Top 10 NBA Rookie Leaders – December 2021 Rankings

Ranking the future of the league in our NBA Rookie Ladder such as Jalen Suggs, Evan Mobley, Cade Cunningham, and more as Scottie Barnes moves up the rankings this month

By admin | December 20, 2021

The new faces of the NBA are slowly emerging around the hardwood as the 2021-22 NBA Draft class continues to solidify their status among the best basketball players around the World. The 2021-22 NBA Draft class was loaded with young talented stars who have the talent to become the next wave of great talent for the NBA.

At the top of that NBA Rookie of the Year list was the number one overall pick by the Detroit Pistons Cade Cunningham out of Oklahoma State while other top draft picks included the likes of Jalen Green out of the G League Ignite roster, Evan Mobley from USC, Scottie Barnes from Florida State and Jalen Suggs out of Gonzaga. While these were just a few of the top stars drafted, the NBA has seen a ton of production from the 2021-22 NBA Draft class.

With that said, here is our list of the Top 10 NBA Rookies

Honorable Mention

Bones Hyland

Team: Denver Nuggets

The 26th overall pick out of Virginia Commonwealth is putting together a solid rookie campaign for Denver Nuggets to start the season. Hyland enters the second full week of December as one of the top rookies to enter the league and a promising young star at the point guard position.

On the year, Hyland is averaging 8.3 points a game to go along with 1.7 rebound and 1.7 assists per contest. After a slow start, Hyland has seen his production increase in December as he has averaged 10 points per game over the first three games of the month.

Jeremiah Robinson-Earl

Team: Oklahoma City Thunder

The second round draft pick out of Villanova has been a bright spot for the Oklahoma City Thunder this year as he has shown his potential and his ability to play at the NBA level.

Jeremiah Robinson-Earl is averaging seven points a game to go along with 5.8 rebounds per contests as well as .8 assists. The Thunder rookie is ranked 13th among all rookies in points per game and fifth among all rookies averaging 5.8 rebounds to start the season.

Top 10 NBA Rookies

10. Alperen Sengun

Team: Houston Rockets

Alperen Sengun continues to put together a solid 2021 campaign for the Houston Rockets as he averaged nine points a game to go along with 4.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists.

Sengun, who was selected out of Turkey, has the size at 6’10’’ and overall athletic abilities to emerge as a solid young center in the NBA. Sengun currently ranks 7th among rookies in assists, sixth in rebounds and 10th in points per game among all rookies.

9. Davion Mitchell

Team: Sacramento Kings

The Sacramento Kings rookie point guard continues to see his production increase since the start of the 2021-22 NBA Season. Mitchell who averaged just 7.7 points in the month of October and 9.4 points in November has averaged 12.8 points per game to go along with two rebounds and 3.6 assists in the Kings five games during December.

On the year Mitchell ranks 9th in scoring averaging 9.6 points per game while also ranking 15th in rebounds with 2.5 per game and fourth in assists with 3.5 per contests.

8. Chris Duarte

Team: Indiana Pacers

As the Indiana Pacers continue to sort through their roster while deciding whether or not to be sellers, Chris Duarte has slowly emerged as a fresh face of the future for the roster who has the potential to add more draft capital over the coming weeks to build for the future. Duarte, who the team drafted with the 13th overall pick out of Oregon is averaging 13.3 points a game to go along with four rebounds and 2.1 assists per contest.

Over the team’s last three games, Duarte has averaged 14.7 points a game to go along with four rebounds and three assists per game while the team has won all three contests.

7. Jalen Suggs

Team: Orlando Magic

The 5th overall pick is slowly finding his place among the Orlando Magic roster after putting together a brilliant college career at Gonzaga. Suggs is averaging 12.3 points a game this season to go along with 3.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists to start the season.

However, Suggs has been out since November 29th with a thumb injury. That said, it doesn’t take away his success on the floor for a Magic team that lacks a ton of talent. Prior to his injury, Suggs had averaged 14.5 points over the last four games including a 17 point, five assist and three rebound performance against the Philadelphia 76ers.