NBA Rookie of the Year power rankings, Week 8: Jaren Jackson Jr. rising

NBA Rookie of the Year power rankings, Week 8: Jaren Jackson Jr. on the rise

PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 2: Jaren Jackson Jr. #13 of the Memphis Grizzlies controls the ball against Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center on December 2, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

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Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images /

2. Collin Sexton, Cleveland Cavaliers

Last week: 2nd (↔)

Collin Sexton is still asserting himself as a pure scorer in the Cleveland Cavaliers‘ rotation. They snapped their four-game losing streak with a 99-97 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday in which Sexton posted 15 points on 7-of-16 shooting.

Sexton is still finding his way as the Cavaliers’ main scoring threat but he’s at least got Jordan Clarkson and Tristan Thompson to feed off of. Clarkson put up 20 points, 11 rebounds and four assists off the bench in the victory. Thompson also had a double-double of his own with 19 points and 14 rebounds.

Sexton is still learning to shoot with volume, but his percentage on the season remains impressive nonetheless. He’s shooting 44.4 percent from the floor and 46.2 percent from 3-point range as a rookie.

In his first game against the Golden State Warriors, he posted 21 points on 7-of-14 shooting, although the Cavs lost in the end. It took a 37-22 third quarter outburst by the Warriors to create some distance and get the 129-104 victory in the end, but Sexton still played solid, showing no matter his opponent, he’s always good to put up strong numbers.