Draft Digest Roundtable: Who is NBA's Second Best Rookie?
To this point, Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero has been well worth the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. He's already running away with the NBA Rookie of the Year Award and looks like a future star.
Early in the season, Indiana Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin was the clear second best rookie. However, as the season goes on other first year players have continued to close that gap.
Is he still considered the second most impactful rookie? Production goes beyond just the points, as we must consider efficiency, defense and much more.
This week, the Draft Digest team gives their thoughts on which rookie is the best behind Banchero.
Derek Parker
Likely the easy answer but I have to go Indiana’s Bennedict Mathurin. He’s had the most impact on winning outside of Banchero, has the counting stats to back it up and has even put himself in position for the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year Award. He’s ultra competitive, fun to watch and, in any other year, would be a great Rookie of the Year Award recipient.
Nick Crain
Although Mathurin has been pretty inconsistent at times this season, most rookies are. There's plenty of players that could theoretically overtake him for the second best rookie as the season goes on, most notably guys like Jalen Williams and Walker Kessler, but given Mathurin's start to the season it will be hard.
Morten Stig Jensen
The only other option in my eyes is the guy I called my ROY-runner-up before the season. It's Bennedict Mathurin.
While I would appreciate seeing him develop more as a playmaker, his scoring is so advanced that I wouldn't be shocked if he in a few years got close to 30 per game, pending role. That's truly his type of upside, even if the three-ball has dropped off a bit, during his first year.Very few rookies come off the bench as ready and as confident as Mathurin, and he's made that second rotation his own. He can swing games by keeping the bench unit competitive, and by consistently making shots over the course of a game. He does have quarters where he explodes, but he's seemingly learning how to pace himself, to be a constant threat.
Bryce Simon
Bennedict Mathurin has cooled off a little with his 3-point shooting but is still averaging just under 18 points per game and is the second leading scorer on the Pacers. Yes, he still needs to round out his all around game but so far he has been even better than many anticipated and it looks like Indiana may have their backcourt of the future with he and Tyrese Haliburton.
Jam Hines
Bennedict Mathurin seems like the clear choice here. He is second in rookie scoring behind Banchero and is one of the most potent bench scorers already as a rookie. Maybe more importantly, Mathurin has been a key piece in Indiana’s legitimate playoff chase and is a foundational piece for them moving forward.
Arya Chawla
I’d give Rookie of the Year to Benedict Mathurin if Paolo Banchero wasn’t an option. He’s been the best scorer in the class outside of Banchero, averaging just under 18 points per game. He’s added legitimate impact to an overachieving Indiana team, and has been a great fit next to Tyrese Haliburton. Throughout this current excellence, he’s also repeatedly flashed some high-level upside as well.
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