With enough of the NBA season under way, it’s easier to do more in-depth evaluations of the rookie class. So far, Ja Morant continues to blow away expectations.
While there hasn’t been a ton of depth to this NBA rookie class in terms of performance and overall impact, there’s certainly been excitement at the top from one Ja Morant.
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The Memphis Grizzlies point guard has shattered expectations coming in, making it almost impossible not to talk about him as one of the most exciting players in NBA circles.
But that doesn’t mean there haven’t been some other great outings from this class. Two guards down in Miami are having their say in the NBA Rookie of the Year race and Memphis has been home to another emerging forward whose efficiency continues to leave a mark on the rotation.
One thing is becoming clearer as the season goes on: there are going to be some disappointments from the top half of the first round, at least this year.
Darius Garland continues to struggle to leave a lasting impact in the starting lineup next to Collin Sexton out in Cleveland and Jaxson Hayes is just beginning to find his footing down in New Orleans, but hasn’t gotten consistent action.
Surprises and disappointments will fluctuate throughout the season, but let’s get right into this week’s edition of the ladder with an undrafted rookie story.