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NBA Rookie Ladder Week 12: Protocols in the rearview mirror

By Corey Rausch

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - JANUARY 08: Franz Wagner #22 of the Orlando Magic goes for a high five during the first quarter against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on January 08, 2022 in Detroit, Michigan. 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. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - JANUARY 08: Franz Wagner #22 of the Orlando Magic goes for a high five during the first quarter against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on January 08, 2022 in Detroit, Michigan. 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. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images) /
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NBA Rookie Ladder
PORTLAND, OREGON – JANUARY 05: Omer Yurtseven # 77 of the Miami Heat walk back to the court after a timeout during the second half against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center on January 05, 2022 in Portland, Oregon, NBA Rookie Ladder Week 12: Protocols in the rearview mirror. 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. (Photo by Soobum Im/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.

With everyone back in the lineup the race for will likely be normalizing as the middle of the season draws near. In week 12 of the NBARookie Ladder standings, most of the class is back on the court and showing their fan bases exactly what they have been missing.

Week 12 NBA Rookie Ladder: 5. Omer Yurtseven

5.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.0 assists

Shooting splits: .468/.143/.634

For at least one more week, Omer Yurtseven holds onto his place on the rankings. Perhaps no one across the league has benefitted more from the continued absences of so many players than the rookie from Georgetown.

He has moved into the starting lineup and has led some of the more manic members of the fanbase to imagine his fit in the future next to Bam Adebayo.

Since moving into the starting lineup, Yurtseven is averaging 12.0 points, 15.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. That would be good enough to lead the league in rebounding across the course of the full season.

Yurtseven has four straight games of 16 or more rebounds. He makes almost no impact as a rim protector, unfortunately, but the defensive-minded Miami Heat have found ways to make that work around him and put their rookie in a position to succeed consistently.

Josh Giddey and Jalen Green will be tough to keep off this list, but Omer Yurtseven does it for another week one rebound at a time.