Who are the Most Prominent Rookies of the 2024/25 NBA Season?

Each year, the NBA awards multiple individual trophies. The goal is clear for all players in the league: deliver the best possible performances to be nominated for the various trophies at the end of the season. And among all these awards, one concerns the newcomers to the NBA, known as “the rookies.”

Every year, these new arrivals in the big league compete from a distance for the Rookie Of The Year (ROTY) trophy, awarded to the young player who has had the best season, both statistically and athletically (defense, defensive deterrence, offensive skill, mentality, impact on their team, etc.). And this season, despite a draft class a notch below the 2023 one, the race promises to be tough, even if one player is already the strong favorite.

Race to ROY for 2024-2025

1. Stephon Castle (San Antonio Spurs)

Draft Position: 4th

Averages: 13.2 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 3.5apg

Freshly arrived from the University of Uconn after winning the NCAA college title against Purdue, Stephon Castle didn’t take long to acclimate to the NBA rhythm. An explosive guard with incredible vertical jump—which earned him an invitation to the dunk contest—Stephon forms a fierce duo with Victor Wembanyama and immediately shows that he will be a contender in the Rookie of the Year race.

A player who brings a breath of fresh air to Texas. But Wemby’s injury will disrupt all of the Spurs’ plans. The only consolation is his increased playing time, allowing him to gain confidence and show the full extent of his talent.

Goal: Continue his development alongside Chris Paul to clinch the Rookie of the Year trophy and succeed Victor Wembanyama.

2. Jaylen Wells (Memphis Grizzlies)

Draft Position: 39th

Averages: 11.4 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 1.6 apg

This is THE feel-good story of the season. Drafted in the second round, synonymous with a non-guaranteed contract, Jaylen Wells had to fight and gradually established himself with the Grizzlies over the season. A rare gem for the Tennessee franchise, which is taking its time to train him with one of the best mentors in the league despite his youth: Ja Morant.

Back in action after numerous controversies outside of basketball, Ja decided to take the Grizzlies’ rookies under his wing, and it’s fair to say that it’s working out quite well, as Memphis occupies the 3rd place in the Western Conference.

Goal: Continue his development within a young and structured franchise. Gain more confidence in scoring and experience during the upcoming playoffs, and, why not, challenge Stephon Castle for the Rookie of the Year title.

3. Zach Edey (Memphis Grizzlies)

Draft Position: 9th

Averages: 9.1 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 1.2 bpg

He wasn’t expected to be drafted this high, so he is proving the entire league wrong. The Purdue center, who was expected in the early second round in mock drafts, created a sensation by entering the top 10. Once again, Memphis had a good eye. A $2.24\text{m}$ ($7’4″$) interior player weighing $136\text{kg}$ ($300\text{lbs}$), his deterrence in the paint impacts opposing offenses.

His tandem with Jaren Jackson Jr., currently leading in predictions for the Defensive Player of the Year title, is wreaking havoc in the West, so much so that the Grizzlies rank as the 6th best defense in the entire league.

Goal: Gain muscle mass to become even more impenetrable in the paint + Gain experience through the playoffs.

4. Bub Carrington (Washington Wizards)

Draft Position: 14th

Averages: 9.1 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 3.9 apg

He has enormous potential, but it will take time for him to develop. Having landed in a franchise undergoing a complete and somewhat chaotic reconstruction, Bub Carrington is THE bright spot of the season for Washington. With Bilal Coulibaly, Alexandre Sarr, and Keyontae Johnson, these four players embody the future of the franchise. So, don’t look at the record; it’s pointless.

Looking for a true point guard since the departure of Bradley Beal—who wasn’t one, but insisted on leading the Wizards’ offense—Bub fits perfectly into the rotation and ticks all the boxes of a modern point guard who will have all the necessary time to develop his game and enjoy himself in a young and ambitious long-term project.

Goal: Earn more minutes and continue to gain confidence as the season progresses, especially in scoring.

5. Yves Missi (New Orleans Pelicans)

Draft Position: 21st

Averages: 8.5 ppg, 8.2 rbg, 1.5 bpg

There was hope, but he didn’t land in the right franchise. Drafted by the Pelicans, New Orleans has been riding the Zion Williamson wave since his arrival, but the former Duke player has never managed to complete a season without injury. So, with a big gap to fill inside, the team entrusted this role to Yves Missi.

A $2.11\text{m}$ ($6’11″$) center, quite lanky, the Belgian shows a strong presence in the rebounding battle. A defensive deterrent to emphasize in an NBA increasingly focused on offense.

Goal: Continue to develop and learn alongside CJ McCollum. Grab as many minutes as possible thanks to Brandon Ingram’s departure and gain mass to continue his work of intimidation in the paint.

🇫🇷 And what about our French players?

Zaccarie Risacher (Atlanta Hawks)

Draft Position: 1st

Averages: 11.4 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1.3 apg

The second French player in history to be drafted first overall, behind Wemby, which comes with pressure. Yet, Zaccarie doesn’t seem to mind. Freshly arrived from JL Bourg, the French guard didn’t take long to acclimate to the big league. Sure of his strengths, his outside shooting at the start of the season, the confidence of his coach, and that of Trae Young, who took him under his wing as soon as he arrived in Georgia, allowed him to be immediately comfortable and score $+30\text{pts}$ multiple times in a single game.

So, even if Atlanta is once again struggling this season, Zaccarie represents the rising star to follow in the Georgian fog. And if his development continues smoothly, there is no doubt that Atlanta will be a franchise to watch closely in the future.

Goal: Secure a spot in the play-in tournament + continue learning alongside Trae Young + develop his physique and become more consistent to maximize his playing time.

Alexandre Sarr (Washington Wizards)

Draft Position: 2nd

Averages: 11.7 ppg, 6.6 rpb, 1.6 bpg

One of the central players in the current project. In their quest for reconstruction, our French player holds an important place with the Wizards. Alongside Bilal Coulibaly and Bub Carrington, Alex Sarr uses his great height to dominate the rebound and his outside shooting to force opposing defenses to come out on him, allowing his teammates to be more open and offering open shots.

Jordan Poole is taking good advantage of this situation. Thanks to Alexandre, the capital franchise is banking on the future and, in sequences, offers beautiful basketball despite a very poor record. But for now, the youth of the roster prevents them from doing better.

Goal: Develop alongside his teammates + Avoid injuries.

Tidjane Salaun (Charlotte Hornets)

Draft Position: 6th

Averages: 5.1 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 1.0 apg

There was a chance to establish himself, but the Hornets decided otherwise. After a more than successful season in Cholet, Tidjane landed in Charlotte. And after a splendid pre-season, there was a blackout. The Frenchman plays very little, has difficulty maximizing his playing time, but is gradually managing to gain the confidence of his coach. Nevertheless, his inconsistency during his multiple appearances led to a short stint in the G-League to familiarize himself with American basketball. But since then, everything has been going well.

In the rotation, Tidjane participates in the majority of the Hornets’ games, but it’s difficult to impose himself and find his place within a franchise where management is not their strong point. A small mess from which our Frenchman will have to extricate himself in the future if he wants to develop correctly. And with the rumors circulating about a LaMelo Ball trade next summer and a potential exchange involving Miles Bridges, Tidjane could well take advantage of it to take the reins of the team.

Goal: Become more consistent to maximize his playing time + Gain confidence in his outside shooting (30% average).

Honorable Mentions :

Jared McCain (Philadelphia 76ers)

Draft Position: 16th

Averages: 15.3 ppg, 2.6rbp, 2.4 apg

He was destined to win the Rookie of the Year trophy, but the basketball gods decided otherwise. The only bright spot in a dark season for Philadelphia, Jared McCain was on fire early in the season. The guard from Duke perfectly acclimated to the NBA. Although selected in the middle of the first round, the Sacramento native made many franchises regret not picking him sooner.

An excellent $3$-point shooter, Jared can score from all distances, use his handle and speed to finish near the basket, or drive any defense crazy. After scoring a high of $41$ points against the Rockets, the path to ROTY was clearly marked, but unfortunately, a torn meniscus ended his season. Hopefully, the promising guard will come back stronger next year.

Ajay Mitchell (Oklahoma City Thunder)

Draft Position: 38th

Averages: 6.5 ppg, 2.0 rbp, 1.6 apg

He was the pleasant surprise of the season for OKC. Arriving on a team already prepared to win the NBA title in the future, everyone expected Ajay Mitchell not to make the rotation and to hone his skills in the G-League. But Marc Daigneault gave him this chance, which he did not hesitate to seize. The American-Belgian point guard perfectly filled his role as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s backup. Often involved in good plays and well-positioned, Ajay Mitchell distinguished himself with several performances above $10$ points scored, as well as by his court vision, allowing Oklahoma City to continue its “destruction” mode while the starting five rested on the bench.