what the defense gives him and moving without the ball. He'll look like an even bigger steal once he starts consistently knocking down open threes.
Dragan Bender (Phoenix Suns, PF)
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Biggest Change to Scouting Report: Defense and center play
Known more for his offensive versatility and skills overseas, Dragan Bender has quickly established himself as defensive asset with the Phoenix Suns.
He's even getting minutes at center, a position his perceived lack of strength suggested he wouldn't be able to play. Bender has held his own down low, shown off his coveted foot speed in pick-and-roll coverage/closeouts and looked alert off the ball in terms of rotations.
"Defense is just a will," he told the Arizona Republic's Paul Coro. "It’s just a matter if you want to play it or not. You have to follow the coaches’ instructions about how you’re going to defend those teams. It doesn’t matter if you’re weak or have less muscles than those guys, you just have to fight with them for better position and get them out of there.”
Offensively, not much has changed with regard to the scouting report: Through his first eight games, he's taken more threes (14) than two-pointers (13) and has showcased shooting range and the ability to put the ball on the floor or score off one foot.
But if Bender can move to the 5 and give the Suns both rim protection and perimeter defense, he'd become valuable, regardless of whether his offense takes off or not.
Pascal Siakam (Toronto Raptors, PF/C)
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Biggest Change to Scouting Report: NBA-readiness
For Pascal Siakam, it's not so much the scouting report that's changed—it's his NBA-ready timetable.
During two years at New Mexico State, he'd played just three games against Power Five programs. Heavily reliant on his physical tools and athleticism there, Siakam went No. 27 in the draft but has quickly emerged as a contributor in the Toronto Raptors' lineup.
Shooting 52.5 percent and averaging 10.6 points and 8.2 rebounds per 36 minutes, Siakam has played to his strengths and produced. He's given Kyle Lowry a pick-and-roll target and Toronto's frontcourt a transition rim-runner and interior activity.
It's a tiny sample size, but he's also knocked in four jumpers outside 15 feet, an intriguing sign of shooting potential.
Having gone late in the first round and played against subpar NCAA competition, Siakam didn't look like a rookie expected to make much noise. He's now one of a handful with a 2016-17 rotation spot.
Advanced statistics via NBA.com unless otherwise noted.
