OKC Thunder: Shakeup at the top of TI’s week 7 rookie ladder

No. 1 – Evan Mobley – Cleveland Cavaliers

Quality week for Evan Mobley as well as his team who are the darlings of NBA League Pass. While many wondered how JB Bickerstaff would make a frontcourt of three bigs 6’11 to 7′ work the answer has been swift.

What pushes Mobley to the top of most boards isn’t just that Cleveland is winning – – it’s that his presence and contributions are essential to those victories.

One site joked you half expect to see grey in his hair because he plays with such maturity that he doesn’t look like a rookie.

Rookie category rankings:

• Blocks: 1.7 – first
• Minutes per game: 34.0 – second
• Double-Doubles: six
• Rebounds: 8.0 – second
• Offensive rebounds: 1.6 – tied second
• Points: 14.1 – tied (Cunningham) second
• Field Goals Made: 5.6 – second
• Steals: 0.9 – ninth
• Assists: 2.7 – sixth
• Turnovers: 1.8 – three-way tie for sixth
• Field Goal Percent: 47.0%
• 3-point field goal percent: 34.2%

In week seven, Mobley delivered two double-doubles (Heat, Jazz) and his team won three of their four matches. His best performance was against the Heat where he registered 17 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, a steal, four blocks, and hit two of his three 3-pointers.

Granted, the Heat were without Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo but the fact he’s delivering in such a pivotal conference match speaks volumes.

His averages for week seven were 12.3 points, nine rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 2.5 blocks.

This rookie of the year race is going to be fun and while Mobley takes the top spot this week there will ample jostling between him and Barnes with OKC Thunder guard Josh Giddey and top draft pick Cade Cunningham keeping things interesting.

Something to keep an eye on is what happens if/when the Raptors change direction. At the moment they are waiting for OG Anunoby and Khem Birch (plus Precious Achuiwa now so both big men) to return from injury. If they don’t keep climbing up the ladder and elect to tank then expect Nick Nurse to let Scottie Barnes loose and if that happens his statistical production could explode.

It’s why as I noted at the start this duo is a tier above the rest. One thing is certain, this is the most exciting rookie race I can remember. Some might say that’s because the Thunder have a horse in the race or because this Canadian is getting to witness the best rookie north of the border since Vince Carter.

I prefer to think it’s because this class is special and instead of just having one or two great rookies like we’ve for the past several seasons this year is jam-packed with talent.