Rookie Watch: 5 First-Year Players Turning Heads

This rookie class is better than people give it credit for.

Nobody talked about it much because the draft lacked a clear number one. No Wembys. No Cade Cunninghams. Just a bunch of solid players with something to prove. And a lot of them are proving it.

Victor Wembanyama does not count. He is doing his own thing. This list is about the other guys.

1. Chet Holmgren, if you still count him as a rookie. He missed a year with injury but he is playing like a veteran. The rim protection is elite. The shooting is real. He fits anywhere.

2. Scoot Henderson started slow but he is figuring it out. His speed is different. When he gets downhill, defenders just get out of the way. The jump shot needs work but the playmaking is already there.

3. Brandon Miller looks like the real deal in Charlotte. Smooth scorer, good size, plays with confidence. The Hornets finally got a wing who can create his own shot. That is worth something.

4. Amen Thompson is raw offensively but his defense is already special. He guards three positions and rebounds like a power forward. If he ever gets a reliable jumper, watch out.

5. Jaime Jaquez Jr. is the steal of the draft. Older rookie, knows how to play. Miami found another guy who just makes winning plays. He is not flashy. He is effective.

The takeaway? This class has depth. There are not superstars at the top, but there are rotation players deep into the first round. That matters more than people think.