1. Andrew Wiggins – SF – Minnesota Timberwolves –14.1 PPG, 4.3 APG, 1.8 APG – Wiggins continues to soar in the month of January, averaging 21.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.9 assists to go along with 47.8 percent field goal shooting. The award is basically his to lose at this point, as no other rookie is even averaging double-digits in scoring currently. Wiggins’s once-dismal shooting has steadily improved each month since November, earning him even more minutes and focus in the Timberwolves’ offensive schemes. Wiggins scored a season-high 31 points on 11-of-17 shooting against Denver on Jan. 17th, which coincidentally was also Minnesota’s second victory of 2015.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlFCVvECDe0
2. Nerlens Noel – C – Philadelphia 76ers –8.1 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 1.6 BPG – Yes, the 76ers have just four wins in January, but they’ve already equaled their win total from the month prior, with nine days to spare. Noel’s improving play is a big reason for their “surge”, and he’s getting it done on both ends of the court. His shooting still needs work, but he is managing to hit 45.1 percent of his shots since Jan 2nd. Noel is leading all rookies in blocks per game, but what’s even more impressive is the fact that he’s leading all centers in the league with 1.5 steals per game. Noel’s increasing offensive efficiency and all-around defensive play is a commodity among more than just rookies, especially in a league where dominant big-men are getting harder to find. Watching Noel play is like watching a throwback center from the days when NBA championships were impossible to win without a player manning the middle with skills like his.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Amxi4KObPek
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3. Elfrid Payton – PG – Orlando Magic – 7.6 PPG, 5.6 APG, 3.6 RPG – Payton has seen his minutes per game increase to 33.1 for the month of January, and for good reason. In addition to raising his assist-to-turnover ratio to nearly 3-to-1, he has also joined in on the current top rookie trend of raising his field goal percentage, and is currently shooting a very respectable 46.1 percent for the month. Payton is also shooting 71 percent from the line in 2015, and while that is definitely not something to brag about, it’s certainly better than the ridiculous 44 percent he shot back in December. His 22-point, 12-assist game against Memphis on Jan. 16th was a glimpse of the play we could soon be seeing on a regular basis. Payton’s confidence, just like his incredible hair, is growing a little more each game, and he’s proving more and more to be a steal even as the 10th overall pick.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Z9MjGTHPpc
4. Tarik Black – PF – Los Angeles Lakers – 5.0 PPG, 5.1 RPG – Black’s move into the top five this week has as much to do with his surging play as it does the current regressions of K.J. McDaniels and Nikola Mirotic. Black’s initial debut with the Lakers since being claimed off waivers from Houston was nothing worth noticing, but a 14-point, 9-rebound, 4-of-4 shooting performance in just 17 minutes in his home debut one game later won the admiration of not only head coach Byron Scott, but several of his new teammates as well. Since joining the Lakers, Black is averaging 7.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, and a very respectable 66.7 percent field goal percentage. Things are definitely looking up for the undrafted Kansas alum.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChPOb-tcitQ
5. K.J. McDaniels – SG – Philadelphia 76ers – 9.0 PPG, 3.7 APG, 1.4 APG – McDaniels’ scoring has remained fairly consistent this month, but my goodness, his shooting. The late 2nd round pick has shot below 30 percent in six games already this month, and has wavered defensively somewhat as well. Still, he’s 2nd among active rookies in scoring and blocks, the latter especially impressive considering the fact that he is a 6-foot-6 wing player. Look for McDaniels to move back up in the rankings if he can get his shooting back on track. The 76ers’ future continues to look bright, even at 8-34.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dx0hi9y48f8
Also worth mentioning: Nikola Mirotic, Chicago Bulls, Marcus Smart, Boston Celtics, Jusuf Nurkic, Denver Nuggets, Shabazz Napier, Miami Heat.
