NBA Rookie Rankings 12/8/14: Welcome Back, Sixers Players

Nov 1, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Tony Wroten (8) and Philadelphia 76ers guard K.J. McDaniels (14) celebrate against the Miami Heat during the second half at Wells Fargo Center. The Heat defeated the 76ers, 114-96. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports /

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Dec 1, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard K.J. McDaniels (14) in a game against the San Antonio Spurs during the second half at Wells Fargo Center. The Spurs defeated the 76ers 109-103. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

4. K.J. McDaniels, Philadelphia 76ers

The lone Sixer to re-crack the NBA Rookie Rankings this week is the athletic freak known as K.J. McDaniels. He’s third among rookies in points per game at 10.1, shooting 42 percent from the field and leads all rookies with 1.5 blocks per game as a 6’6″ guard.

One thing I consider with all Sixers players at this point really isn’t fair to McDaniels to slight him, but it’s just how I feel. He could be higher, but I wonder if Philadelphia had, you know, an actual NBA roster, would he even be in the league right now? And his numbers are gaudy, but is he being overhyped at this point, benefiting from playing on a really bad team?

For example:

KJ McDaniels is the steal of the 2014 NBA draft right? It's not too early to say this is it?
— Chris Reichert (@Chris_Reichert) December 7, 2014

Now, I like Chris, and he loves young guys, but this was the draft about UPSIDE, so we’ll never really know who the steal of the draft was until 2018, as sad as that is. Take McDaniels’ production this year and cherish it, because I don’t forsee this being a long-term thing, especially if Philadelphia begins to resemble an NBA roster sometime in the near future.

Next: No. 3