Kia Rookie Ladder: Cameron Boozer, Yaxel Lendeborg hold top spots in 2nd ranking - NBA.com
By Google News Sports ·
Three NBA rookies have combined for six performances of 30 points or more, including a 2026-27 rookie-best 38 points by one. That same rookie also posted 14 assists in a game. Another rookie had 14 rebounds in a game. Three rookies have made at least six 3-pointers in a contest. One rookie has a triple-double and seven have generated double-doubles. The rookies are playing big minutes (six with at least 30 minutes per game), producing and backing up why so many people thought the 2026 draft class was talented and deep. It’s revealing how important rookies and their development are in today’s game. All before Wednesday’s matchup between San Antonio and Dallas (9:30 ET, ESPN), featuring the past three Rookie of the Year winners (Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle and Cooper Flagg) plus others who contributed in their rookie season. It’s a challenging task to rank the performances because there have been so many good ones this early. But we can’t have three or four No. 1s or 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D and 1E. A slight edge goes to winning, and no one expected Memphis to be 6-1. Here's the latest Kia Rookie Ladder through the first two weeks of the season: 1. Cameron Boozer, Memphis Grizzlies Season stats: 17.4 PPG, 10.3 RPG, 5.6 APG (37.5 FG% / 36.4 3P% / 94.4 FT%) Best game in past week: Triple-double No. 1: 18 points (6-for-10 from the field, 4-for-5 on 3-pointers), 12 rebounds and 12 assists in a victory against Portland. Of all the players in the league, just two – Giannis Antetokounmpo and Boozer – are averaging at least 17 points, 10 rebounds and 5.0 assists. Boozer leads rookies in double-doubles (three), rebounds per game and he’s contributing to winning. The Grizzlies are 6-1, and Boozer is plus-6.4 points per game, also tops among rookies who have played more than one game…
Originally published by Google News Sports
