OKC Thunder: Giddey stays in top 5 of TI’s week 3 rookie ladder

No. 1 – Scottie Barnes – Toronto Raptors

Rookie category rankings:

• Points: 16.6 – first
• Rebounds: 8.7 – first
• Offensive rebounds: 3.1 – first
• Field Goals Made: 7.2 – first
• Double-Doubles: two (third)
• Steals: 1.1 – third
• Blocks: 0.7 – third
• Assists: 2.4 – seventh
• Field Goal Percent: 52.4%

As noted in the Mobley section, I debated the placement of the top two but Scottie Barnes got the nod for his body of work, consistency, and placement in the statistical categories (four first places and three thirds). Moreover, like Mobley, he’s positively affecting his teammates and impacting winning.

He missed two (of four) games last week suffering a sprained thumb at the end of the Magic match but returned looking as sharp as ever.

His first game back was against the Cavaliers and a matchup versus former roommate Mobley. The duo spent a good portion of the game matched up against each other (as detailed on the prior page) with both performing well, but while Mobley scored more it was Barnes who played closer to his typical stat line.

And, he came oh so close to winning the game. As OG Anunoby’s shot hit the rim Barnes miss-timed his first jump to tap in the ball and by the time he recovered to once again beat everyone around him it was literally  0.1 seconds too late.

The one minor slippage was in the final match of the week versus the Nets. Barnes made only seven shot attempts and subsequently, his typical point tally dipped.

This was also Pascal Siakam’s season debut so there will be an adjustment period. Given Siakam’s shoulder rehab following offseason surgery, he didn’t participate in training camp so the former MIP and rookie haven’t had time to develop any chemistry.

While Barnes only scored eight points (at his typical high efficiency: 57.1%),  he still filled up the stat sheet collecting seven rebounds, four assists, and snared five steals.

One steal, in particular, made an impression on superstar Kevin Durant and set Twitter on fire.  After the game, KD sang Barnes praises citing his I.Q, length, enthusiasm, calling him a “team” player who makes winning basketball plays. It’s worth clinking the link to watch the video because you literally can see 33-year old KD stop and absorb the fact Barnes is 20-years old.

“I think a lot of young guys in the league have that competitive fire, but he has something a little extra as far as seeing the game a little slower and that’s rare for a guy, how old is he 19? –  20?  – – I mean  Sheesh!” After absorbing that fact and shaking his head KD added “He knows how to play the right way you know, and he’s only going to get better.”

Barnes taking the top spot isn’t to suggest he’s definitively better than Mobley. Rather, he arrived with an NBA-ready body to the pros giving him more advantages facing players of the same physiques.

Picking one over the other is like asking which child you love more. Barnes is bubbling over with energy, enthusiasm, and raw power while Mobley is a 7 footer who moves with fluidity and grace.

They both are highly intelligent, have great instincts, and their defensive games are already so strong they rank on leader boards with perennial All-Defensive talents.

Either way with these two excelling, Cunningham improving with each game, OKC Thunder guard, Giddy making us proud and the horde of others excelling it’s going to be a really fun year for rookies.