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Ranking Top 5 Rookies So Far

By Kyle Tomasi

Dec 14, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) drives to the basket against Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam (43) during the second half at Wells Fargo Center. The Toronto Raptors won 123.114. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 14, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) drives to the basket against Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam (43) during the second half at Wells Fargo Center. The Toronto Raptors won 123.114. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 2, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Los Angeles Lakers forward Brandon Ingram (14) goes to the basket and scores as Toronto Raptors center Lucas Nogueira (92) defends at Air Canada Centre. The Raptors beat the Lakers 113-80. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 2, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Los Angeles Lakers forward Brandon Ingram (14) goes to the basket and scores as Toronto Raptors center Lucas Nogueira (92) defends at Air Canada Centre. The Raptors beat the Lakers 113-80. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Brandon Ingram, Los Angeles Lakers

Brandon Ingram hasn’t made an impact from the very beginning like some of rookies have. He is currently coming off the bench for first-year head coach Luke Walton and the Los Angeles Lakers.

For the former No. 2 pick, expectations were sky-high and being in Los Angeles, that just heightens the pressures for the 19-year-old former college standout.

Ingram has slowly found his groove for the Lakers and is seeing quite the workload. He is averaging 26.8 minutes per game, putting him behind only Memphis Grizzlies guard Andrew Harrison among rookies.

He hasn’t been able to take advantage of these minutes yet, but if he keeps getting the opportunity, it’s hard to think Ingram will struggle for much longer.

In his one and only year at Duke, Ingram averaged 17.3 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. He had his game compared to Kevin Durant while at Duke, but has been far from that so far. Ingram is currently averaging 7.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game.

Granted, it is way too early to know if Ingram will have a successful NBA career, but he’s got all the tools.

His length makes him extremely entertaining to watch. The 6’9″ small forward provides length for a relatively small Lakers frontcourt.