2024-25 NBA rookie rankings: Jared McCain, Dalton Knecht, more
Now six weeks into the 2024-25 NBA season, we can take a broader look at the rookie class as a whole.
In keeping with the expectations that were set heading into the 2024 draft, the results this season haven’t been spectacular. Nonetheless, plenty of players are carving out roles, making developmental strides, and in some cases, having a meaningful impact for their respective teams.
Jared McCain broke out for the Philadelphia 76ers in November, Dalton Knecht has stepped up for the Los Angeles Lakers, Stephon Castle has gotten more comfortable for the San Antonio Spurs, and the Memphis Grizzlies have relied on Zach Edey and Jaylen Wells during a strong start. But it’s been a bit of a slower roll for the top picks in the draft, including Zaccharie Risacher, Alex Sarr and Reed Sheppard, only one of whom cracks this month’s list.
With all that, there’s a new rookie who takes over the No. 1 spot from our last ranking on Oct. 24.
Please note this ranking of the top eight rookies is not an attempt to gauge players’ long-term potential, or trade value. It’s simply a barometer of which first-year players have made the most interesting and notable impact at this stage of the season.
Here’s how these players, and others, stack up so far.
Jump to a section:
Top eight rookies
Yet another OKC youngster?
Fit vs. upside debate
1. Jared McCain, G, Philadelphia 76ers
Drafted: No. 16, Duke
Key stats: 16 PPG, 44.8% FG, 36.4 3P%
Previous ranking: NR
McCain’s emergence has been one of the few bright spots in Philadelphia’s tumultuous season, positioning him as an early leader in NBA Rookie of the Year conversations.
After stringing together a streak of seven 20-point games in November, he leads all rookies in scoring, living up to his billing as an excellent shooter coming out of Duke, where he made 41% of his 3s on nearly six attempts per game last season. The 76ers have been thrilled with McCain’s work ethic, a trait that Blue Devils coach Jon Scheyer highlighted when he told ESPN McCain was the hardest worker he’d been around at Duke.
The Sixers’ well-chronicled struggles have had some developmental benefits for McCain — he has more minutes than anticipated so far because of Joel Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey all missing time with injuries. And while Philadelphia would certainly prefer not to be 4-14 and facing a long climb back into the playoff picture, the vision of a long-term backcourt pairing of Maxey, 24, and McCain, 20, is one positive development for the franchise.
2. Stephon Castle, G, San Antonio Spurs
Drafted: No. 4, UConn
Key stats: 11.3 PPG, 3.7 APG, 38.8% FG
Previous ranking: 4
Castle successfully slid into San Antonio’s starting lineup on Nov. 6 to replace the injured Jeremy Sochan, with the Spurs going 8-5 in that stretch.
As expected coming out of UConn, his efficiency hasn’t been great, but Castle has managed positive contributions and is logging important minutes as a complementary player in the lineup. He regularly tackles top defensive assignments, makes plays for teammates, and scored in double-digits in 12 straight games.
While Castle still isn’t a very good 3-point shooter (28.9%), it’s a good sign and a show of confidence that he’s attempting four per game. Although his offense remains a work in progress, it’s great for his long-term growth that San Antonio is letting him experiment. He has handled the extra responsibility well thus far, and appears to be a long-term starter for the Spurs.
3. Dalton Knecht, SG/SF, Los Angeles Lakers
Drafted: No. 17, Tennessee
Key stats: 11.9 PPG, 48.0% FG, 42.9 3P%
Previous ranking: NR
Knecht’s 37-point explosion (complete with Michael Jordan shrugs) against the Utah Jazz on Nov. 19 underscored his legitimacy as an important player for the Lakers. He moved into the starting lineup last week, responded with a pair of 20-point performances, and might be staying there for the time being.
And while it’s no surprise that a 23-year-old who was on the shortlist of best players in college basketball has been immediately impactful, Knecht’s overall efficiency and effectiveness has still impressed.
After starting the season in a bench role, Knecht has gotten up to speed quickly, providing an offensive spark for the Lakers, playing off of L.A.’s ball handlers, and benefiting from coach JJ Redick’s willingness to feature his shooting. Knecht has also looked a bit better defensively than expected. The fit here has been excellent, and he continues to provide strong value after falling to the 17th pick.
4. Jaylen Wells, SG/SF, Memphis Grizzlies
Drafted: No. 39, Washington State
Key stats: 12.2 PPG, 45.9% FG, 39.6 3P%
Previous ranking: NR
Wells has been a pleasant find for the Grizzlies, providing immediate value as a second-round selection filling in amid a series of team injuries.
He knocks down 3s, takes care of the ball, and has been consistent throughout the first six weeks, carving out a starting role on Oct. 31 and staying there even as the Grizzlies have returned Desmond Bane, Marcus Smart and Luke Kennard to the lineup. A 26-point game in Chicago on Nov. 23 has been the high mark for Wells so far.
While not a flashy contributor, the reliable shooting Wells provides coupled with a willingness to tackle tough defensive assignments has been an important stabilizer for a 14-7 Grizzlies team. Memphis has been able to provide plenty of spacing around Ja Morant as a result.
Wells might not have the starry upside of some other rookies, but he’s been one of the better players in the class thus far.
5. Zaccharie Risacher, SF, Atlanta Hawks
Drafted: No. 1, France
Key stats: 11.6 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 0.9 steals, 0.8 blocks
Previous ranking: 3
Risacher’s 33-point game on Nov. 6 underscored the talent that vaulted him to the top of the draft, but he has struggled with consistency, shooting 41% from the field and 28.2% from 3 thus far. Some of that was to be expected, but he has still started 20 of 22 games.
The Hawks have been pleasantly surprised by his progress on the defensive end, where his 6-foot-8 frame plays up well and his role within team concepts has been a positive, also averaging nearly a steal and a block per game.
In evaluating what was a flat top of the 2024 draft, the Hawks considered his role alongside Trae Young and Jalen Johnson and valued Risacher’s ability to add value without the ball in his hands. His growth as a shooter is even more important with Dyson Daniels now in that mix.
Risacher hasn’t looked overwhelmed by his role, but the hope will be that his shots start to fall more frequently as the Hawks compete for a play-in spot.
6. Zach Edey, C, Memphis Grizzlies
Drafted: No. 9, Purdue
Key stats: 11.1 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 61% FG
Previous ranking: 1
Although he has been sidelined since Nov. 17 with an ankle sprain, Edey settled in after a slow start, delivering the type of production his college career suggested he’d be capable of, albeit in 20.1 minutes per game. He’s playing the strong side of a platoon role at center and providing value for the Grizzlies, who prioritized him in the draft to address their need at the position.
While his struggles with foul trouble are noteworthy (3.1 average fouls per game), it’s a two-way street — Edey can impose himself physically on the game already at his size. His efficient offensive diet has translated, underscored by an impressive showing on Nov. 4 in Brooklyn, in which he became the first rookie since Hakeem Olajuwon to go for 25/10/4 on 90% shooting in a game.
While Edey’s size creates limitations defensively in terms of scheme, he has averaged a block and nearly a steal per game.
7. Yves Missi, C, New Orleans Pelicans
Drafted: No. 21, Baylor
Key stats: 9.0 points, 7.8 RPG, 1.2 blocks, 56.7% FG
Previous ranking: NR
While thrust into action amid a high number of Pelicans injuries, Missi has been more NBA-ready than anticipated, albeit it has come amid a lot of losing. The 4-18 Pelicans have dropped nine straight.
He has likely earned himself continued playing time if New Orleans ever returns to full strength, playing ahead of veteran Daniel Theis and turning in some strong showings. He provides a level of athletic rim protection that the Pelicans have lacked, looking like a valuable addition late in the first round.
Missi’s motor and tools have helped to compensate for his lack of experience thus far, giving him a useful production floor as a baseline to improve on. He leads all rookies in total rebounds entering the week by a solid margin, and looks like a natural fit as a rim-runner style center.
The experience he has already gained, while happening during likely frustrating circumstances for the team, bodes well for him in the long term.
8. Donovan Clingan, C, Portland Trail Blazers
Drafted: No. 7, UConn
Key stats: 5.8 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 52.6% FG, 2.2 blocks
Previous ranking: 6
Although currently out with a knee sprain, Clingan has begun to block shots at a prolific rate, averaging a whopping 4.6 per-36 and living up to his reputation as the top rim protector in the 2024 class.
He made six starts when DeAndre Ayton missed time, and turned in an eye-popping 17 points, 12 rebounds and 8 blocks in a Nov. 13 win against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
As expected, he is not doing a ton of scoring, but Clingan has been productive on the glass and an impactful defender while platooning with his veteran teammate. It’s pretty clear Clingan will be a foundational piece of Portland‘s future, although it might take an eventual Ayton trade to open up a pathway to major playing time.
What I’m hearing about …
A less-heralded rookie who could earn early opportunities.
Ajay Mitchell, a rookie guard who is on a two-way contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder, is garnering praise from scouts.
A draft pick out of UC Santa Barbara who fell to the 38th pick, Mitchell has become a fixture off the Thunder bench, finding a consistent role and thus far playing ahead of Oklahoma City’s 26th pick, Dillon Jones, in the rotation.
“Being the 38th pick, on a two-way, and playing real minutes on that roster is wild,” an Eastern Conference scout told ESPN.
While averaging just 5.5 points per game, Mitchell has been steady, shooting 47.7% and supplying useful depth for a Thunder team that has played a lot of small-ball because of injuries. Though it’s a small sample, the 22-year-old Mitchell has made a respectable 42.3% of his 3s thus far, pointing to some positive development in a key area of his predraft evaluation. Mitchell’s ability to make plays for teammates, guard effectively, and fit alongside other ballhandlers has made him a malleable depth player, and pretty clearly the best rookie two-way performer thus far.
“One thing with Mitchell, he was so good getting to the rim at that [mid-major] level that he didn’t have to settle for a ton of 3s. I can understand that,” a Western Conference scout told ESPN. “But it didn’t mean he couldn’t shoot it.”
While the Thunder have assembled a wealth of young perimeter depth, Mitchell’s current role bodes well for his chances of converting onto a standard contract and working from there.
Upside vs. fit? Knecht, McCain and Wells fuel the debate
It has been interesting to see the early returns on 2024 draftees, particularly with so many of them coming from further down in the draft order, but it’s important to keep the big picture in mind when evaluating in hindsight how and who teams selected.
Teams picking near the top of the lottery are generally looking for players who will grow into contributors, not readymade producers.
However, it’s worth noting that a common thread behind the immediate success of rookies such as Knecht, McCain, and Wells is their 3-point shooting prowess. Elite perimeter shooting is immediately translatable, and quality spot-up shooters generally find themselves with better looks when playing in the wide-open pace and larger floor of the NBA, particularly when operating off the gravity of better teammates. It’s easy to make the argument that those type of guys should have been drafted earlier, but NBA teams aren’t necessarily pinching themselves as much as you might assume.
“Knecht is [almost] 24. He’s a rotation player, which was what we thought,” one NBA executive told ESPN. “If he’s making shots he looks great, if not, maybe he doesn’t, but not every team needed a guy like that. If you passed on him, you knew what you were passing on.”
League sources speculated that McCain’s fall to the 16th pick hinged more on his lack of elite physical tools (6-foot-2 barefoot with a 6-3 1/2 wingspan at the combine), as well as his more limited role at Duke. There was near-universal optimism about his intangibles, but McCain played primarily off the ball at Duke, and wasn’t granted a ton of freedom to make plays.
He has benefited from more room to play as the Sixers have been bereft of options at times, but his performance is certainly going to buy him room to grow as a scorer and playmaker for teammates. His shooting, of course, has translated immediately.
The argument for upside versus fit is always salient early in the draft and tends to thin out a bit in the teens, which has looked like a sweet spot for value so far, with McCain, Knecht, and Tristan Da Silva (the No. 18 pick who has given the Orlando Magic serviceable spot minutes) coming off the board in that order.
We’ll see how long it takes for other rookies to catch them in terms of production.
Source: espn.com