NBA Rookie of the Year power rankings, Week 4: Luka Doncic remains on top

Dallas Mavericks</a> guard <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/09/nba-rookie-of-the-year-power-rankings-week-4-luka-doncic-remains-on-top/2/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/d/doncilu01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" ref="nofollow">Luka Doncic</a> and <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/09/nba-rookie-of-the-year-power-rankings-week-4-luka-doncic-remains-on-top/2/"https://hoopshabit.com/eastern-conference/atlanta-hawks/">Atlanta Hawks</a> guard <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/09/nba-rookie-of-the-year-power-rankings-week-4-luka-doncic-remains-on-top/2/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/y/youngtr01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" ref="nofollow">Trae Young</a> have been themselves and then there’s <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/09/nba-rookie-of-the-year-power-rankings-week-4-luka-doncic-remains-on-top/2/"https://hoopshabit.com/western-conference/phoenix-suns/">Phoenix Suns</a> rookie <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/09/nba-rookie-of-the-year-power-rankings-week-4-luka-doncic-remains-on-top/2/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/a/aytonde01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" ref="nofollow">Deandre Ayton</a>, who continues to excel.</p> <p>Ayton has racked up quite the stat line as the new anchor in the paint for Phoenix. Though the Suns are only 2-9 on the season, it will be interesting to see his development this season, particularly on defense. He’s averaging 1.3 blocks per game in their last four contests.</p> <p>It’s hard to ignore rookie guard <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/09/nba-rookie-of-the-year-power-rankings-week-4-luka-doncic-remains-on-top/2/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/t/trieral01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" ref="nofollow">Allonzo Trier</a> and the contributions he’s made with the <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/09/nba-rookie-of-the-year-power-rankings-week-4-luka-doncic-remains-on-top/2/"https://hoopshabit.com/eastern-conference/new-york-knicks/">New York Knicks</a>. Despite going undrafted this past summer, Trier has emerged as a quality guard in the Knicks rotation this season. He put up 23 points against Doncic and the Mavs last Friday night. He’s averaging 11.9 points and 2.8 rebounds per game this season with the Knicks.</p> <p>All in all, it’s shaping up to be another solid class of rookies. There are some changes in the ranks though. Here’s a look at the Week 4 power rankings.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/09/nba-rookie-of-the-year-power-rankings-week-4-luka-doncic-remains-on-top/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 5 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_329872" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-large wp-image-329872" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/09/nba-rookie-of-the-year-power-rankings-week-4-luka-doncic-remains-on-top/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1057773592-850x560.jpeg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <h3>5. <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/09/nba-rookie-of-the-year-power-rankings-week-4-luka-doncic-remains-on-top/2/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/baglema01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" ref="nofollow">Marvin Bagley</a> III, Sacramento Kings</h3> <h5>Last week: 4th (↓1)</h5> <p><a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/09/nba-rookie-of-the-year-power-rankings-week-4-luka-doncic-remains-on-top/2/"https://hoopshabit.com/western-conference/sacramento-kings/">Sacramento Kings</a> forward Marvin Bagley III drops a spot to start off this week’s rankings. He’s recorded double figures in his last three appearances, but as their spark off the bench, he’ll need to come with more juice as Sacramento has lost two straight games.</p> <p>Bagley has shown some of his rookie ways in recent games, but he’s turning into quite the sixth man for the Kings while <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/09/nba-rookie-of-the-year-power-rankings-week-4-luka-doncic-remains-on-top/2/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/f/foxde01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" ref="nofollow">De’Aaron Fox</a> continues to excel in the backcourt. Bagley is averaging 12.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per contest on 53.5 percent shooting from the field and 53.8 percent shooting from 3-point range.</p> <p>He’s starting to learn his role off the bench as the energy guy as the season progresses, and if he can continue doing so, it could have a positive effect on the Kings’ rotation. Sacramento is currently 6-5, eighth in the Western Conference standings. If Bagley grows into his role, it could pay off for this young squad.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/09/nba-rookie-of-the-year-power-rankings-week-4-luka-doncic-remains-on-top/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 4 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_329871" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-large wp-image-329871" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/09/nba-rookie-of-the-year-power-rankings-week-4-luka-doncic-remains-on-top/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1056884478-850x560.jpeg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <h3>4.<a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/09/nba-rookie-of-the-year-power-rankings-week-4-luka-doncic-remains-on-top/2/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/cartewe01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" ref="nofollow">Wendell Carter</a> Jr., Chicago Bulls</h3> <h5>Last week: 5th (↑1)</h5> <p>Chicago Bulls big man Wendell Carter Jr. remains steady at his position in this week’s rankings. Carter is currently averaging a double-double across his last four contests (13.3 points and 11.3 rebounds per game). He’s shown tremendous upside in the paint despite not having Lauri Markannen to work off of in the frontcourt.</p> <p>Carter has been a burden to defend in the post and he’s also been a defensive stopper on the opposite end. He’s recorded at least one block in each of his 12 appearances so far this season.</p> <p>He recorded a career-high four blocks to go along with 14 points and 13 rebounds on Saturday, though it came in a loss to the Houston Rockets.</p> <p>Carter has also shown a knack for shooting the 3-pointer, shooting 38.5 percent from the arc this season. The excitement for a Carter-Markannen backcourt still looms and given what Carter is currently accomplishing, having them both in the frontcourt could yield some great returns.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/09/nba-rookie-of-the-year-power-rankings-week-4-luka-doncic-remains-on-top/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 3 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_328165" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-large wp-image-328165" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/09/nba-rookie-of-the-year-power-rankings-week-4-luka-doncic-remains-on-top/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2016%2F04%2F1053584340-850x560.jpeg" alt="NBA Power Rankings" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <h3>3. Deandre Ayton, Phoenix Suns</h3> <h5>Last week: 2nd (↓1)</h5> <p>Phoenix Suns big man Deandre Ayton has been a model of consistency in their rotation. He’s recorded six double-doubles through 11 contests to lead all rookies. He is emerging as a star in the paint for the Suns in his rookie season, though he’ll need to channel some of his offense into defense.</p> <p>Ayton is slowly learning the ropes in the NBA in Year 1 and it’s been quite an interesting process. In their recent victory over the <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/09/nba-rookie-of-the-year-power-rankings-week-4-luka-doncic-remains-on-top/2/"https://hoopshabit.com/western-conference/memphis-grizzlies/">Memphis Grizzlies</a> on Sunday night, he recorded just nine points to go along with a season-high six assists.</p> <p>In their last two losses, he’s recorded a total of four assists. He might be onto something running as a cog in the playmaking department, although, in the last two losses he has recorded double-doubles. Given the production of <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/09/nba-rookie-of-the-year-power-rankings-week-4-luka-doncic-remains-on-top/2/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/search/search.fcgi?pid=bookede01,bookede02&amp;search=Devin+Booker&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" ref="nofollow">Devin Booker</a>, it helps Ayton has a star to work with in the backcourt. Now, they just need to turn them into victories. Phoenix fell on Thursday night to the <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/09/nba-rookie-of-the-year-power-rankings-week-4-luka-doncic-remains-on-top/2/"https://hoopshabit.com/eastern-conference/boston-celtics/">Boston Celtics</a>, 116-109 in overtime, despite a valiant effort.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/09/nba-rookie-of-the-year-power-rankings-week-4-luka-doncic-remains-on-top/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 2 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_329873" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-large wp-image-329873" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/09/nba-rookie-of-the-year-power-rankings-week-4-luka-doncic-remains-on-top/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1058976826-850x560.jpeg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <h3>2. Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks</h3> <h5>Last week: 3rd (↑1)</h5> <p>Point guard Trae Young has been quite the breath of fresh air for the Atlanta Hawks in just his rookie season. He’s produced 19.0 points, 11.0 assists and 4.7 rebounds in their last three contests. Despite their 3-8 record, they could be onto something with Young.</p> <p>In their last victory back on Saturday night, he recorded a career-high 15 assists to go along with 24 points against the <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/09/nba-rookie-of-the-year-power-rankings-week-4-luka-doncic-remains-on-top/2/"https://hoopshabit.com/eastern-conference/miami-heat/">Miami Heat</a>. Young has done his best to silence his critics so far in the early going although his shooting volume has produced some interesting statistics.</p> <p>https://twitter.com/NBATV/status/1060363491473809408</p> <p>On the season, he’s shooting 42.3 percent from the field and 27.1 percent from behind the arc. He leads all rookies in field goals attempted (15.9) but is also third among rookies in field goals made (6.7) Things should even themselves out eventually, especially with second-yard forward <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/09/nba-rookie-of-the-year-power-rankings-week-4-luka-doncic-remains-on-top/2/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/collijo01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" ref="nofollow">John Collins</a> returns from injury.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/09/nba-rookie-of-the-year-power-rankings-week-4-luka-doncic-remains-on-top/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 1 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_328658" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-large wp-image-328658" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/09/nba-rookie-of-the-year-power-rankings-week-4-luka-doncic-remains-on-top/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1060645300-850x560.jpeg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <h3>1. Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks</h3> <h5>Last week: 1st (↔)</h5> <p>The Dallas Mavericks look like they knew what they were doing when they traded picks with the Hawks for Luka Doncic. So far, Doncic has shown why he drew so much attention overseas last year as a coveted prospect. Currently, he leads all rookies in points per game and 3-pointers made (2.6) and he’s just getting started.</p> <p>https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1058549865968484352</p> <p>He’s putting up 20.2 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game while shooting 40.3 percent from behind the arc in his rookie season. In the Mavs’ last two games, he’s put up at least 20 points and six rebounds and it’s certainly raised the stakes in the results.</p> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="Week 4 NBA Power Rankings" data-url="https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/05/2018-19-nba-power-rankings-week-4/" data-call-to-action="Next"> <div class="story-link-next"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/09/nba-rookie-of-the-year-power-rankings-week-4-luka-doncic-remains-on-top/2/"https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/05/2018-19-nba-power-rankings-week-4/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> Week 4 NBA Power Rankings </a> </div> </div> <p>Dallas is just 1-2 in their last three games, but in wins, Doncic is averaging 22.7 points per game. He’s emerging as solid backcourt mate to <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/09/nba-rookie-of-the-year-power-rankings-week-4-luka-doncic-remains-on-top/2/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/smithde03.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" ref="nofollow">Dennis Smith</a> Jr. on both ends.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">