(Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
Being a rookie in the NBA is no joke.
You need to get your body ready to endure a full 82-game season, and some need more time to adapt to the lifestyle, perks, and demands of playing in the Association.
Others, however, don’t need a lot of time to make the transition and make an immediate impact on their teams.
With that in mind, NBA Central just revealed the top 10 leading scorers from this rookie class in December.
Rookie leading scorers in December:
1. Jaime Jaquez Jr. – 16.6 PTS
2. Victor Wembanyama – 16.4 PTS
3. Chet Holmgren – 15.8 PTS
4. Brandon Miller – 14.9 PTS
5. Keyonte George – 14.6 PTS
6. Scoot Henderson – 13.0 PTS
7. Dereck Lively II – 11.4 PTS
8. Brandin Podziemski – 11.2 PTS… pic.twitter.com/8UCsxXcKtt
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) December 26, 2023
At No. 10, Charlotte Hornets rookie SG Nick Smith Jr. cracks the list with 10.3 points, earning more chances because of his team’s plethora of injuries.
Washington Wizards’ Bilal Coulibaly is just above him with 10.9 points, although he’s made a name for himself for his defense.
Unsurprisingly, Brandin Podziemski of the Golden State Warriors has climbed the ladder since becoming a starter, averaging 11.2 points per game.
Dallas Mavericks big man Dereck Lively II, has also been quite solid when healthy, averaging 11.4 points.
Notably, Scoot Henderson’s struggles with efficiency continue, but the No. 3 pick has taken his average to 13.0 points per game.
Then, at No. 5, we find Utah Jazz SG Keyonte George with 14.6 points, as he’s also making the most of injuries to get more touches.
Unsurprisingly, No. 2 pick Brandon Miller cracked the top 4 with 14.9 points for the struggling Charlotte Hornets.
Then, Oklahoma City Thunder star Chet Holmgren enters the podium with 15.8 points per game, followed by fellow unicorn Victor Wembanyama, who’s scoring 16.4 points per game for the sluggish San Antonio Spurs.
That leaves Miami Heat first-round pick Jaime Jaquez Jr. as the leading scorer in this class with 16.6 points, and he continues to impress on both ends of the floor.
The post A Surprising NBA Rookie Is Leading His Class In Scoring This Month appeared first on The Cold Wire.