As we near the NBA All-Star break, the league’s newest class continues to make their mark.
The NBA All-Star break is inbound, and with it several rookies will get their first look at All-Star weekend.
All but one of the players on the most updated Draft Digest rookie ladder were named to the 2023 Jordan Rising Stars, save for Houston’s Tari Eason, who would’ve been a fine addition to the team.
Paolo Banchero and Bennedict Mathurin are the headliners, followed by the likes of Jaden Ivey, Jalen Williams, Keegan Murray and more.
On the newest iteration of the Draft Digest ladder, Williams has taken the leap to No. 3 following a stellar week of play in the absence of Thunder starter Luguentz Dort.
With Dort out, Williams shouldered more of the offensive load, and it payed dividends for his production: In three games, he averaged 20.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.3 assists.
Despite Oklahoma City being 1-2 in that stretch, Williams had a tremendous impact for the team when on-court. He’s looked like a bona fide star over the last week, and preseason reports of teammates calling him a future All-Star aren’t starting to look far fetched.
Other notables are Ivey and Murray, who slipped to four and five, respectively.
Jeremy Sochan was the largest riser of the week. With free reign of the San Antonio offense, Sochan averaged 20.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game, showcasing his premier talent in all facets of the game.
The top again remains unchanged, with Orlando’s Paolo Banchero, Indiana’s Bennedict Mathurin and Detroit’s Jaden Ivey holding the top three spots. The top two, for now, have yet to be contested.
Here is the full Draft Digest rookie ladder:
1. Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic
2. Bennedict Mathurin, Indiana Pacers
3. Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder
4. Jaden Ivey, Detroit Pistons
5. Keegan Murray, Sacramento Kings
6. Jeremy Sochan, San Antonio Spurs
7. Walker Kessler, Utah Jazz
8. Jabari Smith Jr., Houston Rockets
9. Tari Eason, Houston Rockets
10. Jalen Duren, Detroit Pistons
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