2017-18 NBA Rookie of the Year ladder: Week 23 power rankings

7. Dennis Smith Jr., Dallas Mavericks

Last rank: 10th (↑3)

Dallas Mavericks point guard Dennis Smith Jr. is coming into his own as a future superstar for the club. He’s having a strong month after things didn’t quite go as planned in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest and it’s put a few more wins under Dallas’ belt.

Smith is averaging 18.1 points, 5.3 assists, 3.1 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game this month as Dallas has gone 3-5. He’s shooting the ball better as well. In March, he’s at 40.5 percent from the field and 30 percent from deep. Last month, Smith shot 34.7 percent from the floor and 24.6 percent from 3-point land.

Smith is learning to become more of a volume shooter. It’s probably helped that he’s learning from Dirk Nowitzki, one of the best shooters in the game. He’s attempting 18.0 shots per game in March, a season-high, and his efficiency is showing he’s learning to be consistent.

He was an early favorite for Rookie of the Year, but Dallas has hit its fair share of road blocks. Still, Smith has shown he belongs in the NBA and as his experience grows, he should become a force in the Mavericks’ backcourt.