2023-24 NBA League Pass Rankings: Rookie Cores to Watch
The start of the 2023-24 NBA is officially this week.
A fresh class of rookies are set to make their official debuts this week all across the league. While NBA Summer League and the preseason were great to gain experience, things are about to get real.
For some teams, rookies won't be in the rotation early in the season. For others, first-year players will be in the starting lineup or in the primary rotation off the bench immediately.
With that in mind, there's a handful of teams that should be the most interesting to keep an eye on this season. Which teams have the most fascinating groups of rookies collectively?
1. Portland Trail Blazers
Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports
Rookies: Scoot Henderson (No. 3), Kris Murray (No. 23), Rayan Rupert (No. 43), Toumani Camara (No. 52)
Portland had a fantastic draft this summer, then added another quality rookie via the Damian Lillard trade in Camara. Henderson is electric and will headline this rookie class for the Blazers, but all four should have the chance to contribute in a big way this season.
2. Houston Rockets
Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports
Rookies: Amen Thompson (No. 4), Cam Whitmore (No. 20)
While both of these players will need time to get acquainted to the NBA, Thompson and Whitmore are walking highlight reels if nothing else. Especially where they were taken on draft night, Houston should feel good about this duo moving forward.
3. Charlotte Hornets
Nell Redmond-USA TODAY Sports
Rookies: Brandon Miller (No. 2), Nick Smith Jr. (No. 27), James Nnaji (No. 31), Amari Bailey (No. 41)
They may not be the most impactful from day one, but the Hornets have one of the most interesting rookie cores. Charlotte took a swing on nearly every one of its picks, which could pay dividends.
4. Oklahoma City Thunder
Joey Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Rookies: Chet Holmgren (No. 2 - 2022), Cason Wallace (No. 10), Keyontae Johnson (No. 50), Vasilije Micic (No. 52- 2014)
While everyone has their eyes on Holmgren, there’s also other rookies that will make noise in OKC this season. Cason Wallace was selected No. 10 overall this summer, but the Thunder also added 29-year-old European superstar Vasilije Micic, who is technically a rookie.
5. San Antonio Spurs
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Rookies: Victor Wembanyama (No. 1), Sidy Cissoko (No. 44)
Shocker: the Spurs made this list. Although Wembanyama is easily the top, most interesting League Pass player of anyone in the league, collectively the Spurs’ rookie class doesn’t hold the top spot.
6. Utah Jazz
Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
Rookies: Taylor Hendricks (No. 9) Keyonte George (No. 16), Brice Sensabaugh (No. 28)
Perhaps the most underrated rookie class in terms of national attention, the Jazz have three first-year players with the potential to be starters on the roster longer term. George was taken outside of the lottery, but has been fantastic in summer league and the preseason.
7. Orlando Magic
Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Rookies: Anthony Black (No. 6), Jett Howard (No. 11)
Two lottery picks in Orlando means another potential step forward this season. Between Black’s passing upside and Howard’s shooting prowess, they both should be key parts of the rotation early in the season.
8. Brooklyn Nets
Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports
Rookies: Noah Clowney (No. 21), Dariq Whitehead (No. 22), Jalen Wilson (No. 51)
The Nets’ rookie trio hasn’t been talked about near enough. Whitehead fell in the draft due to injury, but is a lottery talent. Him getting healthy along with Clowney finding his footing could end up resulting in one of the most exciting rookie classes residing in Brooklyn.
9. Indiana Pacers
Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Rookies: Jarace Walker (No. 8), Ben Sheppard (No. 26), Mojave King (No. 47), Isaiah Wong (No. 55)
There’s only a finite number of minutes to go around, but the Pacers will look to find a role for each one of their rookies. While Walker is the headliner of this Indiana class, Sheppard could end up being a sleeper and one of the best rookies in the league.
10. Denver Nuggets
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Rookies: Julian Strawther (No. 29), Jalen Pickett (No. 32), Hunter Tyson (No. 37)
The Nuggets are building a reputation for having success with rookies in the rotation. This will be the case again this season, especially for Strawther who had one of the best preseason campaigns of any first-year player.
11. Dallas Mavericks
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Rookies: Dereck Lively II (No. 12), Olivier Maxence-Prosper (No. 24)
As good as the Mavericks are expected to be, they’re projected to lean on their rookies heavily. In fact, there will likely be several games this season in which both Lively and Maxence-Prosper are in the starting lineup.
12. Los Angeles Lakers
Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Rookies: Jalen Hood-Schifino (No. 17), Maxwell Lewis (No. 40)
While the Lakers only had one first-round pick, they left the recent draft with two first-round talents. It will be interesting to see if either one of these rookies cracks the rotation early in the season, but when they do touch the floor, both Hood-Schifino and Lewis are productive and versatile.
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