NBA Rookie Ladder: No Zion Williamson, no problem

Even though Zion Williamson is out due to injury, there have still been plenty of rookie bright spots through the NBA season’s first week.

Welcome to the first KIA NBA Rookie of the Year ladder of the season!

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Each week we’ll take a look at the top 10 rookies who have impressed and are showing flashes of becoming legitimate stars or role players in the league.

Despite losing New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson to a meniscus tear before the year fully got underway, this class has not disappointed by any means.

Normally players in their first season don’t contribute to actual winning right way, but rather have roles dedicated to helping them grow into a system or around veteran talent to teach them the ropes.

Occasionally there will be a handful of guys in a specific draft class that overachieve and shatter initial expectations. What’s special about this group is that there’s more than a handful already contributing at a decent clip for teams with more than just tanking aspirations.

Let’s get started with one of the bright spots to the Golden State Warriors’ unexpected poor start to the season.