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NBA Rookie Report – Top rookie performers through January 1, 2017

By Tamberlyn Richardson

Dec 1, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Malcolm Brogdon (13) advances the ball during the first quarter against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 1, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Malcolm Brogdon (13) advances the ball during the first quarter against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 20, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Terrence Jones (9) looks for an opening past Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) and forward Ersan Ilyasova (7) and forward Dario Saric (9) during the second quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 20, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Terrence Jones (9) looks for an opening past Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) and forward Ersan Ilyasova (7) and forward Dario Saric (9) during the second quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

CBS Sports – Ananth Pandian:

Like Howard-Cooper list Ananth Pandian of CBS Sports list shifted. Over the 3 weeks, several players climbed up the ladder, some fell, and still, others replaced rooks who had been on his list consistently.  Making a triumphant return to the list in the past 2 weeks is Thunder rookie Domantas Sabonis.

Week 8:

  1. Joel Embiid – Sixers
  2. Jamal Murray – Nuggets
  3. Malcolm Brogdon – Bucks
  4.  Brandon Ingram – Lakers
  5. Dario Saric – Sixers
  6. Pascal Siakam – Raptors
  7. Isaiah Whitehead – Nets
  8.  Andrew Harrison – Grizzlies
  9. Willy Hernangomez – Knicks
  10. Buddy Hield – Pelicans

Week 9:

  1. Joel Embiid – Sixers
  2. Malcolm Brogdon – Bucks
  3. Dario Saric – Sixers
  4.  Brandon Ingram – Lakers
  5. Buddy Hield – Pelicans
  6. Isaiah Whitehead – Nets
  7. Jamal Murray – Nuggets
  8.  Andrew Harrison – Grizzlies
  9. Domantas Sabonis
  10. Pascal Siakam – Raptors

As per his 9th listing of Sabonis, here’s what Pandian had to say:

A consistent starter for Oklahoma City, Sabonis was left off the rankings last week due to a stretch of bad shooting performances. Yet Sabonis snapped out of his slump and scored a career-high 20 points in the Thunder‘s 117-112 win over the Celtics on Friday. He remains one of the better shooters on the Thunder, shooting 44.7 percent and 41.6 percent from beyond the arc.

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Week 10:

  1. Joel Embiid – Sixers
  2. Malcolm Brogdon – Bucks
  3. Buddy Hield – Pelicans
  4. Dario Saric – Sixers
  5.  Andrew Harrison – Grizzlies
  6. Isaiah Whitehead – Nets
  7. Brandon Ingram – Lakers
  8. Pascal Siakam – Raptors
  9. Jamal Murray – Nuggets
  10. Domantas Sabonis

Sabonis fell down a spot on Pandian’s list due to a poor week of shooting:

Like Murray, Sabonis has also struggled with his shot as of late. He failed to score in the Thunder‘s 98-94 loss to the Bucks on Monday and has only hit one three in the Oklahoma City’s last five games. Sabonis is one of the better shooters on the Thunder, so to put it mildly that is a problem. His overall strong shooting numbers — 49.3 percent and 39.3 percent from three — keep him in the rankings this week.

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