It was said throughout the process that the 2024 NBA Draft wasn’t looking to be one of the better ones in recent memory. Thus far, the rookie class from that draft hasn’t been all that productive. That’s not to say there hasn’t been rookies that have made an impact. One team, the Memphis Grizzlies, have had two that have played a large role and could be Rookie of the Year contenders.
There has never been two teammates that have finished as the top-two vote getters in Rookie of the Year voting. According to one writer, he has that occurring for now as we reach the halfway point of the season.
Grizzlies Pair Could Be First Teammates To Be 1-2 In Rookie Of Year Voting
Grizzlies Have 2 Favorites For Rookie Of The Year
On Tuesday, Sam Vecenie of The Athletic posted his NBA Rookie Rankings article in which he ranked his top-15 rookies thus far on the season. The two players that Vecenie had atop the rankings both come from the Grizzlies. He placed Jaylen Wells first and Zach Edey second.
The 6-foot-7 Wells has been one of the best stories in the league this season. Selected in the second round (39th overall), he has been a full-time starter since October 31. That is all the more impressive being that Memphis currently owns the third-best record in the Western Conference.
In Wells’ 40 outings (35 starts) this season, he has posted averages of 11.7 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.7 assists. The 21-year-old has shot 43.8% from the field, 37.8% from beyond the arc, and 81.3% from the free-throw line. Wells has three games in which he has scored at least 20 points, including a career-high of 30 against the Sacramento Kings on January 3.
More was expected of Wells’ teammate and fellow rookie Edey before the season began. The 7-foot-4 center was taken ninth overall by the Grizzlies. A mountain of a man, he is certainly known well by college basketball fans. Edey was the National Player of the Year in both of his last two seasons at Purdue.
As Vecenie mentioned, he has Wells ahead of Edey for the moment due to game played. While Wells has yet to miss one, Edey has been out of action in 14 outings. In his 26 appearances (19 starts), the 22-year-old has averaged 9.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks. He is shooting 58.2% from the field, 11-28 (39.3%) on three-point tries, and 63.0% from the charity stripe.
Others In Top 10
Unfortunately, the player who ranks third will certainly fall down the list in future rookie ranking articles by Vecenie. That player is Jared McCain of the Philadelphia 76ers. A wonderful player on a team that has been a major disappointment, the 16th overall pick will miss the rest of the season after undergoing meniscus surgery.
His eighth-ranked player, Ajay Mitchell of the Oklahoma City Thunder, is also out. Surgery on a turf toe strain has forced the 38th overall pick off the court, and he’ll be re-evaluated in 10-12 weeks. The 38th overall pick, much like Wells, has surprised many by being a rotational player as a second round pick on a top team.
Other than the four mentioned, the other players in Vecenie’s top-10 are Stephon Castle (fourth), Zaccharie Risacher (fifth), Alex Sarr (sixth), Yves Missi (seventh), Tristan Da Silva (ninth), and Ryan Dunn (10th).
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