Draft Digest Rookies of the Week: Forwards Shine in Small Sample
Each week, the Draft Digest team picks an NBA rookie from each conference as the best player of the week.
This time around, two rookies who aren't talked about enough and deserve more opportunities found ways to shine over the past few games. This class continues to prove it is extremely deep, with many different first-year players around the league making a real impact on their respective teams.
Who brought home the hardware this week?
Eastern Conference
Jarace Walker (Indiana Pacers)
Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports
Stats Since Last Week: 2 GP | 11.5 PPG | 3.0 RPG | 3.0 APG | 2.0 SPG
Walker hasn't seen the floor this season as much as we'd like, but he's made the most of every opportunity. Especially leading up to the debut of Pascal Siakam with the Pacers, the rookie made his case for being part of the rotation in the second half of the season.
He played in just two games this week, averaging double-digit points and flashing his disruptiveness on the defensive end. In a game against the Utah Jazz, he notched four steals and two blocks while knocking down a pair of triples. Walker's modern game on both ends of the floor is extremely intriguing and he will only get better as the season goes on.
Western Conference
Duop Reath (Portland Trail Blazers)
Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
Stats Since Last Week: 3 GP | 16.0 PPG | 6.3 RPG | 1.0 SPG | 37.5% 3PT
Although the Trail Blazers are currently rebuilding, the future appears extremely bright with how much young talent is on the roster. One of the players who continues to emerge as a key piece in the rotation is Reath, who is an undersized big with the ability to step out and knock down perimeter shots.
Earning a 73 DSI from Cerebro Sports, Reath has proven he's impactful on both ends of the floor and can be a solid defender. While he produced better stats this week than he has on the season overall, it's been a great glimpse of how much upside the rookie has.
Want to join the discussion? Like Draft Digest on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to stay up to date on all the latest NBA Draft news. You can also meet the team behind the coverage.