Top 10 Best NBA Rookies 2023-2024 Rankings

Ranking the best NBA Rookies so far in the 2023-2024 NBA Season as Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs leads the way

By Sunday Umoh | April 29, 2024

The next wave of NBA Stars has taken the court by storm during the 2023-2024 NBA Season. After what looked to be a loaded 2023 NBA Draft Class, the hype and expectations around the league are paying off as an extensive list of first year stars have taken strides during their first season playing within the NBA. One of those stars is the San Antonio Spurs big man and dynamic all around star Victor Wembanyama. The Spurs newcomer is ranked atop the Top 10 Best NBA Rookies 2023-2024 Rankings list while highlighting his talents on both ends of the hardwood.

Wembanyama who had played the previous two seasons with the Metropolitans 92 of the LNB Pro A league, was the number one overall selection during the 2023 NBA Draft.

Since being taking number one overall, Wembanyama has done a little bit of everything for the Spurs including averaging a double double during his rookie season while averaging 20.6 points per game and 10.2 rebounds per game.

As Wembanyama headlines the best rookies in the NBA, the list chasing him are also talented including Chet Holmgren of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Jaime Jaquez Jr of the Miami Heat, Dereck Lively II of the Dallas Mavericks, and Brandon Miller of the Charlotte Hornets.

Here is a look at the Top 10 Best NBA Rookies 2023-2024 Rankings:

Honorable Mention

Toumani Camara

Team: Portland Trail Blazers

Position: Small Forward

Previous Ranking: Unranked

Another talented rookie who is a member of the Portland Trail Blazers roster is Toumani Camara who was a key member of the Dayton Flyers.

Camara, who was selected during the second round of the 2023 NBA Draft has shown flashes of his potential including posting just his second double double of the season in his last outing for the Trail Blazers.

Overall, the Flyers forward has averaged 7.3 points per game to start his NBA career while also adding 5 rebounds, 1.1 assists and one steal per contest this season.

Ausar Thompson

Team: Detroit Pistons

Position: Small Forward

Previous Ranking: 7

Just missing the best rookies in the NBA is the Detroit Pistons forward rookie Ausar Thompson who the team selected with the team’s fifth overall draft pick. Thompson, whose brother was also selected during the 2023 NBA Draft is averaging 8.8 points per game to go along with 6.4 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game.

Overall, the talented rookie ranks 4^th among all NBA rookies in rebounds per game while also ranking 4^th in the NBA in steals per game among the rookie class while posting one steal per contest.

Top 10 Best NBA Rookies

10. GG Jackson

Team: Memphis Grizzlies

Position: Small Forward

Previous Ranking: Unranked

Coming in at number 10 on the Top 10 Best NBA Rookies 2023-2024 Rankings list is the Memphis Grizzlies rookie GG Jackson. Jackson, who was drafted during the second round of the 2023 NBA Draft is an interesting weapon at the small forward position while slowly playing himself into a role player for the Grizzlies this season.

This includes a hot stretch since February 1^st that has seen the former South Carolina Gamecocks star averaging 15.1 points per game while turning in three games with at least twenty points over that stretch. In all Jackson is averaging 12.3 points per game to go along with 3.6 rebounds while shooting 43 percent from the field.

9. Cam Whitmore

Team: Houston Rockets

Position: Small Forward

Previous Ranking: Unranked

As the Houston Rockets continue to add and build a strong young nucleus, Cam Whitmore is just another piece of the puzzle while delivering the team a versatile forward who can do a little bit of everything. This includes shooting 36.1 percent from behind the three-point line and 46.4 percent from the field.

Whitmore who has been limited to just thirty-eight games to start his NBA Career has added 3.9 rebounds to his overall performance this season while also adding twelve points per game while shooting 46.4 percent from the field over his limited action on the hardwood this season.

8. Brandin Podziemski

Team: Golden State Warriors

Position: Shooting Guard

Previous Ranking: Unranked

When you play alongside the talented trio of Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green, there is an excellent chance you may get overlooked. This includes Brandin Podziemski who managed a variety of roles within the Golden State Warriors lineup including at the shooting guard position mostly.

Podziemski, despite seeing limited time over the season has seen an uptick in playing time as well as his overall abilities to lead the team. The Warriors rookie is averaging just below 10 points per game (9.7) while also adding 5.8 rebounds and 4 assists per game. Podziemski has added four games with at least twenty points while also adding five double double performances.

7. Scoot Henderson

Team: Portland Trail Blazers

Position: Shooting Guard

Previous Ranking: 3

What could have been the performance and talent level of the Portland Trail Blazers had Damian Lillard remained with the team this season. Nonetheless despite not having a premier star alongside of him Scott Henderson continues to showcase his potential night in and night out.

This includes a red-hot stretch of games to open up February before going down with an ankle injury. Over those four games Henderson was averaging 18.3 points per game to go along with six assists and 3.8 rebounds per game.

Overall, the former NBA G League Ignite star ranks fifth among all NBA Rookies in scoring while averaging 12.6 points per game to start his NBA career.

6. Keyonte George

Team: Utah Jazz

Position: Point Guard

Previous Ranking: 10

One of the budding future stars of the NBA Keyonte George has slowly continued to develop as one of the top young point guards of the NBA over his first season.

George, who was selected by the Utah Jazz with the 16^th overall selection, delivers a strong all-around guard who can not only facilitate the team’s offensive but also has the ball handling skills to open up his own shots and open up his teammate’s shots.

The former Baylor Bears star has averaged 12.5 points per game to start the season however over his last ten games, George has been hot averaging 14.3 points per game and nearly five assists over that stretch.

Overall, the Jazz newcomer guard has averaged 2.8 rebounds and 4.4 assists to start the season to go along with those 12 points per game.

5. Jaime Jaquez Jr.

Team: Miami Heat

Position: Shooting Guard

Previous Ranking: Unranked

Rounding out the Top 5 on the Top 10 Best NBA Rookies 2023-2024 Rankings list is the Miami Heat newcomer shooting guard Jaime Jaquez Jr.

Jaquez Jr has had an interesting rookie season within the NBA that includes the former UCLA Bruins star competing in the 2024 NBA Dunk Contest at the NBA All-Star Weekend.

Jaquez who has appeared in fifty-two games this season has been brilliant at times during his rookie season including posting five games with at least twenty points while still earning his playing time. The Heat newcomer has averaged 12.9 point per game to start his career while adding 3.9 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game this season.

4. Dereck Lively II

Team: Dallas Mavericks

Position: Center

Previous Ranking: 8

Just one season ago Dereck Lively II ranked among the top incoming freshmen in college basketball while being projected as one of the top NBA Draft picks during the 2024 NBA draft.

Now fast forward to 2024 and the Dallas Mavericks center ranks among the best players in the NBA while being a force downlow all season for the Mavericks. The first-year star from the Duke Blue Devils has averaged 9 points per game to go along with 7 rebounds and 1.2 assists.

Even more important has been the big man’s strong defense that has limited opposing big men and other players opportunities to score. Lively II is currently averaging 1.5 blocked shots per game to go along with almost 1 steal.

3. Brandon Miller

Team: Charlotte Hornets

Position: Small Forward

Previous Ranking: 2

Coming out of college after his strong freshman season with the Alabama Crimson Tide, Brandon Miller has been as advertised during his first season playing in the NBA.

The 21-year-old rookie has been a bright spot for the Charlotte Hornets all season while ranking third among all NBA rookies while averaging 16.8 points per game over his first 52 games this season.

In addition to ranking third among all rookies in scoring, Miller is just one of three rookies to average at least fifteen points to start his NBA career this season. To go along with the scoring, Miller has added 4.2 rebounds, nearly one steal (.9) and 2.5 assists per game. From the field Miller is shooting 43.9 percent including 37.1 percent from behind the three-point line.

2. Chet Holmgren

Team: Oklahoma City Thunder

Position: Power Forward

Previous Ranking: Unranked

A second rookie dominating during his first season on the hardwood is the Oklahoma City Thunder rookie Chet Holmgren. Holmgren, who was selected last year, missed all of last season due to a foot injury that required Lisfranc surgery to repair.

The former Gonzaga Bulldogs big man has bounced back strong from the injury while being as dynamic as any player in the league on both ends of the floor.

The seven-foot one inch Holmgren is averaging 16.8 points per game to go along with 7.8 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. Meanwhile Holmgren has added 2.5 blocked shots per game and .6 steals per contest on the defensive end of the floor.

1. Victor Wembanyama

Team: San Antonio Spurs

Position: Center

Previous Ranking: 1

In at number one on the Top 10 Best NBA Rookies 2023-2024 Rankings list is the San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama.

Wembanyama has posted a stellar rookie season posting multiple rare feats including posting a stat line that featured five steals and five blocks in one contest, a triple double that featured ten blocked shots, as well a traditional triple double that featured twenty-seven points, fourteen rebounds, and ten assists.

Overall Wembanyama has averaged 20.7 points per game to go along with 10.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists. Meanwhile the Spurs big man is also averaging 3.4 blocked shots per game and 1.3 steals per game.

With a few months remaining during the NBA regular season the Spurs big man is in the driver’s seat to the 2023-2024 NBA Rookie of the Year Award.

How would you rank the best NBA rookies so far into the 2023-2024 NBA Season? Rank below to be added in the NBA Rookie Rankings.