NBA Rookie Ladder Week 3: A new name enters the fray
By Corey Rausch
Week 3 NBA Rookie Ladder: 4. Josh Giddey
10.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 1.4 steals
Shooting splits: .404/.259/.615
Week in and week out, Josh Giddey simply continues to fill up the stat sheet. He does not necessarily explode in any statistical category but is in the top three amongst rookies in rebounds, assists, and steals per game.
Over three games this week, he logged 20 rebounds and 19 assists. His vision is exceptional, and he enables the multi-ballhandler offense that the Oklahoma City Thunder currently employ.
Averaging double-digit points per game is better than expected at this point, and if he can become more efficient, he will be a steal. Setting up Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will allow him to figure that out over time rather than being thrown right to the wolves.
Week 3 NBA Rookie Ladder: 3. Chris Duarte
16.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.0 steals
Shooting splits: .447/.422/.867
There was some news this week that bodes well for the Rookie of the Year campaign for Chris Duarte, yet not so much for the Indiana Pacers. TJ Warren is expected to be back at the earliest in late December.
Being given the opportunity has been a blessing Duarte, providing an efficient scoring punch to a team in desperate need. His streak of double-digit scoring games ended this week, but he remains the most polished scoring threat at this point amongst rookies. If he can continue to maintain this rate of scoring, a roster shakeup in Indiana will be inevitable.