| RANK | ROOKIE | RUNDOWN | RECENT |
| 1 |  |
MICHAEL CARTER-WILLIAMS, G, PHILADELPHIA: His 15.0 points and 6.8 assists in four games obscured a bad shooting week in which he made just 21-of-61 shots, knocking down his season mark to a barely acceptable .401. The Sixers are bad any way you slice it but just 4-9 when he scores 20 points or more. | 1 |
| 2 |  |
TREY BURKE, G, UTAH: Played just two games this week and averaged a pedestrian 10.0 points and 6.0 assists. However, the Jazz won both games and are 15-15 in their last 30 games with the kid on the handle. At .906 from the line, would be third in the NBA if he qualified. | 2 |
| 3 |  |
VICTOR OLADIPO, G, ORLANDO: Scoring in double figures in all four games, averaging 16.0 points and getting to the line 21 times. Had one of his best all-around games of the season in a rare win over the Lakers with 15 points, a season-high 12 rebounds and five assists. | 3 |
| 4 |  |
TIM HARDAWAY JR., G, NEW YORK: Wow. Averaged 14.7 points on 16-of-30 shooting – including 8-of-15 from the arc – as he helped the Knicks snap out of a mini-funk and put together three straight wins. Still oozing confidence but has reclaimed the rhythm that first landed him here in December. | 7 |
| 5 |  |
GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO, G-F, MILWAUKEE: Averaged 7.3 points and 4.5 boards in four games. Our sleeper pick as the player most likely to use the Rising Stars to vault into the public’s consciousness. Plus we’d like to force Kevin Harlan to say his last name as many times as possible. | 5 |
| 6 |  |
KELLY OLYNYK, F-C, BOSTON: His 6.0 points and 4.8 rebounds in four games this week is pretty much where he has been all season, and often finds other ways to help by running the floor, making the extra pass or taking a charge. Something tells me he will play more after the trade deadline. | 8 |
| 7 |  |
BEN MCLEMORE, G, SACRAMENTO: Someone had to take the shots belonging to the injured DeMarcus Cousins and Rudy Gay, and McLemore responded with 18 points vs. Denver and 14 vs. Utah, hoisting 12 in each game. Now that he has sneaked back into the table, he has to find a way to stay here. | – |
| 8 |  |
RYAN KELLY, F, LA LAKERS: Still starting and still scoring, at 9.3 points for four games this week. Of course, the banged-up Lakers are still losing. Overmatched at the defensive end on a seemingly nightly basis, which means he fits right in with a Mike D’Antoni team. | 10 |
| 9 |  |
HOLLIS THOMPSON, F, PHILADELPHIA: Welcome back. Has continued to plug away and finally snapped out of a month-long funk that saw him held to single digits in 15 of 17 games. Has averaged 8.0 points and 3.8 rebounds while making 24-of-39 shots in his last eight games. | – |
| 10 |  |
PERO ANTIC, C, ATLANTA: Selection for Rising Stars may be wishful thinking by the league. The timetable for his foot stress fracture was two to four weeks, and he has only missed one week thus far. Has been a pleasant surprise but can’t stay in the table if he doesn’t play. | 4 |
DROPOUTS: Tony Snell, G Chicago (6); C.J. McCollum, G, Portland (9).
FIVE TO WATCH: Steven Adams, C, Oklahoma City; Anthony Bennett, F, Cleveland; Nick Calathes, G, Memphis; Phil Pressey, G, Boston; Cody Zeller, C, Charlotte.
OTHER RANKINGS: MVP | Most Improved | Sixth Man | Power
Chris Bernucca is the managing editor of SheridanHoops.com. His columns appear Monday during the season. You can follow him on Twitter.
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