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NBA Rookie Ladder Week 5: Injuries at the top muddle the race

By Corey Rausch

TORONTO, ON - NOVEMBER 5: Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers is guarded by Scottie Barnes #4 of the Toronto Raptors during the first half of their basketball game at the Scotiabank Arena on November 5, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, NOTE TO USER: User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - NOVEMBER 5: Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers is guarded by Scottie Barnes #4 of the Toronto Raptors during the first half of their basketball game at the Scotiabank Arena on November 5, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, NOTE TO USER: User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images) /
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NBA Rookie Ladder
CLEVELAND, OHIO – NOVEMBER 13: Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers brings the ball up court trailed by Grant Williams #12 of the Boston Celtics during the first half at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on November 13, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement; NBA Rookie Ladder (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

Welcome back to the weekly rookie ladder update! Each week this season we will look at the race for the top five slots on the Rookie of the Year ballot, cutting the recording period every Sunday.

As Thanksgiving is upon us, injuries are starting to rear their ugly head in the equation. Evan Mobley is out for a few weeks, Chris Duarte has been dealing with issues, and Bones Hyland limped off the court the other day. This week, we will try to stay thankful for the good things going on with the top five NBA rookies to date.

In week five of the Rookie Ladder standings, what has each of these NBA rookies made their fan bases thankful for so far? Luckily, there is plenty to enjoy.

NBA Rookie Ladder Week 5: 5. Josh Giddey

149. . . Previous: 4th. Josh Giddey. 5. player

10.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.1 steals

Shooting splits: .392/.278/.579

Josh Giddey is the kind of rookie that the diehards truly fall for. He will throw highlight passes game after game, but never truly take over. He will be one of the best rebounders on the floor for this young team, mostly because they do not employ a true big man (all due respect to Derrick Favors).

Giddey is a ton of fun to watch, and the Thunder have to be thankful that after slipping out of the top four in what was considered at the time to be a four-player draft, they still ended up with someone who can wow them consistently.

As always, just do not, by any means, look at those shooting splits. That was the biggest knock on him coming into this season and so far, the shot simply does not fall at a reasonable clip.