Storyline: The NBA is blessed with a roster of high flying rookies. Here’ are my picks of the top 5 first-year players. Written by Cameron Green, Minnesota
With the NBA season fully underway we’ve seen some amazing things. Stephen Curry’s Warriors are off to the best start in NBA history. Kobe is going to retire. And the Rockets, who were the Western Conference runner-ups last year, are about as bad as former Timberwolves draft picks.
Right up there in profile are the League’s rookies. Here are my choices of the 5 rookies who are lighting it up for their teams.
Kristaps Porzingis (from kngn.com)
1. Kristaps Porzingis
They drafted who? Well, he has sure shut up the haters. Kristaps has been as explosive as Dwight Howard. He plays basketball with passion. With two-handed slams and blocks he’ll become a franchise player.
2. Karl-Anthony Towns
Towns has helped Minnesota have hope for the playoffs. He scores, rebounds, and block shots: he can do it all. If Towns keeps it up, he’ll be a big star one day.
3. Jahlil Okafor
Besides off-the-court issues, Okafor has become a great player. It’s tough going from winning a national championship to playing for a losing team–a team on track for the NBA record, worst start ever. Okafor has shown us that, win or lose, he’s a great player.
Justice Winslow (from sportingnews.com)
4. Justice Winslow
Yes, he’s another former Duke player. Justice has become one of the best rookie defenders, and he can score, too. Winslow will help the Heat get back to the Finals.
5. D’Angelo Russell
He may not be the best player, but Russell can help out a team, especially a rebuilding team, like the Lakers. When Kobe retires, Russell and Randle will have to step it up.
