Cade Cunningham #2 of the Detroit Pistons plays against the Philadelphia 76ers; NBA (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Welcome back to the weekly rookie ladder update! Each week this season we will look at the race for the top five slots on the Rookie of the Year ballot, cutting the recording period every Sunday.
Now that every team is getting closer to playing 10 games so far this season, some of the trends we have seen early are starting to solidify. It is week three of the rookie ladder for the 2021 draft class. Now that the rookies are starting their first full month, where do they stand?
Week 3 NBA Rookie Ladder: 5. Cade Cunningham
5
Cade Cunningham
Last rank: NA
10.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists
Shooting splits: .232/.143/.929
Part of this is the bias because, as anyone who follows my work knows, I am a Detroit Pistons fan. Bias aside, the game just looks different when Cade Cunningham is on the court.
He is already an able defender and teams immediately had to bring double-teams to him on offense. His shooting touch needs to improve as a whole, but the shot looks good.
Right now, they just are not falling. But he makes the Detroit Pistons, a terrible offensive team, look competent with his passing. He even showed up in the moment when going up against Kevin Durant.
Keep an eye on Cunningham’s slate of games this week, as the impact on the rookie ladder could be telling. After facing one of the league’s toughest slates to start his career, Cunningham will face the rest of the top four in the draft in consecutive games this week. Each night will be a marquee matchup for fans of blossoming prospects.
look at the race for the top five slots</a> on the Rookie of the Year ballot, cutting the recording period every Sunday.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Now that every team is getting closer to playing 10 games so far this season, <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/11/09/nba-rookie-ladder-week-3/"https://www.nba.com/stats/players/traditional/?sort=PTS&dir=-1&Season=2021-22&SeasonType=Regular%20Season&PlayerExperience=Rookie%22 rel="">some of the trends</a> we have seen early are starting to solidify. It is week three of the rookie ladder for the 2021 draft class. Now that the rookies are starting their first full month, where do they stand?</p>
<h2>Week 3 NBA Rookie Ladder: 5. Cade Cunningham</h2>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Rank" data-rank="5" data-rank-type="player" data-name="Cade Cunningham" data-team-id="64" data-meta-a="" data-meta-b="Previous: NAth" data-inner-content=""> <div class="power-ranking remove-native-227"> <div class="order">5 </div> <div class="power-head"> <h3>Cade Cunningham </h3> <h4> <span class="last-rank-title">Last rank: </span><span class="last-rank-info">NA</span> </h4> </div> <div class="power-logo"> <img src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/11/09/nba-rookie-ladder-week-3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Fpistons.png"> </div> </div>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><strong>10.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists</strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong>Shooting splits: .232/.143/.929</strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Part of this is the bias because, as anyone who follows my work knows, I am a Detroit Pistons fan. Bias aside, the game just looks different when Cade Cunningham is on the court.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He is already an able defender and teams immediately had to bring double-teams to him on offense. His shooting touch needs to improve as a whole, but the shot looks good.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Right now, they just are not falling. But he makes the Detroit Pistons, a terrible offensive team, look competent with his passing. He even showed up in the moment when going up against Kevin Durant.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Keep an eye on Cunningham’s slate of games this week, as the impact on the rookie ladder could be telling. After facing one of the league’s toughest slates to start his career, Cunningham will face the rest of the top four in the draft in consecutive games this week. Each night will be a marquee matchup for fans of blossoming prospects.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/11/09/nba-rookie-ladder-week-3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 4 - 3 </a>
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<img class="wp-image-437382 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/11/09/nba-rookie-ladder-week-3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2284,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1350579660.jpeg" alt="NBA" width="3200" height="2284" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1350579660.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1350579660-768x548.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Josh Giddey #3 of the Oklahoma City Thunder drives towards the basket against the Golden State Warriors (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>Week 3 NBA Rookie Ladder: 4. Josh Giddey</h2>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Rank" data-rank="4" data-rank-type="player" data-name="Josh Giddey" data-team-id="149" data-meta-a="" data-meta-b="Previous: 4th" data-inner-content=""> <div class="power-ranking remove-native-227"> <div class="order">4 </div> <div class="power-head"> <h3>Josh Giddey </h3> <h4> <span class="last-rank-title">Last rank: </span><span class="last-rank-info">4</span> </h4> </div> <div class="power-logo"> <img src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/11/09/nba-rookie-ladder-week-3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Fthunder.png"> </div> </div>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><strong>10.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 1.4 steals</strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong>Shooting splits: .404/.259/.615</strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Week in and week out, Josh Giddey simply continues to fill up the stat sheet. He does not necessarily explode in any statistical category but is in the top three amongst rookies in rebounds, assists, and steals per game.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Over three games this week, he logged 20 rebounds and 19 assists. His vision is exceptional, and he enables the multi-ballhandler offense that the Oklahoma City Thunder currently employ.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Averaging double-digit points per game is better than expected at this point, and if he can become more efficient, he will be a steal. Setting up Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will allow him to figure that out over time rather than being thrown right to the wolves.</p>
<h2>Week 3 NBA Rookie Ladder: 3. Chris Duarte</h2>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Rank" data-rank="3" data-rank-type="player" data-name="Chris Duarte" data-team-id="100" data-meta-a="" data-meta-b="Previous: 3rd" data-inner-content=""> <div class="power-ranking remove-native-227"> <div class="order">3 </div> <div class="power-head"> <h3>Chris Duarte </h3> <h4> <span class="last-rank-title">Last rank: </span><span class="last-rank-info">3</span> </h4> </div> <div class="power-logo"> <img src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/11/09/nba-rookie-ladder-week-3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Fpacers.png"> </div> </div>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><strong>16.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.0 steals</strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong>Shooting splits: .447/.422/.867</strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There was some news this week that bodes well for the Rookie of the Year campaign for Chris Duarte, yet not so much for the Indiana Pacers. TJ Warren is expected to be back at the earliest in late December.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Being given the opportunity has been a blessing Duarte, providing an efficient scoring punch to a team in desperate need. His streak of double-digit scoring games ended this week, but he remains the most polished scoring threat at this point amongst rookies. If he can continue to maintain this rate of scoring, a roster shakeup in Indiana will be inevitable.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/11/09/nba-rookie-ladder-week-3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 2 - 1 </a>
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<img class="wp-image-437733 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/11/09/nba-rookie-ladder-week-3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2080,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1351698431.jpeg" alt="NBA" width="3200" height="2080" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1351698431.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1351698431-768x499.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on against the Toronto Raptors (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>Week 3 NBA Rookie Ladder: 2. Scottie Barnes</h2>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Rank" data-rank="1" data-rank-type="player" data-name="Scottie Barnes" data-team-id="81" data-meta-a="" data-meta-b="Previous: 2nd" data-inner-content=""> <div class="power-ranking remove-native-227"> <div class="order">1 </div> <div class="power-head"> <h3>Scottie Barnes </h3> <h4> <span class="last-rank-title">Last rank: </span><span class="last-rank-info">2</span> </h4> </div> <div class="power-logo"> <img src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/11/09/nba-rookie-ladder-week-3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Fraptors.png"> </div> </div>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><strong>16.6 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.1 steals</strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong>Shooting splits: .524/.200/.708</strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The race between the top two favorites at this point continues, with Scottie Barnes taking a slight step back after missing two games this week. With Pascal Siakam back in the lineup and facing off against one of the best teams in the league, Barnes struggled in the final game of the week while hosting the Brooklyn Nets.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He attempted only seven shots and totaled eight points. However, he added seven rebounds, four assists, and five steals. This is what the Toronto Raptors expected from the fourth overall pick coming into the season, so the scoring this season has been a welcomed bonus. Expect him to find the perfect way to mesh with his All-Star teammate before long.</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Rank" data-rank="1" data-rank-type="player" data-name="Evan Mobley" data-team-id="156" data-meta-a="" data-meta-b="Previous: 2nd" data-inner-content=""> <div class="power-ranking remove-native-227"> <div class="order">1 </div> <div class="power-head"> <h3>Evan Mobley </h3> <h4> <span class="last-rank-title">Last rank: </span><span class="last-rank-info">2</span> </h4> </div> <div class="power-logo"> <img src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/11/09/nba-rookie-ladder-week-3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Fcavaliers.png"> </div> </div>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><strong>14.9 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.3 blocks, 1.0 steals</strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong>Shooting splits: .520/.235/.800</strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Even the fans least prone to early-season hyperbole are having trouble containing their optimism about Evan Mobley. His coming-out party for the casual fans came during the final game of the week when the Cleveland Cavaliers visited the New York Knicks.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Mobley was a dominant two-way force, posting a line of 26 points, nine rebounds, five assists, one steal, and one block. Defense is often considered the hardest skill for a young player to adapt, which shows just how impressive each of these top two rookies have been on that end of the floor. Mobley being more comfortable scoring at this level than at any point in college is the current deciding factor, allowing him to jump Barnes in the rankings.</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="NBA Power Rankings Week 3" data-url="https://hoopshabit.com/2021/11/07/nba-power-rankings-week-3-2/" data-call-to-action="Next"> <div class="story-link-next"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/11/09/nba-rookie-ladder-week-3/"https://hoopshabit.com/2021/11/07/nba-power-rankings-week-3-2/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> NBA Power Rankings Week 3 </a> </div>
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