When Jabari Parker and Julius Randle went down with season-ending injuries early in the season, Andrew Wiggins stepped in as the favorite for the NBA’s top rookie, steadily improving in nearly every stat category as each game passed while taking on the role of scoring leader for a woeful Minnesota team. But now, with just two weeks left in the regular season, his long stay at No.1 is being seriously threatened by two others, with only a handful of games left to separate the contenders.
1. Andrew Wiggins – SF – Minnesota Timberwolves
Season averages: 16.3 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 1.9 APG, 1.1 SPG, 43% FG
It’s getting down to the wire as the season winds down for Wiggins, but for now, he is still on top. He’s scored below 20 points just one time in his past seven games while keeping his shooting around the 43 percent range, and appears to be growing more confident each game with his leadership role, even this late in the season. Wiggins is also getting to the free-throw line more frequently, to the tune of 8.1 attempts per game since March 2.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGjrZX0MhVc
If you are in the camp of Nerlens Noel or Nikola Mirotic, Timberwolves coach Flip Saunders has some words for you.
“(Wiggins) is the most dominant rookie,” Saunders recently told the St. Paul Pioneer Press. “He’s playing in a situation where because we’ve been so undermanned, he is the guy. Like (on March 30), when we got the ball, he had three people over there trying to guard him. This has helped him and it will help him even more when we get veteran guys back and surround him with our other guys, too.”
While it’s true that the other rookies on this list have come on strong in the last few months, Wiggins has been producing at a high rate all season long, not just in spurts. When taking in the full body of work over the season, his resume is the strongest…for now.
2. Nerlens Noel – C – Philadelphia 76ers
Season averages: 10.2 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 1.9 BPG, 1.8 SPG, 1.7 APG, 46% FG
Noel began the season as somewhat of a niche player, grabbing a respectable amount of rebounds while throwing in some steals and blocks to boot. The thing is, he’s obviously no longer a niche player, or even a “pretty good post player for a rookie.” Noel is now a bonafide interior force that can stand toe-to-toe with any player in the league. Don’t let his season stats fool you — Noel has improved each month of the season, and is currently peaking after averaging 14.3 points, 11.2 rebounds, 2.1 blocks, and 2.4 steals per game since March 1. He could very well overtake Wiggins in the final weeks of the season if his production stays along that level, as he is finally earning the respect of Rookie of the Year voters outside of the Northeast. Stay tuned.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aOK9xUkAMg
3. Nikola Mirotic – PF – Chicago Bulls
Season averages: 9.9 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 1.2 APG, 41% FG
The 24 year old forward burst onto the scene in late November and into December, providing a pleasant surprise to a Bulls roster that has had plenty to hang their collective heads about this season. But just as suddenly as he emerged, Mirotic spent the early part of 2015 on the bench after a terrible shooting slump and mediocre overall play. Since March however, he has experienced a resurgence, thanks to improved shooting and defensive play. As of March 1, Mirotic is averaging 19.4 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.0 blocks, and 43 percent field goal shooting while hitting 84 percent of his free-throws. His play has kept the Bulls afloat in their pursuit of a high playoff seed without Derrick Rose, which is no small feat.
If Mirotic can string together some more double-double performances as the season ends, he could very well find himself atop the rookie ladder when all is said and done.
4. Jordan Clarkson – PG – Los Angeles Lakers
Season averages: 10.9 PPG, 3.1 APG, 3.1 RPG, 44% FG
Clarkson is one of the better stories in the NBA this season, even while playing for a terrible Lakers team. Originally a late second round draft pick, Clarkson went through multiple assignments with the Lakers D-League affiliate before seeing significant playing time towards the end of January. Since then, he has routinely scored in double figures, eclipsing the 20+ point mark several times while shooting at a respectable percentage as a rookie running an offense.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhJCMUfzk3Q
As of March 1, Clarkson is averaging 16.5 points, 5.4 assists, 5.0 rebounds, and 48 percent shooting. One has to wonder where Clarkson would be rankings-wise if he’d been playing all season.
5. Elfrid Payton – PG – Orlando Magic
Season averages: 8.9 PPG, 6.3 APG, 4.3 RPG, 1.6 SPG, 42% FG
It’s been a rough go at times this season for Payton, but he finally seems to be overcoming some negative aspects of his game as the season nears the finish line. Payton is a pure point guard in every aspect, somewhat in the mold of a Rajon Rondo, which unfortunately means he also comes packaged with some woeful shooting. There is hope however. In a season that has seen Payton post a few 0-for-whatevers from the field, as well as some airballed free-throws, it appears that his shooting is on the mend. Since March 1, Payton is shooting 58 percent from the line. That may not sound very impressive, but it’s way better than the combined 47 percent Payton posted in November and December combined. He’s shooting 45 percent from the field since then as well, and managed to post back-to-back triple-doubles in March. Things are certainly looking up for Payton and the Magic.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8hDexPPA2Q
