NBA Power Rankings: Blake Griffin and the 15 Rookies With the Brightest Futures
Blake Griffin has jumped onto the basketball scene this season with his frequent appearances on Sportscenter's Top 10 Plays as well as his great athleticism.
The former Oklahoma Sooner, and so many other first-years, have made significant impacts during the 2010-11 season.
I will take a gander at the 15 players I see making a big splash in the NBA for years to come.
Of the following players five are regular starters, four of them averaging double digits for their respective clubs.
While the top four might be obvious in the eyes of basketball fans, the rest of the list is quite unpredictable.
With all that in mind, I hope you enjoy, and I would like some constructive feedback!
15. Nikola Pekovic, Minnesota Timberwolves
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When you talk about rookies who are producing, Nikola Pekovic has to come up.
The Serbian is averaging 5.2 points and 3.2 boards in just over 13 minutes per game this season for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
He is basically a poor man's version of teammate Darko Milicic, and someday may earn himself a starting role if he keeps up the solid work. He has indeed done a great job filling in for Darko, and I wouldn't be surprised if he takes his talents elsewhere for the 2011-12 season.
14. Gary Forbes, Denver Nuggets
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Gary Forbes, the second oldest guy on this list at the ripe age of 25 (his birthday is next Saturday, the 26th), is suddenly making a quiet impact in the Rocky Mountains which is going largely unnoticed.
The former Minuteman from UMass has put up 4.7 points in just a slim 11.2 minutes per game.
Give this guy more playing time and the 6'7" small forward could make Denver fans quickly forget about dealing 'Melo!
13. Greivis Vasquez, Memphis Grizzlies
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A college basketball legend at Maryland, the Memphis Grizzlies' Greivis Vasquez narrowly makes this list because he already has shown poise at the professional level despite being a rook.
The 6'6" point guard needs work on his shot, hitting only just below 37 percent of attempts from the field in 51 contests this season.
Even though he is 32nd in scoring for first-years with a 3.4 clip, the 24-year-old has a nice passing touch, and has dished out 2.3 assists per this year.
For now he is playing behind Mike Conley, who is making a name for himself in Memphis, and might not get a chance for a while, otherwise he'd be up for higher consideration on this ranking.
12. Jordan Crawford, Atlanta Hawks
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Believe this selection or not; Atlanta's Jordan Crawford makes the bottom tier of this list.
Like Nikola Pekovic, Crawford, who usually plays only when Joe Johnson's butt is on the bench, is making the most out of his limited but precious time.
He is averaging 4.2 points in just 10 minutes per game, a sign that he already is up to taking numerous shots during Atlanta's battles. This shows why the 22-year-old former Xavier Musketeer has himself a bright future in the NBA.
11. Eric Bledsoe, Los Angeles Clippers
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Other than his Kentucky teammate John Wall, Eric Bledsoe is the best passer on this list.
Although currently playing behind the gritty veteran Baron Davis on the depth chart, Bledsoe is still making plays for L.A.'s other NBA franchise.
3.8 assists to go with 6.5 points per game might just make the Clips want to ship Davis elsewhere, therefore creating a permanent spot in the starting lineup for the former Wildcat.
10. Ed Davis, Toronto Raptors
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Playing behind Amir Johnson, Ed Davis is having a decent rookie season in Toronto.
Averaging better than six points and nearly seven rebounds (fourth among all rookies), the North Carolina product also is swatting more than one shot per game. He is doing this all the while shooting 59 percent from the floor.
I can see Davis putting up 12 and 10 rebounds if he started and played more than 22 minutes per game, and his potential is through the roof.
9. Evan Turner, Philadelphia 76ers
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Evan Turner is making a big impact in the City of Brotherly Love, where he is putting up better than seven points and four rebounds every night.
He is shooting just 40 percent from the field, not a bad number once you realize he is shooting a paltry 27 percent from beyond the arc. He nails 80 percent of freebies, tops on this here list.
He is a very under-appreciated player for the Sixers, and he can easily earn playing time if Philly sends Andre Iguodala and his contract elsewhere.
8. Greg Monroe, Detroit Pistons
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The truth is out: Greg Monroe is playing some solid basketball for the otherwise dismal and aging Detroit Pistons.
The 6'11" Georgetown product is averaging 7.3 points and 6.4 rebounds, which puts him in fifth among rookies.
His defensive skills have been better than expected, and he is snatching nearly one steal per game in just 24 minutes of action.
For now, he waits—and by "waits" I mean plays hard.
7. Paul George, Indiana Pacers
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Paul George has recovered from injury so well that the Indiana Pacers have used him considerably more since his return.
Although he is averaging 8.3 points and 3.3 rebounds in 18 minutes, his last three games have been a different story; now the 6'8" Fresno State product has put 12, 5.3, and 28 in those same departments.
Crazy increases there, huh?
The future looks very bright for this Pacer, and with his increased playing time and efficiency, comes a higher spot on the countdown. Additionally, Indiana is actually winning!
6. Wes Johnson, Minnesota Timberwolves
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Wesley Johnson is already becoming a veteran of the starting lineup, having had his name announced in the dark 39 times.
Johnson's play isn't flashy or electric, but he is showing prowess in his rookie season, putting 8.9 on the scoreboard, while shooting a decent 36 percent from downtown.
Now if only Johnson could lead the T'Wolves to some wins or dunk like he did in the first game of the year.
Look for the Wolves to possibly send him to greener pastures in the upcoming summer. He will be prime trade bait for the Pups.
5. Landry Fields, New York Knicks
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Already a household name in the city that never sleeps, Landry Fields has started all 53 games he has participated in this year.
He is third in minutes (32.5) and rebounds (7.1) and fourth in points (10) among all rookies, and he is shooting a guard-spectacular 51.5 percent from the hardwood.
The Big Apple's starting small forward is one main reason why the Knicks are becoming perennial playoff contenders once more.
Simply put, the Stanford alum is a great player through half a season, and will continue to grow while playing (and starting) for the Knicks. That is, unless the Carmelo Anthony trade takes him to Denver.
4. Gary Neal, San Antonio Spurs
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Gary Neal, who at age 26 is the geezer of the list and has shown some great potential for the NBA's best team, the San Antonio Spurs.
Neal's 8.7 points and 2.5 rebounds per game are astounding considering who he plays with and whom he plays behind on Gregg Poppovich's depth chart in George Hill and Manu Ginobili.
He shoots 40 percent from downtown and 80 percent from the charity stripe as well. Not too shabby, Gary.
He has yet to start a game this year, but as the other Spurs continue to age, his efficiency and play-making abilities will soar through the ceiling.
3. DeMarcus Cousins, Sacramento Kings
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DeMarcus Cousins's numbers are seemingly ignored because of the Sacramento Kings' last-place standing in the Western Conference.
His 14.0 points per game average is third among the freshmen of the NBA, and his rebounding averaging takes the silver medal with an 8.2 per game clip.
In his last eight games Cousins has been crashing the boards extra hard, grabbing 11.5 per game, an astounding statistic for the 6'11" rookie out of Kentucky.
Watch out for the regular starter now that he is averaging near 32 minutes per game during the month of February.
His potential is sky high, and with a little work on his game, he can become one of the best power forwards in the sport.
2. John Wall, Washington Wizards
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Everybody was doing the John Wall Dance last year when he led the Kentucky Wildcats to the Elite Eight.
Now he is quickly becoming one of the NBA's best at the point guard position, and in his first season, he is impressing scouts with his energetic play, play-making and athleticism.
He is averaging crazy numbers in 14.7 points, 9.1 assists, and 4.2 rebounds per game. His scoring average is second among rookies, while his assists and rebounds clips are first and seventh, respectively.
Wall will be a mainstay in the NBA for years to come, and some argue he has the potential to be one of the best points ever, and I would have to agree with them.
The only thing he can do now is win, something the Wiz haven't come by often this season, especially when playing away from our nation's capital.
Make no mistake though—don't mess with John Wall.
1. Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers
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Wasn't this obvious from the start?
Blake Griffin and his dunks take the top spot in this list.
The second-year "rookie" rode the bench last season in a Barney Stinson-like fashion, sporting only suits before ever taking the court.
This year, the Clippers are glad that the wait was worth it.
His 22.7 points (best among rookies), 12.7 rebounds (good for fourth in the league), and 3.5 assists per game speak for themselves. This 6'10" high-flyer is the real deal and will be a mainstay in the NBA spotlight for years to come.
Don't even get me started on the Rookie of the Year—there is no chance anybody but him wins it.
Griffin was recently voted as the only rookie to play in the 2011 NBA All-Star Game, a battle that will take place on his very home floor, the Staples Center.
Blake Griffin has the potential to be the best power forward the league has seen since Tim Duncan, but then again, so do many other young fours. The point is that he easily has the brightest futures of any star appearing on this list.
