Rookie Report Card
Added on Mar 01, 2013 by Scott in
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More and more rookies are seeing increased minutes as the 2012-2013 NBA season enters the final stretch before the playoffs begin. Some youngsters are making an immediate impact, while other high-profile draftees are struggling to adjust to the pro game. Let’s take a look at which players are enjoying the most success in their first years, and a couple who are experiencing growing pains.
Anthony Davis (Hornets) – The top pick in the 2012 Draft is stuck on an awful team, but when healthy, Davis has been a solid contributor. He leads all rookies in steals and double-doubles (11), ranks second in both PER and rebounding, and is fourth in scoring with 12.5 points. He’s also tied for 10th in the league in blocks at 1.78 per game. Davis has the makings of a 20-10 forward.
Damian Lillard (Trail Blazers) – No rookie has been as good as the 6th overall pick out of Weber State. He leads all first-year players in scoring (18.4), assists (6.4) and is third in free-throw percentage (85.7%). Portland is still a ways off from contending in the West, but Lillard is quarterbacking a young core of talent that includes Nicolas Batum, Wesley Matthews and J.J. Hickson.
Dion Waiters (Cavs) – Waiters is the other half of the league’s most exciting young backcourt, along with some kid named Kyrie Irving. The former Syracuse star is second among rookies with a 14.8 scoring average, and has been especially effective during Irving’s absence with a sore knee.
Bradley Beal (Wizards) – The fact that Beal leads the team in scoring with 13.9 points speaks volumes to his ability. It also speaks to Washington’s woes. He’s fourth in three-point shooting and tied for third in steals in the rookie class, and is proving to be more reliable than John Wall.
Harrison Barnes (Warriors) – With Steph Curry, David Lee and Klay Thompson, there aren’t a lot of shots to go around in the Golden State attack. However, Barnes has made the most of his 57 starts, netting 8.9 points and 4.0 boards per game. The ex-Tar Heel has the luxury of easing his way into the NBA pace, which should serve him well in the future.
Terrence Ross (Raptors) – The 8th overall pick is having a difficult time earning minutes on a poor Raptors team. Both DeMar DeRozan and Alan Anderson are entrenched ahead of him on the depth chart. On the bright side, he did win the All-Star Weekend Dunk Contest.
Austin Rivers (Hornets) – Despite being ineffective for the majority of the season, Rivers continues to get 20-plus minutes per night. His field goal and free-throw percentages are abysmal, and he’s averaging nearly as many turnovers as assists. Needless to say, son of Doc should’ve stayed in college another year.
