3. Kendrick Nunn, Miami Heat
21.0 PPG, 2.5 REB, 3.3 AST
The huge surprise of this rookie class is Kendrick Nunn by a mile, who’s acted as a huge stopgap for the Heat while Jimmy Butler was out spending time with the new addition to his family.
Nunn is no joke. What he can do scoring the ball rivals some of the best shot makers in the NBA today. A full three-level scorer capable of putting the ball in the basket from anywhere, the best aspect of his arsenal has been his 3-point shooting when on.
Hot to start the year at 44.0 percent from deep, Nunn’s spot-up ability has opened the floor for a lot of Miami’s wings and bigs like Justise Winslow and Bam Adebayo who are better served living inside the arc to maximize their effectiveness.
Having any amount of shooters who can convert from outside the arc is necessary in today’s game, that can’t be stressed enough. Everything that Nunn can do off the dribble in terms of shot creation and setting the table for his fellow teammates is icing on the cake.
Moving forward, Nunn deserves minutes in key spots on the offensive end. If he can hold his own on the wing defensively, he’s a mainstay for years to come and a diamond-in-the-rough find for this Heat front office.
He’s honestly a lite version of the next player in these rankings, and he was pretty much found in the bargain bin. Expect Nunn to become a household names as the season chugs along.