NBA Rookie Power Rankings: Is every top-five NBA Draft pick this year actually good?

The 2018 NBA Draft was praised for depth more than star power. While last year’s rookie class featured stunning season-long performances from Ben Simmons, Donovan Mitchell and Jayson Tatum, plus the hype around Markelle Fultz, Lonzo Ball and De’Aaron Fox, this year’s draft class was known for being deep into the second round.

But the stars at the top are showing up, too. No. 1 Deandre Ayton, No. 2 Marvin Bagley III, No. 3 Luka Doncic, No. 4 Jaren Jackson Jr., and No. 5 Trae Young have come out the gate hot and opened the door for a strong Rookie of the Year race again this season.

Since we’ve gotten to see them play for a handful of games now, we decided it was a good time to put together this season’s first NBA Rookie Power Rankings. Keep in mind that these aren’t Rookie of the Year rankings — they’re a heat map of which rookies are excelling and which may be struggling as the season goes on. Young is first this week, but he could be out of the rankings next week depending on his performance.

Now that we’re all on the same page, here are the first NBA Rookie Power Rankings of the 2018-19 season.

Stats this week: 21.5 points, 7.5 assists, 3.5 rebounds

Stats this week: 16.3 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.0 blocks

Stats this week: 19.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.0 steals

Stats this week: 14.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.5 steals, 1.3 blocks

Stats this week: 14.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.2 blocks

Stats this week: 8.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists

Stats this week: 11.0 points, 2.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists

Stats this week: 9.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.3 steals

Stats this week: 6.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists

Stats this week: 9.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, 0.3 assists

On the bubble

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