Luka Doncic has been extraordinary this season and has headlined another superb rookie class. The 2018 draft is as deep as any in recent memory, from the first overall pick DeAndre Ayton to the undrafted Allonzo Trier, and it holds many high-profile athletes such as Trae Young. The top of the draft hasn’t disappointed thus
As with all drafts, however, the later picks don’t
Their overall raw stats may not be as impressive as some of their counterparts, but when factoring in draft position and impact on the court, they’ve been remarkable. Here are some of the more underrated 2018-19 NBA rookies, who’ve actually been pretty good.
Aaron Holiday
Nothing about Aaron Holiday’s stats are particularly impressive. He’s only shooting 42.0% from the field and 25.5% from three, and barely averaging six points a game. Holiday won’t be a star in the league, but these numbers don’t do him full justice.
Holiday doesn’t play like an NBA rookie and is rarely prone to the bouts of nervousness most first-years have. Much like Malcom Brogdon during his rookie year, Holiday’s four years in college seem to have benefited him greatly. He understands how to move to open spaces off the ball and has the right instincts when driving and kicking. Additionally, despite being only 6’1″, Holiday has been above average on defense, making up for his size with an aggressive mentality.
The PG also owns a defensive rating of 96.1, which would put the Pacers first in the league. Not only that, but he also has an overall net rating of positive 11.2. Although these numbers aren’t sustainable across more minutes, they’re still eye-catching.
Another thing to mention would be his per-36 stats. Although not very reliable as a measuring tool, they are a way to see if a player is capable of putting up raw numbers. Per-36, Holiday is averaging 17.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.6 assists a game. Most of this is against second units, but it’s impressive for the 23rd pick in the draft. For an Indiana team lacking playmaking behind Victor Oladipo, it’s looking like Holiday can actually play a major role in a playoff run.
Kevin Huerter
Drafted by the Hawks to be the Klay to Trae Young’s Curry, Huerter is trying his best to live up to the comparison. Although he’ll likely never be as good on defense as Thompson, the shooting may be something that comes to reality.
Huerter is shooting 38.7% from three on around four attempts per game, and they’re not all catch-and-shoots. Many players can shoot a good percentage on standstill shots, but few are capable of running off screens and sustaining the efficiency. Huerter looks like he could develop into that type of player, in the mold of a JJ Redick or Kyle Korver.
He already has one of the quickest triggers in the league as a rookie. Never afraid to shoot, Huerter sometimes stands a full foot or two behind the line, hands out and demanding the ball. Roughly 42.4% of his total shot attempts are catch-and-shoot threes, and even on fast breaks, Huerter will often be found sprinting to the corner instead of the basket.
One more great thing about Huerter is that he’s not afraid of taking advantage of his reputation as a shooter. He’s surprisingly athletic and often catches defenders who are closing out on him off guard. Huerter fully utilizes backdoor cuts for easy lay-ups and is surprisingly athletic with his finishes. All in all, he’s exactly what the Hawks thought they were getting when they drafted him and figures to be in the NBA for a long while.
Rodions Kurucs
Taken with the 40th overall pick by the Brooklyn Nets, Rodions Kurucs wasn’t even the first foreign-born player drafted by his team. Yet, he’s vastly outplayed 29th pick Dzanan Musa, starting games for a Nets team in playoff contention.
Kurucs didn’t get his chance to shine until December when Allen Crabbe went down with a knee injury. Since then, he’s been a quality NBA player, albeit inconsistent. He’s averaging 8.6 points in almost 20 minutes per game but has had as many great games as bad ones. Kurucs pulled in two straight double-doubles in wins against Phoenix and Charlotte and scored 24 points in a loss before that to Indiana. Two duds followed these games, however, when Kurucs shot a combined 2/11 from the field. A lot of this stems from his difficulty creating his own shots and reliance on hustle plays to get open shots.
The three-pointer could stand to be more accurate, at 29.8% on 2.5 attempts per game. But at 6’9″ with a wingspan upwards of 7′, Kurucs has a good nose for the ball. His only problem is not being excellent at any one thing, relying on a multitude of ways to score. While this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it’d be nice if Kurucs could develop a specific skill that can be depended upon. Until then, he’s an excellent energy player who’ll always crash the boards and provide hustle.
Honorable mentions:
- Landry Shamet (excluded because he’already received decent attention)
- Robert Williams
- Elie Okobo
- Josh Okogie
- Jalen Brunson
Instagram: @j_persources
Twitter: @j_persources