Not all NBA rookies are built the same. Some can make an instant impact, while others need a few weeks or even months to adapt to the NBA game. Others fail to contribute at all during their debut season, needing a few years (if ever) to find their role.
The 2021 NBA Draft class has been spectacular to this point, with Evan Mobley, Franz Wagner, and Cade Cunningham, among others, all looking like true rising stars. Not all have been hits, however, and we’ll be showcasing those less-than-stellar youngsters here.
3 NBA rookies who have disappointed so far this season – Trey Murphy III
The most disappointing aspect of Trey Murphy’s slow start is that he had an excellent offseason. He was a standout in Summer League, where he was named to the All-Summer League First Team and helped guide the Pelicans to an undefeated record.
Then, he carried that momentum into the preseason, averaging 17.5 points over four appearances. Since the regular season began, the Virginia product has been underwhelming, to say the least.
Despite appearing in 36 contests to this point, he has yet to reach double figures in scoring. He’s shooting just 32.8 percent from the floor and is averaging just 0.5 free throw attempts per game.
Fellow rookie Herbert Jones, who has been a second-round steal for the Pelicans, has ostensibly taken over his prospective role in the rotation. Even with Zion Williamson still out and a string of COVID-19 cases earlier this season, Murphy hasn’t earned a consistent spot in the rotation.
His only saving grace is a good-not-great three-point percentage of 34.0. That was his calling card in college and can be what drives him to turn things around in the Big Easy.
It’s far too early to call the 17th overall pick a bust, but the first half of his first year has not been pretty.