| RANK | ROOKIE | RUNDOWN | RECENT |
| 1 |  |
MICHAEL CARTER-WILLIAMS, G, PHILADELPHIA: His 12 double-doubles are one more than Burke and Oladipo combined. (Win a game, kid.) His two triple-doubles are one more than all rookies combined. (Just win a game.) And he still leads all rooks in points, rebounds and assists. (Can you please just win one game?) | 1 |
| 2 |  |
VICTOR OLADIPO, G, ORLANDO: Returned from his ankle injury to average 13.5 points in a pair of games. In four meetings with the Sixers this season, he averaged 17.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 3.0 steals, all well above his season norms. | 2 |
| 3 |  |
TREY BURKE, G, UTAH: Jazz were 6-2 when he scored 20 or more points until this week, when he went for 23 and 20 in losses to Atlanta and Dallas. Among qualified rookies, he’s first in free-throw percentage and sixth in 3-point shooting but just 16th in overall shooting (.376). | 3 |
| 4 |  |
TIM HARDAWAY JR., G, NEW YORK: Only rookie in the top four in a playoff push and doing his part with 50 points on 16-of-24 shooting (8-of-12 threes) in last two games. The Knicks are just 3-4 when he goes for 20 or more, but that’s actually better than their overall winning percentage. | 4 |
| 5 |  |
PERO ANTIC, F-C, ATLANTA: Has scored in double figures in all four games since his return, averaging 12.0 points and 3.8 rebounds while shooting 9-of-20 from the arc, where he leads all rookies. If undersized Hawks somehow hold onto East’s eighth seed, he may be the reason. | 10 |
| 6 |  |
KELLY OLYNYK, F-C, BOSTON: After four straight games in double figures, managed just seven points on 3-of-14 shooting in last two outings. He could snag the last spot on the All-Rookie Team if the Celtics just folded the tent already and gave him a steady 30 minutes a game. | 5 |
| 7 |  |
BEN McLEMORE, G, SACRAMENTO: Returns to the table following one of his better weeks of the season. In four games, he averaged 27.8 minutes and 11.5 points on 18-of-34 shooting, including 7-of-17 from the arc. Averaging 9.6 points on 51 percent shooting in March, his best month yet. | – |
| 8 |  |
NATE WOLTERS, G, MILWAUKEE: Another player trying to finish strong. Averaged 10.0 points while making 17-of-33 shots in four games and committed just two turnovers against 10 assists. His 9.3 points and 54 percent shooting in March also are season-bests. | – |
| 9 |  |
CODY ZELLER, C, CHARLOTTE: Also on a team in a playoff push, but not as prominent or productive as Hardaway. Still, averaged 5.0 points and 5.5 rebounds in 16.5 minutes over four games this week as Bobcats won three times. One of just three rookies yet to miss a game. | 7 |
| 10 |  |
GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO, F, MILWAUKEE: Aside from Jason Collins, is there any player who does less and is adored more by a fawning media? Here’s his averages for the last six games: 22.8 minutes, 4.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists while shooting 9-of-32. Do something tangible! | 6 |
DROPOUTS: Mason Plumlee, C, Brooklyn (8); Nick Calathes, G, Memphis (9).
FIVE TO WATCH: Ryan Kelly, F, LA Lakers; Ray McCallum, G, Sacramento; C.J. McCollum, G, Portland; Phil Pressey, G, Boston; Dennis Schroder, G, Atlanta.
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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No Mason Plumlee in the top 10. 1) Highest Rookie PER by wide margin (17.57 vs MCW = 15.03) 2) started last 7 games w Kevin Garnett OUT, team is 5-1 with Plumlee starting, including against NBA elite Heat, etc. 3) plays and contributing on a playoff team full of vets.
There should be a “handicap” based on how bad the team is for ROY award. If Plumlee were on Philadelphia he’d be at least in top 3 consideration (but probably would not have developed without KG’s tutelage and is probably far happier playing playoff basketball vs in tank mode).
Mik,
I LOVE Plumlee. Guys just had better weeks. It is a week to week piece that factors in how players have done this season, which is why Plumlee, McLemore, Wolters drift in and out – they don’t sustain it. I also agree that being on a better team should count more than it does in ROY voting but that historically hasn’t been the case. As bad as Sixers as MCW is scoring 4 ppg more than any other rookie, which should count for something. Thanks for reading. CB
thanks Chris – watching him outplay his brother right now – can’t imagine him not in next week – will check back!