Meanwhile, our top two candidates continue to dominate as they lead their draft class with all-round ability.
NBA Rookie of the Year 2021: Current Top 5 power rankings for award
#1 LaMelo Ball
LaMelo Ball keeps his place atop our Power Rankings for NBA Rookie of the Year after a stellar performance against Eastern Conference heavyweights - the Milwaukee Bucks - on Saturday.
Ball came off the Charlotte bench to score 27 points, 9 assists, and 5 rebounds, proving that the Hornets were right to put their faith in the 19-year old’s all-round ability.
LaMelo Ball’s hard work paid off and earned him a call-up to the starting five when Charlotte traveled to Miami, in which he put up 14 points and 7 assists.
Ball has impressed in all aspects of his game and has become one of Charlotte’s primary providers, averaging 6 assists off the bench to go along with his 1.4 steals on the defensive end.
It will take some effort to knock the Hornets guard off our top place in the NBA rookie of the Year rankings.
#2 Tyrese Haliburton
Tyrese Haliburton also maintains his position in our power rankings for NBA Rookie of the Year. Another young star who has enjoyed coming off the Kings’ bench, Haliburton, is averaging 11 points, 5.4 assists, and 1.1 steals.
In a side where young talent is very much the focus, Haliburton has been thriving and has thus increased his chances of becoming the NBA Rookie of the Year.
Falling to 12th in the draft pick, the point guard has been proving critics wrong, securing his first double-double with 10 points and 11 assists in the win over the Raptors.
With 45 seconds remaining in a one-point game against Toronto this week, Haliburton let loose a three - from which range he has been averaging over 40% - to increase the Kings’ lead to 4.
#3 Immanuel Quickley
Immanuel Quickley’s odds to win the NBA Rookie of the Year accolade skyrocketed this week, after the Knicks guard scored 25 points against both the Cleveland Cavaliers and the LA Clippers off the bench.
His impressive scoring performances have increased his season averages, with the 21-year-old now averaging 12.6 points and 2.4 rebounds.
The Knicks could have their own power three in the near future, with RJ Barrett, Julius Randle, and Quickley all impressing early in the season. Quickley fell to the 25th pick in the draft before being traded by the Oklahoma City Thunder to New York.
Quickley has proven to be yet another piece of good business during the Knicks’ offseason.
January was the month that brought Quickley sharply into focus after his team-high 31-point performance against the Portland Trail Blazers. Ball and Haliburton will be looking over their shoulder at the point guard’s rising stock.
#4 James Wiseman
James Wiseman had the last laugh over Anthony Edwards - who was picked ahead of him in this year’s draft - as the Golden State Warriors dispatched the Minnesota Timberwolves. In the process, Wiseman became the youngest-ever Warrior to score 25+ points in a game.
Coach Steve Kerr’s decision to move Wiseman to the bench after the Warriors’ starting lineup was beginning to show frailties may have been a blessing in disguise for the 19-year-old. The Warriors have won three of their last four games, with Wiseman averaging 13.5 points and 6 rebounds.
Kerr will be desperate for Wiseman to return quickly after the latter sprained his wrist and is expected to be re-evaluated in 7-10 days.
#5 Anthony Edwards
The number one pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, Anthony Edwards brings up the rear in our top five NBA Rookie of the Year candidates. Edwards has enjoyed a recent place in the Timberwolves starting five, including 23 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists performance in a win over the Cavs.
Edwards has benefitted from the T-Wolves’ poor start to the season, with the franchise prioritizing his development over achieving success this year.
Currently averaging 13.6 points and 3 rebounds, it seems as though Anthony Edwards is finally living up to all the preseason hype after his defining performance in Cleveland.
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