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NBA: Rookies Who Appear Destined for Stardom

By Maxwell Ogden

Feb 20, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; New York Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) greets Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) prior to the game at Target Center. The Knicks defeated the Timberwolves 103-95. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 20, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; New York Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) greets Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) prior to the game at Target Center. The Knicks defeated the Timberwolves 103-95. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports /
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A number of rookies have been solid in 2015-16. The question is, which first-year players are on the path to genuine NBA stardom??

Feb 20, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; New York Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) greets Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) prior to the game at Target Center. The Knicks defeated the Timberwolves 103-95. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 20, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; New York Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) greets Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) prior to the game at Target Center. The Knicks defeated the Timberwolves 103-95. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports /

It’s more rare than most would admit that an NBA Draft is overrun with genuine star potential. Optimism is almost always abound, but most draft classes feature players with strong professional futures—futures that fall short of realistic All-Star or All-NBA upside.

The 2015 NBA Draft class appears to be one of the special few that disobeys those rules and standards.

As the conclusion of the 2015-16 NBA regular season nears, a number of players are beginning to live up to and exceed the hype. Some have a larger sample size than others, but every one of the following rookies is flashing potential that is both star-caliber and realistically attainable.

Some of these players were projected to reach this level of play at some point in their career, but are doing so sooner than expected. Others are rewriting their expectations altogether, effectively emerging as overachievers.

The question is, which first-year players are performing at such a high level that they’re all but destined to achieve stardom at some point in their NBA careers?

Next: The Honorable Mentions