The pool of gamers who will take part throughout the Rising Stars Recreation at All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis was introduced earlier this week, and 11 NBA rookies had been named as a part of the occasion. There have been no actual surprises, with the checklist being highlighted by Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren, and it confirmed how deep this rookie class is. This is the checklist of the rookies who will probably be taking part:

Now let’s transfer on to this week’s rankings. Take into account that these rankings will mirror a rookie’s efficiency on a week-to-week foundation solely, not the collective season. These aren’t Rookie of the Yr standings, however somewhat a mirrored image on what the participant has finished over the previous week. With that straightened out, here’s a take a look at the highest 5 performers from the NBA’s freshman class:

I ponder after we’ll begin to actually see groups actually keep away from attacking the rim with Wembanyama lurking beneath the basket, as a result of at this level you want good luck with that gameplan. Wembanyama put up 5 blocks towards the Magic, and on one event he confirmed why even while you suppose you have bought him beat, he recovers extremely effectively as a result of his size.

Jonathan Isaac made an amazing backdoor minimize, and if the Magic had been taking part in towards anybody else exterior of possibly two different guys within the league — Rudy Gobert and Chet Holmgren — he possible will get this straightforward bucket. However Wembanyama was there to stuff him on the rim.

Even while you attempt to barely pull him out of the paint to get a neater take a look at the rim, Wembanyama’s instincts are already simply too good to slip over as the assistance defender and swat the ball away.

An excellent rule of thumb going ahead appears like until Wembanyama is defending out on the 3-point line, count on him to come back flying in to contest the shot. Even then he covers a lot house in two steps that it in all probability will not work anyway.

After the Rockets’ beatdown of the Lakers earlier this week, Darvin Ham had excessive reward for Whitmore, who completed the evening with 20 factors on 7-of-12 capturing from the ground. “The child goes to be particular, man,” Ham stated. He additionally referred to as Whitmore a “vivid younger celebrity,” previous to that sport, and for good cause. His versatility as somebody who can rating with or with out the ball in his arms is a useful asset on the Rockets, and when he will get going downhill it is like he is been shot out of a cannon. 

The management Whitmore shows when he will get out in transition, and his means to complete in site visitors is spectacular for a rookie. He additionally has supreme confidence and is not afraid to again down from a problem, even when LeBron James and Anthony Davis are surrounding him within the paint.

That little trade on the finish, the place Whitmore arms the ball again to LeBron as a little bit of showmanship was simply the icing on high of what was a standout efficiency from the Rockets rookie. Oh, and Whitmore’s change into a dependable 3-point risk for the Rockets, which they sorely want because the rank twenty seventh within the league in that class. However Whitmore is capturing 39.3% from deep this season, which ranks highest on the Rockets amongst gamers who’re taking three or extra makes an attempt per sport this season. 

Miller has reached the 20-point mark in six of his final eight video games, highlighted by a 29-point outing towards the Knicks, the place he shot the ball extremely effectively from in every single place on the ground. There’s an actual smoothness to Miller’s sport, and he does not ever appear rushed or pressured when the protection collapses on him or a assist defender comes over. He additionally reads the protection very well, and is aware of the way to manipulate the opponent to get what he desires. Simply look that this drive that led to a simple layup on the rim:

He units this up by faking for only a cut up second that he was going to tug up for a deep 3-pointer, which Donte DiVincenzo learn, so he jumped out to restrict his house. However earlier than the Knicks guard may actually get set, Miller’s already blowing previous him with DiVincenzo on his hip. Then as he is driving into the center of the paint, Miller sees he is caught the eye of Quentin Grimes who exhibits assist by slacking off Caleb Martin. However Miller fakes a cross out to Martin on the 3-point line which causes Grimes to slip out of the paint, releasing up an open lane to the rim for the rookie. It is a high-IQ play from Miller, and atypical from what we often see out of rookies who would both get flustered in that state of affairs and attempt to power a shot up in site visitors, or cross the ball out as a result of they do not belief their skills.

I lately wrote about how vital Full of life’s change into to the Mavericks, a lot in order that Dallas’ protection permits 5 fewer factors when he is on the ground in comparison with when he sits. Within the grand scheme of issues that won’t seem to be quite a bit, however while you consider that the Mavericks have a bottom-tier protection, his presence issues drastically on a nightly foundation. This week, it was his offense that had a major influence for Dallas. He had 20 factors towards the Orlando Magic on a close to good 8 of 9 from the ground. He is clearly a continuing lob risk, both out of the pick-and-roll, or lurking within the low submit ready for one in all Dallas’ many guards to toss him up one thing he can instantly throw down with power. However he additionally strikes extremely effectively to make sure he is all the time accessible for one in all Luka Doncic’s loopy passes. 

Holmgren skilled his worst capturing month of the season up to now, and but he is nonetheless shot 51.5% from the sphere and 34.8% from deep. That is a “dangerous” month for the rookie, which says quite a bit about how elite he is been this season. However amidst the capturing “hunch” — which does not embody the 18-point outing in a win towards the Nuggets this week the place he shot 53.8% from the sphere and went 3 of 4 from deep — Holmgren continues to make an influence in different methods, primarily along with his rebounding and shot blocking. In opposition to the Nuggets he racked up 13 rebounds and 5 blocks, and it is actually loopy how even while you suppose Holmgren will not get to a block, he one way or the other winds up deflecting the shot. He did that a number of occasions towards the Nuggets, proving as soon as once more that his influence goes past simply his scoring.