2024-25 NBA rookie rankings: Who is our rookie of the year?
The 2024 NBA rookie class was perhaps the most maligned of the past decade, lamented by league executives for its dearth of top-end talent in that draft. As we check in for this season’s final rookie rankings, there is good news: This group has settled in nicely relative to those expectations.
Granted, the bar was low, and the jury is still out on how the 2024 class will hold up over time. But with the regular season wrapping up Sunday, this is shaping up as a class that will produce plenty of longtime NBA players with plenty of long-term upside.
The top two rookies on my list are Atlanta’s Zaccharie Risacher, last year’s No. 1 overall pick, and San Antonio’s Stephon Castle, picked No. 4 and currently the betting favorite for NBA Rookie of the Year.
As always, this rookie ranking is not representative of long-term potential. It is meant as a snapshot of how the class is faring overall. Players such as Reed Sheppard, whose role has been inconsistent with the Houston Rockets, and Devin Carter, who has played a limited role for the Sacramento Kings since returning to the court after a shoulder injury, were left off as a result, despite the fact that I’m still bullish on their outlooks.
This final edition was geared toward recognizing players who played regular roles for solid stretches of the season, although those who were injured for periods of time still received consideration.
So, who’s the No. 1 rookie of the 2024-25 season?
More NBA coverage:
Contenders’ weaknesses | Other deals for Luka
Draft: Latest mock draft | Top 100 rankings
1. Zaccharie Risacher, PF, Hawks
Drafted: No. 1, France
Key stats: 12.4 points per game, 1.2 turnovers per game, 54.7% True Shooting
Risacher entered the NBA as one of the least-touted No. 1 overall picks ever in what was considered a down draft by league executives.
All things considered, his adjustment to the league has gone smoothly. He earned a full-time starting role two games into the season, Atlanta is back in the play-in tournament and, despite challenges, the ups included a season-high 36 points March 30 against the Milwaukee Bucks.
He has shot 47.9% from the field and 39.2% from 3 since February’s All-Star break and has settled in offensively, while also playing reliable defense. He has work to do creating his own shot, but has benefited from playing off of Trae Young and Dyson Daniels, and he doesn’t force many mistakes.
After much debate last June over which player should be drafted No. 1 — and perhaps not enough fanfare — Risacher is delivering on his top-pick status, and the Hawks should feel good about their decision (then and now).
2. Stephon Castle, G, Spurs
Drafted: No. 4, UConn
Key stats: 14.5 PPG, 3.9 assists per game, 51.7% TS
Castle has been asked to wear a number of different hats during a season in which coach Gregg Popovich was away from the team recovering from a stroke and Victor Wembanyama was sidelined because of a deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder.
Castle has proved as versatile as once billed as a prospect, stepping into more of a focal offensive role with De’Aaron Fox missing the rest of the season with a pinkie injury. He is averaging 17.6 points since the All-Star break, leads all qualifying rookies in scoring and has built a strong case for NBA Rookie of the Year from a production standpoint.
I debated making him No. 1 on this list, but Castle’s struggles with efficiency and turnovers (2.1 turnovers per game) gave Risacher a tiny edge. However, Castle certainly has the talent to end up the best player in this class over time, particularly if he polishes those areas of his game.
He has looked like the right pick, and an interesting long-term running mate for Wembanyama upon his return.
3. Zach Edey, C, Grizzlies
Drafted: No. 9, Purdue
Key stats: 9.2 PPG, 8.0 rebounds per game, 61.9% TS
Edey’s rookie season has fallen in line with my expectations: He is highly efficient and productive on a per-minute basis, but has averaged 20 minutes per game because of his defensive limitations, keeping him in more of a platoon role.
He snagged a season-high 21 rebounds against the Detroit Pistons on April 5 and has moved back into the starting lineup since Memphis changed coaches as the Grizzlies experiment heading into the postseason. Edey’s interior scoring and work on the glass, coupled with his unusual mix of size and strength, will make his development fascinating to track. His plus-4.6 net rating is tops among rookies logging more than 20 minutes per game.
4. Donovan Clingan, C, Trail Blazers
Drafted: No. 7, UConn
Key stats: 6.3 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 1.6 blocks per game
Clingan leads all rookies in blocks per game and has shown plenty of positive flashes, moving into the Trail Blazers’ starting lineup Feb. 12 and adjusting to extended minutes for the first time in his career. He had plenty of success in a platoon situation at UConn, but the next step will be consistently shouldering more playing time in the NBA.
He is already an impactful defensive center and has been consistent on that end, stepping in amid injuries to Deandre Ayton and Robert Williams III and proving effective in drop coverage and on the glass. Improving his frame and conditioning might help limit foul trouble and make finishing in the paint easier moving forward.
Clingan looks like a legitimate defensive centerpiece for Portland, particularly if he can stay on the floor for longer stretches.
5. Matas Buzelis, F, Bulls
Drafted: No. 11, G League
Key stats: 8.2 PPG, 0.9 BPG, 55.3% TS
Buzelis has played his best basketball of the season since becoming a full-time starter Feb. 5, making a difference for a Bulls team that has clinched a play-in berth. His positional size, athleticism and improving ball skills, coupled with nice shot-blocking instincts (2.1 per-40), give him a solid base to build on.
Improved consistency and confidence have made him more impactful all-around than some scouts had expected. The next step will be expanding his offense and creating his own shot more effectively.
Buzelis was at one point last year considered a No. 1 pick candidate, and he certainly looks like a nice addition for Chicago thus far, if not a finished product.
6. Alex Sarr, PF/C, Wizards
Drafted: No. 2, France
Key stats: 13.1 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 1.5 BPG
Sarr’s pro career has been off to a solid start. The Wizards aren’t very good, but he’s logging major developmental minutes as his offensive skills catch up to his impressive physical talent. Few 7-footers can run the floor, protect the basket and function fluidly on the perimeter the way Sarr does, and while there are warts in his statistical profile (45% on 2-point attempts and 6.5 rebounds per game are both subpar), the flashes of talent illustrate his long-term upside.
He’s close to joining Wembanyama and Oklahoma City’s Chet Holmgren as the only rookies in NBA history to make 100 3-pointers and block 100 shots, pointing to the inside-out versatility that could separate him over time. Washington is banking on him becoming a cornerstone player.
7. Jaylen Wells, SG/SF, Grizzlies
Drafted: No. 39, Washington State
Key stats: 10.4 PPG, 56% TS
Not even the Grizzlies could have anticipated Wells being this quick of a study, becoming a starter five games into the season, holding onto the job from there and performing as one of the best value picks in the class.
His floor-spacing ability was one of his selling points as a prospect, but Wells has really surprised on the defensive end, where he has regularly tackled tough assignments.
Wells has been indispensable for a team that spent much of the season near the top of the West before its recent backslide, and one of the better rookie stories of the season, his +4.2 net rating placing him second behind Edey among rookies playing 20 minutes per game.
Wells’ season looks to be over, after breaking his wrist during a hard fall and being taken off the court on a stretcher in Tuesday’s win in Charlotte. It’s another big setback for the reeling Grizzlies as the playoffs near.
8. Kel’el Ware, C, Heat
Drafted: No. 15, Indiana
Key stats: 9.2 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 60.7% TS
Ware was one of the more intriguing selections in the 2024 draft, with the Heat investing in his lottery-level talent despite the reputation for inconsistent effort that made him divisive to scouts as a prospect in high school and college.
Ware has started 34 games and shown an improved motor since breaking through in January, leading Miami in blocks and stringing together solid showings, including 14 double-doubles, tied with Yves Missi for the most among rookies.
He is also one of three rookies averaging 20-plus minutes to hold a positive net rating on the season. If Miami can continue to get the most out of him, he could be a long-term fixture alongside Bam Adebayo.
9. Yves Missi, C, Pelicans
Drafted: No. 21, Baylor
Key stats: 9.1 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 1.3 BPG
Missi’s quick emergence was a bright spot in an injury-filled Pelicans season. New Orleans badly needed to address the center spot, and Missi stepped in earlier than expected, giving the Pels useful minutes and valuable stability.
He leads all rookies in rebounding, is tied with Ware for the most double-doubles and has started the most games on the Pelicans, offering a glimmer of consistency and proving a quick study in his role. While it’s unclear how much he’ll add from a skill perspective in the long run, his rim-running and interior defense have made him a nice find for New Orleans moving forward.
10. Kyle Filipowski, PF, Jazz
Drafted: No. 32, Duke
Key stats: 9.1 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 59.2% TS
Filipowski’s offensive skills have translated nicely to the NBA game, albeit in the context of a lot of losing in Utah. He has averaged 13.6 points on 49% shooting since the All-Star break and has shown more mettle defensively than what was expected of him this season.
His fall into the draft’s second round worked out nicely for the Jazz, as Filipowski has been more than passable on the offensive end and benefited from the opportunity to play immediately. He looks like one of the better value picks in the class at the moment.
11. Tristan da Silva, SF, Magic
Drafted: No. 18, Colorado
Key stats: 7.0 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 52.3% TS
Although his role has dwindled of late, da Silva made 36 starts for the Magic and has averaged 21.8 minutes per game, proving a useful fill-in with Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero each missing significant time this season because of injuries.
While not flashy, da Silva’s ability to blend lineups offensively and defend multiple positions makes him a versatile depth player, adding value that doesn’t always show up in his counting stats. He turns 24 on May 15, so the upside might not be immense, but the Magic found immediate utility with him in the mid-first round.
12. Bub Carrington, PG/SG, Wizards
Drafted: No. 14, Pittsburgh
Key stats: 9.6 PPG, 4.3 APG, 51.2% TS
The 19-year-old Carrington leads all rookies in minutes per game, with Washington fully committed to its youth movement. The Wizards haven’t won much as a by-product, but Carrington has flashed his talent (he scored 32 points against the Magic on April 3). He has done a good job limiting turnovers and has above-average size for his position and sharp feel for his age.
He appears to be in a good place developmentally, with room for growth, positioning him as a fixture in the backcourt as Washington continues its rebuild.
13. Ron Holland II, SF, Pistons
Drafted: No. 5, G League Ignite
Key stats: 6.5 PPG, 62% 2FG
Holland didn’t have a big season statistically speaking, but he has filled in a useful role for a surprisingly good Pistons team that is back in the playoffs, supplying energy and solid perimeter defense off the bench. He has started to figure things out down the stretch, with a +6.1 net rating and 64% True Shooting percentage since the All-Star break.
Holland’s 3-point shooting (23%) remains a work in progress, but landing in Detroit, where he has played a far lower-pressure offensive role than he had in the G League, should benefit his development.
14. Isaiah Collier, PG, Jazz
Drafted: No. 29, USC
Key stats: 8.7 PPG, 6.3 APG, 50.2% TS
The Jazz handed Collier the point guard reins in January, and while Utah sits at the bottom of the Western Conference, he has gained valuable experience. He broke franchise legend John Stockton’s team record for rookie assists (416) and now leads all rookies in assists (and turnovers) per game. Collier struggles with his jumper and is mistake-prone, but his aggressiveness and playmaking chops running the offense have been a bright spot.
Once viewed as one of the top overall prospects in the 2024 class, the Jazz took a low-risk swing on Collier after he fell in the draft. Utah might reap some value out of that decision in the long run if he becomes a better shooter and sharpens his decision-making.
15. Jared McCain, SG, 76ers
Drafted: No. 16, Duke
Key stats: 15.3 PPG, 38% 3FG (23 games)
McCain put together an impressive stretch for the undermanned Sixers before a torn meniscus ended his season Dec. 16. Much of it came in the context of losing basketball, but his string of seven straight 20-point games in November was noteworthy.
While he doesn’t have an advantage in the physical tools department, McCain’s above-average shooting ability and basketball IQ will give him an opportunity to build on that in his sophomore season. It was hard to rank him much higher than this due to playing just 23 games this season, but he was deserving of mention at this spot.
16. Quinten Post, C, Warriors
Drafted: No. 52, Boston College
Key stats: 8.5 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 59.6% TS
Post leads all rookies in net rating (+9.1) while playing 18 minutes per game since the All-Star break — a by-product of playing on a good Warriors team — and has filled in nicely and earned a standard contract in February.
Perhaps underrated as a draft prospect after starring on some underwhelming Boston College teams, his ability to space the floor (41% from 3 on more than four attempts per game) has been valuable off the Warriors’ bench since coming up from the G League full time in January.
17. Dalton Knecht, SF, Lakers
Drafted: No. 17, Tennessee
Key stats: 9.9 PPG, 37.2% 3FG
Much was made of Knecht falling in the draft, and while he has seen his minutes dry up off the bench for a much improved Lakers team, his 3-point clip is still tops among rookie wings.
His defensive struggles are a limiting factor, but he has the ability to be a useful specialist and had some nice moments when plugged into the lineup. The Lakers might call upon him in the playoffs if they need offense off the bench.
18. Adem Bona, C, 76ers
Drafted: No. 41, UCLA
Key stats: 5.3 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 71% TS
Although the Sixers have won twice since the start of February, Bona’s productivity has been noteworthy. The second-round pick looks like he might be ready for a consistent role next season. He has averaged 9.8 points and 6.5 rebounds and leads rookies with 1.9 blocks per game since the break, while shooting 69% from the field.
Known for his motor coming out of college, Bona has appeared as advertised in what has mostly been a lost season for the 76ers.
19. Ryan Dunn, SF, Suns
Drafted: No. 28, Virginia
Key stats: 6.5 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 51.1% TS
Dunn became a bench fixture early on in what has been a disappointing season in Phoenix, but he has had a successful individual season relative to expectations. He’s a versatile defender who can guard all over the floor, giving him a long-term pathway to a steady role.
He still struggles on the offensive end, as a reluctant shooter opponents don’t always have to account for, but making 30% of his 3s on three attempts per game was a step forward from where he was in college. Continuing to improve in that area will be critical to Dunn’s long-term success.
20. Ajay Mitchell, SG, Thunder
Drafted: No. 38, UC Santa Barbara
Key stats: 6.4 PPG, 59.5% TS (35 games)
Mitchell is drawing closer to a return from a toe injury that has sidelined him since the start of January. He had become a fixture off the bench for coach Mark Daigneault, playing such a useful role on one of the league’s best teams that his two-way contract was still converted into a standard deal despite the injury.
Mitchell’s poise and ability to handle both backcourt spots helped him earn that spot ahead of schedule, and has made him a nice value pick. His winning contributions, albeit over a short span, earn him the last spot on this list.
Source: espn.com