Everyone is excited about the potential of this year’s draft class, and rightfully so. On the eve of the 2014-15 NBA regular season, let’s take a look at which rookies will step in and contribute right away.
The 2014 NBA draft certainly passes the eye test and has a chance to go down as one of the best classes of the last decade. Some of the league’s newcomers will need some time before they come into their own and we’ll have to wait on Joel Embiid as he potentially sits out the entire season following foot surgery, but some of these young guns are ready to rock n’ roll right away and make an immediate impact.
In my latest article over at CelticsBlog, I celebrate the eve of the 2014-15 NBA season by diving into this year’s exciting rookie crop and discussing which newcomers will separate themselves from the rest of the pack. Let’s take a look at who could potentially be the top 10 rookie performers of the 2014-15 NBA season.
Here’s a snippet:
Jabari Parker (MIL)
Preseason Stats – 15.1 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 1.3 APG, 41.2% FGOf all the promising rookies coming into the NBA this season, Jabari Parker may be the most ready of them all. He is already a guy you can feature as a primary offensive option and he has a very mature approach to the game for a 19-year-old. Parker can create his own shot in isolation situations, he is a dynamite triple-threat scorer, he has excellent footwork in the post, he can put the ball on the floor, he will be able to get to the free throw line quite a bit and he is an active rebounder with a big body to throw around in the paint.
His high skill level and versatility will buy him a lot of minutes right away, and he has a good chance of leading the Bucks in scoring this season. He even shed some weight and got in better shape over the summer. As his outside shot becomes more consistent, the sky is the limit for Parker’s long-term potential. He’s a big time talent and you can expect him to produce at a high level from the jump.
Parker is the early favorite to take home the 2014-15 Rookie of the Year trophy.
Andrew Wiggins (MIN)
Preseason Stats – 11.8 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 1.5 APG, 1.5 SPG, 41% FGAndrew Wiggins will have to fight for extended minutes on the wing, as veterans Kevin Martin and Corey Brewer won’t be giving their spots up easily, but you can expect the number one overall pick to get plenty of opportunities. At age 19, Wiggins is raw and has a long way to go but he is a remarkably athletic freak of a specimen that will show flashes of brilliance on both ends of the court.
His athleticism and 7’0″ wingspan will allow him to cover a lot of ground and make plays defensively, and it certainly won’t hurt having Ricky Rubio around to set the table for him on the other end while Wiggins improves as a shot creator. Whether he comes off the bench or earns the starting spot as the season progresses, Wiggins is going to be a big part of what the Timberwolves do.
Nerlens Noel (PHI)
Preseason Stats – 8.5 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 2.0 APG, 2.5 BPG, 2.3 SPG, 35.1% FGAfter a torn ACL forced him to miss the entire 2013-14 season, Nerlens Noel is back healthy and ready to begin his NBA career. The 76ers need as much to look forward to as possible, and Noel’s phenomenal defensive potential will help ease the pain from the number in the loss column. Noel is one of the top defensive prospects to come out of the draft in recent years, which is exciting going forward alongside a healthy Joel Embiid. On the offensive end, Noel has a lot to work on but he can finish at and above the rim and runs the floor very well. Although he was the sixth overall pick in 2013, Noel is eligible for this season’s Rookie of the Year award; don’t be surprised if he makes a case for it.
FULL ARTICLE – TOP 10 IMPACT ROOKIES – CELTICSBLOG.COM
In case you missed it and are interested, you can also check out my 2014-15 NBA predictions and my complete rundown of all 30 team previews.
We’re just one day away from tip-off, basketball heads. Can you feel it?
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