After six weeks of NBA games, the 2021 rookie class is living up to expectations of being an extremely deep class. Yet a handful of rookies have separated themselves including OKC Thunder top draft pick point guard Josh Giddey.
This week he claimed the October-November Rookie of the Month honor in the West alongside Eastern counterpart Evan Mobley. There is plenty to dive into this week including that Eastern award.
Prior to diving into Intentions’ top five a few thoughts on the honorable mention group.
Jalen Suggs was tapped early in the mock draft process by the majority of analysts. He was part of the early elite quintet earmarked as generational talents (and later narrowed to a quartet). Suggs was linked to numerous rumors of teams attempting to trade up to draft him. Pundits declared him falling to fifth was a steal much like they did Jonathan Kuminga dropping to seventh.
This pass by Josh Giddey 🥶
— Ball Don’t Lie (@Balldontlie) November 27, 2021
(via @okcthunder)pic.twitter.com/U2nrHv2VuI
Intentions week six rookie ladder: Josh Giddey cements his place in top five
Yet the teams who defied the experts electing to draft Scottie Barnes (Raptors) and Josh Giddey (OKC Thunder) have since been credited with their logic and potentially outsmarting everyone. That’s not to say Suggs or Kuminga aren’t special talents, rather it simply reinforced just how deep this class is.
After getting out to a slow start Suggs began to find his place with the Magic and while Cole Anthony was out due to injury really found his niche. Through his initial 13 games, he was shooting 31.2 percent from the field and 20.3 from the perimeter with 11.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 0.8 steals.
In his next eight games. his production took only a slight uptick to 13.9 points. 3.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.8 steals. Yet it was his efficiency demonstrated growth improving to 38 percent from the field and 34.2 percent from deep.
Unfortunately, in his 21st game, a Joel Embiid slap at the ball fractured his thumb and he’ll miss significant time. Fortunately, he won’t require surgery but he’ll be out for an extended period and need to re-transition when he returns but he’s definitely made progress and proving why so many analysts had him high on their draft board.
Typically his fellow rookie Franz Wagner makes Intentions’ top five list but this week we’re switching it up to include a rookie who low key is having a solid campaign.
Prior to diving into the top five more hat tips are sent to Davion Mitchell, Jalen Green, Nah’Shon “Bones” Hyland, Chris Duarte, and Herb Jones.