Draft Digest Rookie Ladder: Spots Solidifying as Season Winds Down

With just a handful of games left in the 2022-23 NBA season, the Draft Digest rookie ladder is beginning to solidify.

There’s been less and less movement as the season has worn on, and there’s only a few spots left up for grabs.

Orlando’s Paolo Banchero continues to hold the top spot, as well as the top odds for the 2022-23 Rookie of the Year Award. It’s been a dominant season for Banchero, who’s seen some late resistance to his runaway campaign.

Second, third and fourth are Thunder guard Jalen Williams, Indiana’s Bennedict Mathurin and Utah's Walker Kessler.

Williams had another strong week, averaging 20.3 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game while shooting a whopping 57.5 percent overall.

Kessler closed the gap on Mathurin for No. 3 by averaging 12.3 points, 11.7 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game and jumping to No. 4. Although Mathurin has earned plenty of leeway with the season he’s had.

With a white-hot scoring streak, Houston’s Jabari Smith Jr. has reinserted himself onto the ranking, averaging 18.7 points on 58 percent shooting overall in his last six contests. There will be plenty of time for the still 19-year-old to impress among his peers, but he got off to too slow of a start to firmly plant himself in the upper ranks of the ladder.

The full Draft Digest ladder can be found below:

1. Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic

2. Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder

3. Bennedict Mathurin, Indiana Pacers

4. Walker Kessler, Utah Jazz

5. Jaden Ivey, Detroit Pistons

6. Keegan Murray, Sacramento Kings

7. Jeremy Sochan, San Antonio Spurs

8. Jabari Smith Jr., Houston Rockets

9. Jalen Duren, Detroit Pistons

10. Malaki Branham, San Antonio Spurs

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