The Smoking Cuban
FanSided

Top 10 NBA Rookie Rankings, Part 3

By Kohl Rast

NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 22: Front Row (L-R) - OG Anunoby, Dennis Smith, Malik Monk, Luke Kennard, Lonzo Ball, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, Markelle Fultz, De'aaron Fox, Frank Ntilikina, Justin Jackson, Back Row (L-R) Bam Adebayo, Jonathan Isaac, Justin Patton, Lauri Markkanen, Jayson Tatum, Josh Jackson, Zach Collins, Donovan Mitchell and TJ Leaf pose for a portrait prior to the 2017 NBA Draft on June 22, 2017 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 22: Front Row (L-R) - OG Anunoby, Dennis Smith, Malik Monk, Luke Kennard, Lonzo Ball, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, Markelle Fultz, De'aaron Fox, Frank Ntilikina, Justin Jackson, Back Row (L-R) Bam Adebayo, Jonathan Isaac, Justin Patton, Lauri Markkanen, Jayson Tatum, Josh Jackson, Zach Collins, Donovan Mitchell and TJ Leaf pose for a portrait prior to the 2017 NBA Draft on June 22, 2017 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /
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TARRYTOWN, NY – AUGUST 11: The 2017 Rookie Class poses for a photo during the 2017 NBA Rookie Shoot on August 11, 2017 at the Madison Square Garden Training Center in Tarrytown, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
TARRYTOWN, NY – AUGUST 11: The 2017 Rookie Class poses for a photo during the 2017 NBA Rookie Shoot on August 11, 2017 at the Madison Square Garden Training Center in Tarrytown, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) /

In this month’s edition of the Top 10 rookie countdown, we have a new number 1 and an up-and-coming Dallas Mavericks player. Who makes the December list of top rookies?

The NBA rookies are finally starting to settle into their grooves in the league and people are taking notice. Many of the rookies have struggled finding their groove, others have settled into it, and a few have been relevant since day one. However, the fact is that some of the youngsters have just really taken over parts of the league.

Once again, I have decided to leave Ben Simmons out of the race, simply because I believe Rookie of the Year should be decided by rookie class instead of first year of play time. That said, this is definitely the first month where Simmons would have some serious competition at the top of the list.

The 2017 NBA rookie class was gifted with an array of very young talent. For the first time in draft history, the first 10 picks either just finished their freshman year, or came from overseas (and just happened to be only 18 years old). Overall, the first round consisted of 3 players from foreign countries, 2 seniors, 3 juniors, 6 sophomores, and 16 freshman.

This of course shows the obvious shift that has been happening for years with freshman and sophomores dominating their draft classes. In the top 10 for this week, a junior, two sophomores, and 7 freshman, with honorable mention going to a senior, a junior, a sophomore, and a foreign born player.

Let’s take a look at the top picks after the month of December.