NBA: Zion Williamson leads the 2020-21 All-Sophomore Teams

It’s easy to jump to conclusions on a player’s career after a handful of games, or even after their rookie season. Yet players continue to develop, altering their own trajectories by stagnating their growth or taking unexpected leaps ahead.

Our thoughts on last year’s rookie class can now be updated with another season of data under our belt. At the highest level, it is a confirmation of what we thought a season ago when Ja Morant won Rookie of the Year and Zion Williamson looked like a future star. Morant led his team to a winning record and Williamson is a star now. Trickling down the list, however, some players have moved up and down from a season ago.

Zion Williamson has been dominant in his second season. What other second-year players deserve recognition after the 2020-21 NBA season?

Who were the NBA’s best second-year players this season? This is not a redraft, taking into account long-term upside and positional value. Instead, this is an analysis of which players have been the best this year after being rookies a year ago.

Minutes played, role on their team, the success of that team and individual production have all been factored in. Zion Williamson highlights have been watched. The resulting three teams will mirror the All-NBA teams in number (three teams of five players) but the All-Rookie teams in structure (in essence, lacking positions).

We’ll start with the third team, which includes a few players making positive impacts with low minute totals and a pair of guards growing into a traditional 6th Man role.