Is This NBA Rookie Class The Worst Ever?

The NBA released the first Rookie Ladder of the season on Wednesday morning. The casual basketball fan would probably look at the list, which includes a 2nd round pick in the top three, and react with the Snoop Dogg "WHO?!" meme.

1. Zach Edey (MEM 9th pick)
2. Bub Carrington (WAS 14th pick)
3. Jaylen Wells (MEM 39th pick)
4. Ryan Dunn (PHX 28th pick)
5. Alex Sarr (WAS 2nd pick)

One name absent from this list is the No. 1 pick from the 2024 NBA Draft, Zacharie Risacher. The reason for this was his stats after eight games: 9.4 PTS, 3.1 REB, 1.1 AST, 33% FG, 21% 3PT, 69% FT.

I'm sure the 19-year-old rook saw and was motivated by the list because he responded a few hours later with one of the best performances by a Hawks rookie in recent memory.

• 33 Points (career high)
• 61% Shooting (career high)
• 7 Rebounds (career high)
• 6 Threes (career high)
• 3 Steals (career high)
• 2 Blocks (t-career high)
• 0 Turnovers
• And the Hawks got the win vs the Knicks

#1 Overall Pick Zaccharie Risacher Drops CAREER-HIGH 33 Points! 🔥| November 6, 2024

That stat line was the first by a rookie in NBA history and made him the first teenager in NBA history with 30 points, 5 threes, and 0 turnovers. I know! I know! Many of you hate these "ESPN stats," but it shows how rare the stat line is.

The No. 1 and 3 on the Rookie Ladder list (both Grizzlies) also played that night. Zach Edey was only on the floor for 15 minutes and finished with a mediocre 8 points and 7 rebounds, but Wells finished with a career-high 20 points on 70% shooting and 5 threes in the win vs the Lakers.

Interestingly, the two most popular rookies from this class also played in this game. 2nd round pick Bronny James checked in with 5 minutes left, hit two free throws, missed both field goals and fouled undrafted Yuki Kawamura, which led to the Grizzlies fan-favorite scoring his first two points in the NBA.

The fact that Bronny and Yuki generate more headlines, clicks and views than any other rookie says a lot about this class. Bronny averages 1 point on 17% shooting after 4 games, and Yuki averages 0.3 points on 0% shooting after 6 games. But, the popularity of these two is more about what they represent and less about what they can actually do.

HOW UNDERWHELMING HAS THIS CLASS BEEN?

Besides the two Grizzlies on the list, the other rookies on the ladder were the Wizards' Carlton "Bub" Carrington and Alex Sarr and the Suns' Ryan Dunn.

Bub made SECOND on this list, averaging 10 points, 5 assists, and 4 boards. Sarr has been impressive on the defensive side with 2.8 blocks and 7 boards per game, but the 7-footer's offensive numbers are awful: 9.8 PTS, 1.7 AST, 36% FG, 20% 3PT, and 79% FT.

I'm not expecting big numbers from Dunn since he's playing with NBA MVP candidate Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal, but after a 16-point game vs the Clippers, he put up back-to-back donuts in limited minutes off the bench.

Here's how a few other top draft picks are doing so far in this early season:

• Reed Sheppard (3rd pick Rockets): 3.4 PTS, 39% FG in 10.6 MINS
• Stephon Castle (4th pick Spurs): 5.9 PTS, 2 AST, 30% FG in 20.6 MINS
• Ron Holland (5th pick Pistons): 6.2 PTS in 14.6 MINS
• Tidjane Salaun (6th pick Hornets): 3.3 PTS, 30% FG in 15.7 MINS
• Donovan Clingan (7th pick Blazers): 4.3 PTS, 5.4 REB, 57% FG in 13 MINS
• Rob Dillingham (8th pick Wolves): 2 PTS, 2 AST, 50% FG in 5.5 MINS!!
• Cody Williams (10th pick Jazz): 4.6 PTS, 3 REB, 28% FG in 23 MINS
• Matas Buzelis (11th pick Bulls): 2.6 PTS, 29% FG in 8 MINS

I'm assuming you aren't making many bets on those guys.

IT WAS ALL GOOD JUST A YEAR AGO

Chet & Wemby's Year 1 Highlights Are INSANE 😲

Do you remember how much fun you had watching and betting on last year's rookie class?

We had Victor Wembanyama putting up historic numbers while making plays we have never seen a human do before. Chet Holmgren was backing up the "White KD" talk. Jaimi Jaquez was looking like an early 6th Man of the Year candidate. Ausar Thompson was putting up AK-47 lines on the dreadful Pistons. You also had the other Thompson brother, a Brandon, a Brandin, Dereck Lively II, and an 18-year-old named GG playing well enough to call the draft class one of the best in recent memory.

At the end of the season, we were sure we were looking at a couple of future All-Stars and possibly All-NBA players, including Brandon Miller, who made a game-winning shot last night. Then you have guys like Keyonte George (who just scored a career-high 33), Gradey Dick (averaging 20 PTS), and Bilal Coulibaly (18 PTS) having impressive sophomore seasons.

WHAT WAS THE WORST CLASS?

When the NBA shared its Rookie Ladder on social, the most common reply was "Worst class ever." For the past couple of decades, the class that is unanimously known as the "worst ever" is the 2000 one.

On the surface, a class that only produced three All-Stars and a single All-NBA entry (3rd team, too) is a great candidate. But if you look a little closer, the draft is better than some say.

Meet The 2000 NBA Draft Class: The WORST Draft In NBA History!

KENYON MARTIN

The No. 1 pick only made one All-Star team but averaged 14 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.3 STL, 1.2 BLK over 10 years and played another 5. He also brought defense, toughness, and intangibles that didn't appear in the box scores. And if his Nets team didn't have to play against the unstoppable 3-peat Lakers and 2003 Spurs in the NBA Finals, he might have had a couple of rings.

JAMAL CRAWFORD

The 8th pick is one of the best players who never made an All-Star team. During his 20(!) NBA seasons, he won 6th Man of The Year three times, is the oldest player in NBA history to score 50, and the first to score 50 with 4 different teams:

• CHI (04) 50 PTS, 18-34 FG, 6 3PT
• NYK (07) 52 PTS, 20-30 FG, 8 3PT
• GSW (08) 50 PTS, 14-26 FG, 5 3PT
• PHX (19) 51 PTS, 18-30 FG, 7 3PT

He's also 12th all-time in career threes and has over ten game-winning shots. On top of that, he's one of the most influential players to today's generation of NBA players.

MICHAEL REDD

The 43rd pick is the sole All-NBA member of the class. But when you are talking about the Redeem Team member's accomplishments, here are a few reasons why he's considered a Bucks legend:

• 57 PTS (2nd most Bucks history)
• 8 3PTS in 1 Q (2nd in NBA history)
• 6 x Avg 20+ PTS

HEDO TURKOGLU

The 16th pick was an essential part of the early 2000s Kings team and one of the most clutch players in Magic history. He also won Most Improved Player in 2008 after averaging 20 points, 6 boards and 5 assists.

JAMAAL MAGLOIRE

The 19th pick is known for being one of the most unlikely NBA All-Stars and covering his eyes while dunking in games (seriously, Google it). As shocking as it might sound that the Hornets center made it to an All-Star game, he actually led the East with 19 points and 8 rebounds.

DARIUS MILES

The 3rd pick right out of high school seemed like a star in the making. He had Nike commercials, magazine covers, a starring role in a movie with Chris Evans and Scarlett Johansson, and was part of the fun Knuckleheads team in LA. Despite flashes of potential with the Clippers and Blazers (career-high 47 points), he never came close to living up to the "Next KG" hype.

THE REST

Fifteen players from this class played 10+ years in the NBA, and 9 averaged double-figure points throughout. Included in those 9 are 2 x NBA Champion Mike Miller, 6th Man Candidate Quentin Richardson, Mo Peterson, and high-flying Desmond Mason, who averaged 14+ points for the three different teams.

IN CONCLUSION

I know it's ridiculous to make assumptions about players' careers while they are in their late teens and early 20s after just a couple of weeks.

Still, most of us were calling this class one of the weakest ever before the draft even happened, and considering these rookies are having one of the worst starts in NBA history, they seem like they have a decent chance at finally taking the title of "Worst class ever" from the 2000 one. Hopefully, they are off to just slow starts to long successful careers.

Don't worry! Next year will be a great one with Cooper "Maine Event" Flagg, Ace Bailey, and VJ Edgecombe, who did this to the opposing coach's son a few days ago.

Baylor Basketball (M): Every Angle of VJ Edgecombe's Nasty Dunk at Gonzaga