Welcome back to the final edition of our weekly NBA rookie rankings. It’s gearing down towards the end of the season and it has become very clear who this year’s top rookies are. They have one last push to make a good impression to voters. Remember to check back with us every week as when rank this year’s rookie class.
1. Dario Saric, Forward, Philadelphia 76ers
Saric play has been exceptional over the last few weeks of the season. Despite dealing with a sore left heel, he is averaging 12.2 points and six rebounds per game. His shooting percentage for the season is just over 41 percent, which is solid for a first-year player. He and Joel Embiid are the only rookies from the same team to win multiple Rookie of the Month awards. He has earned the right to be at the top of our rookie list.
2. Malcolm Brogdon, Guard, Milwaukee Bucks
A back injury caused him to miss five games before returning on Monday night against the Charlotte Hornets. He finished that game with five points, four rebounds, and three assists. The missed games still is not enough for him to slip in our rankings. For the season he is shooting 45.6 percent from the field and should be able to hold on to the top spot for assists.
3. Joel Embiid, Center, Philadelphia 76ers
The play of the two guys in front of him has been to difficult to overlook and that’s why Embiid sits beneath them in our rankings. There is no doubt that Embiid would have Rookie of the Year if he would have played in more games, he was that good. Despite the setback he is still primed for a stellar career as long as he can get past the injuries.
4. Marquese Chriss, Forward, Phoenix Suns
Despite struggling a bit scoring the ball last week he rebounded nicely with a 22-point, seven rebound outing against the Sacramento Kings. Since the All-Star break he is shooting a little over 50 percent from the field and 36.8 percent from three-point land. He will be a very nice player in the future because he can do many things well, which bodes well for a productive career.
5. Brandon Ingram, Forward, Los Angeles Lakers
Ingram finished the season strong as he averaged 12.6 points in the month of April. Compared to the beginning of the season, he improved in all areas of his game especially in the scoring department. As the season went along he started to use his size and length to his advantage, which made for easier scoring opportunities. He definitely possesses the qualities of a star player and hopefully he can become one sooner rather later.
Honorable Mention: Buddy Hield, Willy Hernangomez, Yogi Ferrell
