Is Paolo Banchero still on top?
Jan 20, 2023; Sacramento, California, USA; Sacramento Kings ahead Keegan Murray (13) runs up the courtroom in the course of the third quarter towards the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder at Golden 1 Middle. Obligatory Credit score: Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports activities
Paolo Banchero took an early lead within the Rookie of the 12 months race however is he still within the high spot after a fully brutal taking pictures droop?
Paolo Banchero was the No. 1 choose within the 2022 NBA Draft and just about put himself on the high of the Rookie of the 12 months rankings from opening evening on. However he’s additionally within the midst of a horrible taking pictures droop, making only a single 3-pointer in the complete month of February, and a number of other different rookies who began slowly have been coming on robust.
Who’s main the NBA Rookie of the 12 months race because the playoffs method?
5. Keegan Murray — Sacramento Kings
Murray hasn’t been the perfect rookie within the league this season however he’s most likely been probably the most constant of the high-end performers. He performed 32 minutes and scored 19 factors within the Kings’ second sport of the season and has principally been a fixture within the beginning rotation ever since.
Murray is averaging 12.1 factors, 4.6 rebounds and 1.2 assists per sport, hitting 41.7 p.c of his catch-and-shoot 3s. Having his ground spacing from the 4 place has helped open the ground for Domantas Sabonis, De’Aaron Fox and Kevin Huerter and actually elevated the Kings’ offense. He’s still simply scratching the floor of what he can do and has a variety of untapped versatility and upside for the Kings high faucet over the subsequent few seasons. However he’s already a key starter on a staff that’s at present top-three within the Western Convention. The Kings couldn’t have requested for way more than that from his rookie season.
