Draft Digest Rookie Ladder: Jalen Williams Soars to No. 2

With the season winding down, the 2022 NBA Draft class has one final stretch to make their mark in their debut seasons.

One such player who is taking full advantage of the late-stretch of the season is Oklahoma City hybrid Jalen Williams, who has risen to No. 2 on the Draft Digest rookie ladder for the first time this season.

In his last performances, Williams’ wowed with one of the best rookie performances on the year: 32 points, five rebounds, five assists, two steals and two blocks in a big win over the Jazz.

In his last 11 games, Williams has averaged 20.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.4 assist and 2.5 steals per game while shooting 57 percent overall and 50 percent from beyond the arc.

Despite that, it would take a massive undertaking on Williams’ part to dethrone Paolo Banchero who has thus far headlined to the 2022 class. But for the first time since preseason it seems players could be hot on his heels.

Banchero has been slumping for a little while now. He shot just 1-for-33 from 3-point land in an 11-game stretch, finishing 37 percent overall from the field in that same span.

He won’t likely be unseated for Rookie of the Year, however, as he’s led the class in a majority of the counting stats for the entire season now. And has essentially functioned as the Magic’s No. 1 option this year.

Williams is giving it the ol’ college try, however.

Here is the full Draft Digest rookie ladder:

1. Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic

2. Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder

3. Bennedict Mathurin, Indiana Pacers

4. Jaden Ivey, Detroit Pistons

5. Keegan Murray, Sacramento Kings

6. Walker Kessler, Utah Jazz

7. Jeremy Sochan, San Antonio Spurs

8. Malaki Branham, San Antonio Spurs

9. Jalen Duren, Detroit Pistons

10. AJ Griffin, Atlanta Hawks

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