NBA Rookie Ladder Week 3: A new name enters the fray

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Josh Giddey #3 of the Oklahoma City Thunder drives towards the basket against the Golden State Warriors (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

Week 3 NBA Rookie Ladder: 4. Josh Giddey

Previous: 4th. Josh Giddey. 4. player. 149. .

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

player. 100. . . Previous: 3rd. Chris Duarte. 3

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.