Most NBA teams have played ten games in the 2020-2021 season. NBA rookies have had their time to shine during these ten or more games. There have been some rookies who have outperformed their expectations and some who have been disappointing thus far. The NBA season is far from over though. Here’s a look at where some young guys stand to this point.
LaMelo Ball, Guard, Charlotte Hornets
Ball is overachieving in Charlotte. The third overall pick had many doubt his maturity and actual talent with the basketball. The hype that surrounded him since he was 14 is unparalleled to any other player from the 2020 draft class. In the 12 games that Ball has played in, he is averaging 11.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 5.9 assists. Ball has been averaging these numbers off the bench, and once he is crowned the starting role in Charlotte the numbers should see a bigger increase. The only downside from the first eleven games is his shooting consistency.
Killian Hayes, Guard, Detroit Pistons
Hayes has been disappointing. Hayes was given the starting role by Dwane Casey and the organization to help the rookie receive plenty of experience in his rookie year. However, the guard is shooting an abysmal 28% from the field and only scoring 4.6 points. Detroit is not a contending team, and Hayes is not being used as a top-three scoring option, there is no excuse for a player to have a field goal percentage under 30%. Coming into the season scouts said that his shooting would be below average to start. But the lefty guard was supposed to be a great finisher, but even his finishing ability is at the same level as his shooting.
Tyrese Maxey, Guard, Philadelphia 76ers
Maxey is overachieving in Philadelphia. The rookie guard has proven that he is a reliable scorer in this 76er offense, as he is averaging 11.0 points a game with great efficiency. Maxey started off the season as a role player fighting for minutes on a contending team. But when the roster shrunk, Maxey showed his value in the league. In the last four games to which the rookie received 20 or more minutes, he has averaged 21.5 points on over 50% from the field.
Aleksej Pokusevski, Forward, Oklahoma City Thunder
Pokusevski has been very disappointing in his ten games in the NBA. Shooting a nightmare of 22.2% from the field and 13% from three. The rookie has not looked adjusted at all in the eight games that he received minutes. The forward is struggling to locate the basket and looks genuinely lost on the court, especially on the offensive side of the ball. With the Thunder giving heavy minutes to younger players, Pokusevski has yet to make a meaningful impact when on the court. The forward will see his sixteen minutes be replaced sooner rather than later unless he is able to gain more momentum on offense.
Payton Pritchard, Guard, Boston Celtics
Pritchard has been nothing but overachieving in his time with Boston. Averaging 8.6 points on amazing shooting splits of 51.6% from the field and 42.3% from three. Pritchard has been the spark plug off this Celtics bench that the team needed in recent years. The Oregon guard has been lights out shooting the ball, and although he is not the best defender on the court shows hustle in every play. Pritchard has already put himself amongst a favorite in Boston, after having back to back nights where he led the Celtics to victory. He scored 23 points off the bench to help defeat the rival Toronto Raptors, then in the next game hit a game-winner. Pritchard who was selected with the 26th overall pick has been considered a rookie of the year candidate.
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Aaron Nesmith, Forward, Boston Celtics
Nesmith has been a disappointment so far into the season. In ten games with Boston, he has only appeared in three games. In those three games, he is averaging 2.7 points on awful efficiency. Shooting 25% from the field and 22% from three. The fourteenth overall pick in this year’s draft class has received fewer minutes than multiple two-way players on the roster. Nesmith is also receiving fewer minutes than Payton Pritchard who was selected twelve spots later. Nesmith came out of the draft to be a corner shooter and offensive threat off the bench for this Celtics team. The forward has yet to provide that offensive spark to the team.
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Main Credit Image: Embed from Getty Images
