NBA Rookies To Watch

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Oct 8, 2012

NBA Rookies To Watch

Royce White

The Iowa State product's continuing battle with anxiety disorder has been the talk of the preseason. Will his plan to travel to select Rockets games via bus help keep his issues at bay? Given the 6-foot-8 forward's upside, Houston is more than happy to find out.

Damian Lillard

A prolific scorer at Weber State, Lillard, the No. 6 pick, led all scorers with 26.5 points per game in the Las Vegas summer league. And with few Blazers standing between him and playing time, expect Lillard to challenge Anthony Davis for Rookie of the Year honors.

Thomas Robinson

Robinson will be a much-needed addition for a Kings team that ranked 25th in the NBA in rebound differential last season. The 6-foot-10 forward ranked second in the NCAA last season with 11.8 rebounds per game and continued that strong performance averaging 9.8 rebounds in summer league play.

Bradley Beal

A shooter in the mold of Ray Allen, Beal will be asked to shoulder a large scoring load early for the Wizards with John Wall expected to be sidelined for eight weeks. The 19-year-old averaged 17.6 points in the summer league.

Anthony Davis

The No. 1 pick put up eight points and eight rebounds and blocked two shots in his preseason debut. He's far from a finished product on the offensive end, but he should remain a devastating defensive force all season long.

Harrison Barnes

Word out of Warriors camp is that the starting small forward job is Barnes' to lose. Considered a bit of disappointment at North Carolina after garnering preseason All-America honors as a freshman, the sweet-shooting Barnes should benefit from the move to the isolation-oriented style of the NBA.

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist

The No. 2 pick will be an impact player from the moment he steps on the court for the Bobcats. At 6-foot-7, he can defend several positions and he does all the little things that help a team win. He's not ready to carry the scoring load for Charlotte, but the Bobcats will be happy to sit back and let the 19-year-old develop.

Dion Waiters

The Cavs surprised many when they selected Waiters with the No. 4 pick, and the former Syracuse star furthered that skepticism when he showed up for summer league overweight. A crafty scorer and committed defender, Waiters should be a great fit alongside Kyrie Irving if he can resemble anything close to his collegiate form.

Jared Sullinger

Sullinger dropped down the draft boards over concerns about his back, but eventually landed in an ideal situation in Boston. If he can stay healthy, he'll be a great fit off the bench for a Celtics team in dire need of young players. Through two preseason games, he was averaging 12.5 points and 7.5 rebounds.

Perry Jones III

Considered a potential top-five pick had he entered the 2011 draft, the 6-foot-11 forward dropped to the Thunder at No. 28 after a so-so sophomore season. Jones' talent has never been in question, but his poor effort and lack of intensity often precluded him from taking full advantage of his immense promise. If he can flip the switch one of these days, the Thunder will have themselves a steal.

Andre Drummond

Similar to Jones, Drummond is blessed with immense physical gifts while his basketball IQ trails far behind. Detroit is hoping he can pair with Greg Monroe to form one of the most formidable front lines in the NBA, but, at this point, Drummond is still very much a project.

Austin Rivers

The son of Celtics coach Doc Rivers, Austin, the No. 10 pick, should be the perfect complement for Anthony Davis on the wing in New Orleans. With few distributors on the roster, the younger Rivers may be asked to run point for the Hornets, a skill he failed to refine while at Duke.