in Featured, Lists, NBA

9 NBA Rookies I’m Most Excited To Watch This Season

NBA rookies bring a spark, a hopefulness, a joy into the league every year. They are unscratched lotto tickets, mystery boxes to behold

nba rookies

I love NBA rookies. And not in a Draya/Jalen Green financial exploitation kind of way. A fresh crop of talented players hit the league and we tattoo our hopes, beliefs, fears, biases and agendas to them before they play their first minute.

This year is an interesting draft class as there are no clear “stars” but a bunch of guys who will make major impacts on championship teams for years to come.

Honorable mention – Ryan Dunn:

Ryan Dunn wasn’t really on my radar going into the 2024 NBA Draft so I won’t pretend to have some detailed analysis of his game yet. However, if Mike Budenhoizer’s arrival in Phoenix has transformed this offense into one where guys, ya know, pass the ball instead of standing around watching each other iso then Ryan Dunn may tip the West in Phoenix’s favor.

Anyway, here are the 9 NBA rookies I’m most excited to watch this season:

1. Zaccharie Risacher

nba rookies

From the moment he was drafted, Risacher was compared to Anthony Bennett and all of the no. 1 overall picks who’ve contributed nothing to the NBA.

But what if he’s the perfect big wing scorer that Atlanta has never been able to pair with Trae Young?

So far, Risacher looks comfy off-ball, finding lapses in the defense to spot up for 3. He can cut. He’s handsy on defense.

He may be the piece the Hawks have been missing. All I know is Risacher will be astronomically more impactful than Deandre fucking Hunter.

2. Zach Edey

nba rookies

Edey fits the Memphis Grizzlies like pepperoni on pizza.

He has the skill and touch of Marc Gasol and the intensity and venom of Tony Allen.

There’s nothing the Grizzlies love more than dunking on you and barking in your face after. Edey has untapped asshole potential.

Do not be shocked if Ja dunks on someone’s head and Edey picks him up on his back so they can point and laugh at the other team’s bench.

Oh, and on any given night he can give the opposing center HELL:

The back-to-back AP Player of the Year joins a team that consistently wins their division (when Ja Morant isn’t in a walking boot or drunk on IG Live). I don’t want to give away my predictions too early but the Grizzlies are winning the West.

3. Reed Sheppard

nba rookies

I will attempt to contain my excitement for Reed Sheppard, whose name I believe is already printed on the Rookie of the Year trophy. He is soooo fluid shooting off the dribble. Reed Sheppard is like what if Jimmer Fredette was taller, more confident and not drafted to the Sacramento Kings?

My only fear is Houston has a ton of guys, all young enough to believe they are capable of being the no. 1 scoring option and all of whom have a genuine case for why they’re right.

I pray Ime Udoka can get everyone’s egos in line or the front office makes a move to sort of make the pecking order more obvious for everyone.

4. Kel’el Ware

nba rookies

I already know I’m about to hate this kid.

I’m throwing up the moment I see him in one of those Heat Culture jerseys.

And I know the NBA is making him join the dunk contest so we are about to be waterboarded with Kel’el Ware content. Get ready for the Kel’el-Kal-El/Superman references.

I hate him already.


Heat CultureĀ©ļø.

5. Alex Sarr

nba rookies

Get ready for a lot of Alex Sarr 0-fors.

If Jordan Poole was the laughingstock of the NBA last season, this year’s court jester also resides in DC.

The no. 2 overall pick is a 7-foot tall, 19-year-old from France.

Every night, older, more experienced players will embarrass Sarr and make him look like he doesn’t belong in the league. And honestly, there’s a very good chance he doesn’t belong in the league.

But if Alex Len is still on an NBA roster then Sarr will bounce around for the next decade, collecting paychecks and waving towels on the sidelines.

6. Rob Dillingham

nba rookies

I was concerned for Dillingham like, a month ago.

Rookie point guards rarely have early success which is a problem for a Timberwolves team that made the Western Conference Finals last year and will need Dillingham to immediately contribute.

But now that he’s running a bench unit with Donte DiVincenzo (and probably Julius Randle once Naz Reid takes that spot), I’m excited to see Dillingham running with the 2023 Knicks.

Randle and DiVincenzo made Quentin Grimes and Deuce McBride look good. Dillingham may have a huge year.

7. Stephon Castle

nba rookies

Stephon Castle is going to murder someone…

A shame Gregg Popovich won’t be able to get Castle on the court, what with all the guaranteed Jeremy Sochan minutes.

8. Tyler Kolek

tyler kolek

Tyler Kolek is an old-school floor general whose sole purpose in life is to create the best possible scoring opportunity for his team.

Shout out to “Tyler Kolek Muse” on Twitter for watermarking highlights. I’m going to hate you all season.

9. Bronny James

2024 nba summer league

Usually when someone says their dad got them an NBA job, they mean they run a team’s social media account or cut up game film or rebound during shootaround. Bronny’s dad got him like, 10 minutes a game on the Los Angeles Lakers.

The discourse surrounding him will make the internet unusable for a few months but do not let Stephen A. Smith and Shannon Sharpe rob you of your own personal enjoyment of Bronny James legitimately being the worst NBA player of all time.

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for reading. Go ahead andĀ sign up for the D, the daily Deadseriousness newsletter sent directly to your inbox every AM.

Follow us over onĀ Twitter,Ā FacebookĀ orĀ Instagram. Or shoot me an email atĀ Deadseriousmailbag@gmail.com. Letā€™s chat, bay-beeeee.

 

Written by thelesterlee

Creator of Deadseriousness. Diehard Knicks, Yankees and Giants fan who wants to create a sports and pop culture space that isn't the same copy and pasted AI content you see everywhere else.

6 Biggest Winners and Losers of the Davante Adams New York Jets Trade
travis hunter heisman

Travis Hunter Has a Brilliant Argument For Why He Deserves The Heisman