NBA All-Rookie Teams Predictions: Locks, surprises and potential snubs

TORONTO, ON - MARCH 24: 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 March 24, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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 Mark Blinch/Getty Images) /

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HOUSTON, TX – MARCH 30: Davion Mitchell #15 of the Sacramento Kings looks on during the game against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on March 30, 2022 in Houston, Texas. 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 Alex Bierens de Haan/Getty Images) /

Final NBA All-Rookie Teams Predictions

First Team:

Evan Mobley
Cade Cunningham
Franz Wagner
Scottie Barnes
Herbert Jones

Mobley, Cunningham, and Barnes are absolute locks for the First Team, and I’d be very surprised if Wagner slipped to the Second Team. Jones is likely fighting with Josh Giddey and Jalen Green for the final spot, but I think his incredible defense will give him the edge. I suspect voters will agree.

Second Team:

Jalen Green
Josh Giddey
Bones Hyland
Chris Duarte
Davion Mitchell

Green is locked in here, and I think the trio of Giddey/Hyland/Duarte are safe too. That leaves one last spot, which I gave to Davion Mitchell. Any player on the previous slide could fill that role, but I think voters will give the slight edge to the player with a clearly dominant skill – defense. If he’s not the pick, then I would go with Ayo Dosumu, Jose Alvarado, and Alperen Sengun, in that order.

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