| RANK | ROOKIE | RUNDOWN | RECENT |
| 1 |  |
DAMIAN LILLARD, G, PORTLAND: Rode the rookie rollercoaster through Florida with a 1-of-16 – with a season-high 12 assists – at Orlando followed by 33 points at Miami. But the Blazers are skidding again with five straight losses and fair or not, it’s on the point guard to fix it. | 1 |
| 2 |  |
ANTHONY DAVIS, F-C, NEW ORLEANS: Ended an awful four-game stretch with 21 points and 11 boards in a win over Lillard’s Blazers. Had been 5-of-24 in his previous three games, including an inexcusable 0-of-7 at Detroit. Shouldn’t we expect more consistency from the top overall pick? | 2 |
| 3 |  |
DION WAITERS, G, CLEVELAND: May have had his best game of the season with 20 points and a late go-ahead bucket in Wednesday’s loss to the Spurs. Even though the threes have stopped falling, he is shooting above 50 percent this month and is getting better as season goes along, a good sign. | 4 |
| 4 |  |
KYLE SINGLER, F, DETROIT: Is he getting a second wind? Averaged 12.8 points on 48 percent shooting with 6.0 rebounds in helping the Pistons to a 3-1 week. Minutes are up since the trade and he is taking advantage of the opportunity. How is he not in the Rising Stars game? | 6 |
| 5 |  |
BRADLEY BEAL, G, WASHINGTON: Gotta love his attitude. You know his taped wrist hurts and negatively impacts his stats, but his team is playing pretty well and he wants to be part of it. Playing starter’s minutes off the bench and dropped a season-high 28 on Milwaukee’s defenseless backcourt. | 7 |
| 6 |  |
HARRISON BARNES, F, GOLDEN STATE: Alternating good offensive games with disappearing acts, part of the reason Warriors have lost five in a row. Has 24 free throws in his last seven games after managing 25 in his previous 14. Also spent a portion of his week as a fashion plate, kind of. | 5 |
| 7 |  |
ANDREW NICHOLSON, F, ORLANDO: By far his best week of the season as he averaged 15.0 points on 61 percent shooting with 6.3 rebounds. Splitting the power forward minutes with fellow rookie Kyle O’Quinn, who also hasn’t been bad of late. | – |
| 8 |  |
TYLER ZELLER, C, CLEVELAND: Took just five shots over three games before going for 16 with nine boards and four assists vs. Duncan, Splitter and Spurs. For the week, averaged 2.0 points per shot – one of our favorite stats – with 27 rebounds and 18 free throws. Welcome back. | – |
| 9 |  |
JONAS VALANCIUNAS, C, TORONTO: Had consecutive double-doubles for the second time this season and averaged 11.0 points, 10.3 boards and 2.0 blocks in three games until foul-trouble donut in New York. Can still make something of his season and appears motivated to do so. | – |
| 10 |  |
ANDRE DRUMMOND, F-C, DETROIT: Out four to six weeks with a fractured vertebra, an alarming injury for a 19-year-old with serious upside. Will exit the table next week leading all rookies in rebounding (7.5) and PER (22.49). Don’t be shocked if he doesn’t play again until October. | 3 |
DROPOUTS: Alexey Shved, G, Minnesota (8); Jeffery Taylor, G-F, Charlotte (9); Moe Harkless, F, Orlando (10).
FIVE TO WATCH: Jae Crowder, F, Dallas; John Jenkins, G, Atlanta; Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, F, Charlotte; Arnett Moultrie, F, Philadelphia; Alexey Shved, G, Minnesota.
PREVIOUS RANKINGS: Rookie | Power | Most Improved | MVP | Sixth Man
Chris Bernucca is the deputy editor of SheridanHoops.com. His columns appear Monday during the season. You can follow him on Twitter.
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Cant disagree here. I might not have Barnes so high. I continue to point out Barnes bad defense. And its why he doesnt get more minutes. If he is one here, its in the bottom slot. No way he is ahead of Zeller or Nicholson, or even Valanciunus. Jeff Taylor probably deserves it as much as barnes because Taylor DOES play D. Over all, aside from that, this seems about right. One final note….MKG had a rough week………but man, he plays for such an awful team and part of it is simply trying too hard. Its understandable.
I know he was concussed, but MKG in single digits in 13 straight games, way off his early season production. Too many others playing pretty well. Thanks for reading, enjoy ASG