With arguably one of the most loaded classes of rookies in the 2010’s, the 2018 NBA draft class has garnered high expectations by peers and respective teams alike. While some of these individuals make their way to subpar, underachieving franchises, in hopes of turning them around, others form promising young cores which could soon shake the NBA’s landscape. This list is not necessarily the best rookies but those that are worth watching the most.
Highest Ceiling: Marvin Bagley III (PF – Sacramento Kings)
In terms of potential, there’s no player in this class who’s superior to Marvin Bagley III.
Bagley is a 6’11” PF that possesses an exceptional leaping ability and has shown that he can both rebound and put the ball on the floor. The Duke product also showed flashes of being a modern day stretch-5 while shooting 40% from three in college.
He does, however, have some shooting woes from the free throw line, as well as a tendency to use his dominant left hand – even in unfavorable situations. Such flaws are not as difficult to fix when compared to a broken jump-shot (no shade).
Look for the second-best three-point shooting team in the NBA to fully utilize Bagley’s potential as a stretch-5. Don’t expect him, however, to receive the generous playing time that players like DeAndre Ayton receive due to Sacramento’s roster being loaded with centers and forwards. Nonetheless, Bagley will show flashes of All-Star talent in the coming season. When he does become an All-Star in the near future, it will not be surprising.
X-Factor: Donte DiVincenzo (SG – Milwaukee Bucks)
Leading this young Bucks team is Giannis Antetokounmpo, who looks to be a future MVP-level athlete in the years to come. Struggling in the playoffs and dealing with injuries, the Bucks should look to DiVincenzo to take some time off Malcolm Brogdon and Tony Snell.
The unlikely MVP of the NCAA championship game will be able to provide an immediate impact to both the Bucks’ on both sides with his shooting and defensive prowess. He’ll also be able to take some of the ball-handling duties off Eric Bledsoe and Giannis.
Of course, most likely, DiVincenzo will be playing off-the-ball and spotting up for threes as well as cutting to the basket for some easy points. Nonetheless, DiVincenzo’s presence will surely be felt on the floor, as he’s a proven player; playing his best on college basketball’s biggest stage.
Future Regret For Teams: Michael Porter Jr (SF/PF – Denver Nuggets)
From Michael Porter Jr’s highlight tapes to his performance in elite prospect camps, we’ve all seen the extent of his elite offensive arsenal. With such a wide array of moves, Porter has earned comparisons to one of the greatest scorers the league has ever seen in Kevin Durant; and for good reason.
Porter stands at a whopping 6’11” and has a standing reach of 9′ which is equal to what Anthony David recorded at the NBA combine years back. This makes Porter one of the most physically blessed forwards in the game, and when combined with a superb jump-shot as well as elite athleticism, one could say that Porter is a future All-Star lock.
While playing college ball at Missouri, Porter was sidelined for the entire season with a back injury, and subsequently, his draft stock plummeted. Once a top-3 prospect, he fell to 14th in the draft.
But do not count Porter out because his draft stock fell.
Playing with a talented Nuggets roster that includes Jamal Murray, Will Barton, Nikola Jokic, and Paul Millsap, Porter will find his game quickly as he fits right in. He’ll spot up from three, make athletic cuts to the rim, and switch roles by finding open shooters on the perimeter. Out of those drafted, Porter will adjust to the NBA game at one of the quickest rates and will surely make the 13 teams regret passing on him.
Most Intriguing: Trae Young (PG – Atlanta Hawks)
As Steph Curry took the NCAA by storm, many proceeded to hop on the Trae Young bandwagon, hyping him up as a player who could surpass Stephen Curry in terms of shooting.
Yet, shooting is not Young’s most potent skill.
In an interview, Young, himself, said, “I try to be Steve Nash more than Steph [Curry]” which is quite astonishing when taking his range into consideration. Most NBA players would consider themselves above average shooters when shooting a couple feet behind the three-point line while Young dribbles into shots from “logo distance.” This is coming from a player who led the NCAA in assists but was overlooked due to his highlights of splashing shots from “Curry range.”
During the summer league, Young struggled with his shot in the first few games but eventually found his rhythm, amassing many haters and doubters along the way. Although, due to his vision of his ideal self, their opinions don’t matter since he’s trying to be Nash, not Curry.
It’ll be interesting to see what Young will be able to do in Atlanta. Expect him to occasionally struggle with his shot but make up for it with his distribution, much like Lonzo Ball, who was criticized for the same reason as Young last summer. Seeing which route Young will take will be a sight to behold, while he splashes a couple 30-footers along the way.
Rookie Of The Year: Luka Doncic (PG – Dallas Mavericks)
By all standards, Luka Doncic is a basketball prodigy in the sense that he started playing in the second best league in the world at age 16. He’s made a name for himself, winning the Euroleague MVP, Euroleague Final Four MVP, Liga ACB MVP, and a championship this past season. In comparison, other lottery picks don’t even come close to matching Doncic’s studded resume.
It was his skills that propelled him to such a level. He’s overcome his below-average athleticism despite having great height for a guard. Doncic controls the ball with strings attached and can find open teammates with eyes in the back of his head. He can also hit a multitude of shots from crafty floaters, to threes, to step-back jumpers.
However, it’s his experience that sets him apart from the others.
Doncic played in the second-best league in the world, holding his own and even dominating at times. Considering the fact that the Euroleague is “better” than the NCAA, this should mean something. A 19-year-old who’s been dominating grown men vs a 19-year-old who’s been dominating teenagers should be a sharp disparity in its own. Without a doubt, Doncic will be more NBA-ready than any of his fellow rookies simply from a mindset and experience perspective which will surely set him apart from the rest of the group.
Most Talented Rookie: Ben Simmons (PG – Philadelphia 76ers)
Like my list? Disagree/agree with anything? Let me know!