2017-18 NBA Rookie of the Year ladder: Week 6 power rankings

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9. Josh Jackson, Phoenix Suns

Last week: No. 8 (↓1)

Josh Jackson looks to be the last Phoenix Suns rookie standing in the top 10 and it’s for good reason he’s still here. Jackson is averaging 9.4 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 1.3 steals per game through 20 games for Phoenix.

He may not be the producing eye-popping numbers on offense, but his defense has been hard to ignore. Jackson didn’t quite have the greatest game in the Suns’ latest loss on Friday night, but he did have 14 points, five rebounds and two steals off the bench.

https://twitter.com/HypedHoopsFB/status/934358830506377216

Things got ugly in a hurry against Anthony Davis and the New Orleans Pelicans, but those are the type of growing pains that come with being a rookie in the NBA. After all, the Suns do have a 7-13 record already.

The more Jackson asserts himself on defense, the more successful he’ll be in the long run. He has the tools and athleticism to be a lockdown defender in the league, as he’s shown already. Phoenix could certainly use a two-way player like Jackson to go alongside sharpshooter Devin Booker.