Hoops Habit
Fansided

Week 15 NBA Rookie Ladder: The top two face off for supremacy

By Corey Rausch

CLEVELAND, OHIO - NOVEMBER 12: Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers shoots over Cade Cunningham #2 of the Detroit Pistons at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on November 12, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers defeated the Pistons 98-78. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OHIO - NOVEMBER 12: Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers shoots over Cade Cunningham #2 of the Detroit Pistons at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on November 12, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers defeated the Pistons 98-78. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 3
Next
Week 15 NBA Rookie Ladder: The top two face off for supremacy
CLEVELAND, OHIO – NOVEMBER 12: Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers shoots over Cade Cunningham #2 of the Detroit Pistons at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on November 12, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers defeated the Pistons 98-78, Week 15 NBA Rookie Ladder: The top two face off for supremacy. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

Week 15 NBA Rookie Ladder: 2. Cade Cunningham

16.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.3 steals

Shooting splits: .397/.331/.860

Cade Cunningham did something this week so impressive, that the only rookie ever who had done so previously was Michael Jordan. Putting up a line of 34 points, eight rebounds, eight assists, four blocks and two steals in a losing effort against the reigning MVP is quite the way to put the league on notice.

Then, closing out the week with a clutch triple-double against Evan Mobley in a win, Cunningham has gotten the race for the top spot as close as it has been all season. He has not claimed the top spot just yet, but he is certainly coming.

Week 15 NBA Rookie Ladder: 1. Evan Mobley

15.1 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.7 blocks

Shooting splits: .510/.300/.662

For at least one more week, Evan Mobley remains atop the ladder. He has been consistently stellar, anchoring the defensive side of the court on a Cleveland Cavaliers squad pushing for the top of the conference.

In the matchup with Cunningham, Mobley put up 18 points, nine rebounds, three blocks, and two assists. While Cunningham did put up a more impressive line across the board, the different roles make it a little tougher to simply compare counting numbers.

This will be a fun race to watch for the rest of the season for the NBA Rookie of the Year award, not to mention for the rest of their careers.

Next. Predicting the NBA Rising Stars rosters. dark