NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – DECEMBER 10: Cade Cunningham #2 of the Detroit Pistons drives against Brandon Ingram #14 of the New Orleans Pelicans during the second half at the Smoothie King Center on December 10, 2021 in New Orleans, Louisiana, NBA Rookie Ladder. 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 Jonathan Bachman/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.
This is the week that the rise of a certain prospect has resulted in a notable change on the list. It is not enough, at this point, to reshape the entire race for the year-end award. However, for the first time since the beginning, there is a new name amongst the top two selections.
In week eight of the NBA Rookie Ladder power rankings, one of the five normal names misses the cut and there is a slight shakeup
Week 8 NBA Rookie Ladder Power Rankings: 5. Chris Duarte, Indiana Pacers
5
Chris Duarte
Last rank: NA
13.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.1 steals
Shooting splits: .426/.343/.744
Back on the list after a few weeks’ absence, Chris Duarte feels like he is locked in as one of the Indiana Pacers’ core pieces moving forward. Despite rumbling about potential trades involving Domantas Sabonis, Caris LeVert, and Myles Turner, Duarte remains unmentioned and is performing well.
The team won three games in a row and Duarte was a standout in two of those wins. He is rebounding well for a guard thus far and is a strong shooter. In the win against the New York Knicks, Duarte went off for 23 points, six assists, three rebounds, and a steal.
If he is to be left behind as part of the next phase of Indiana basketball, Duarte appears prepared to take over the scoring load. As a team perennially picking in the back of the lottery at best, finding that level of talent is a big win.
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<p><strong>13.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.1 steals</strong></p>
<p><strong>Shooting splits: .426/.343/.744</strong></p>
<p>Back on the list after a few weeks’ absence, Chris Duarte feels like he is locked in as one of the Indiana Pacers’ core pieces moving forward. Despite rumbling about potential trades involving Domantas Sabonis, Caris LeVert, and Myles Turner, Duarte remains unmentioned and is performing well.</p>
<p>The team won three games in a row and Duarte was a standout in two of those wins. He is rebounding well for a guard thus far and is a strong shooter. In the win against the New York Knicks, Duarte went off for 23 points, six assists, three rebounds, and a steal.</p>
<p>If he is to be left behind as part of the next phase of Indiana basketball, Duarte appears prepared to take over the scoring load. As a team perennially picking in the back of the lottery at best, finding that level of talent is a big win.</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/2021/12/14/nba-rookie-ladder-week-8/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 4-3 </a>
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<img class="wp-image-439517 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/12/14/nba-rookie-ladder-week-8/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1995,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1358458834.jpeg" alt="NBA Rookie Ladder" width="3200" height="1995" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1358458834.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1358458834-768x479.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">TORONTO, ON – DECEMBER 10: Scottie Barnes #4 of the Toronto Raptors dribbles against the New York Knicks during the second half of their basketball game at the Scotiabank Arena on December 10, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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 Mark Blinch/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>Week 8 NBA Rookie Ladder Power Rankings: 4. Franz Wagner, Orlando Magic</h2>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Rank" data-rank="4" data-rank-type="player" data-name="Franz Wagner" data-team-id="38" 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>Franz Wagner </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/2021/12/14/nba-rookie-ladder-week-8/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Fmagic.png"> </div> </div>
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<p><strong>14.3 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.1 steals</strong></p>
<p><strong>Shooting splits: .453/.390/.791</strong></p>
<p>For a young Orlando Magic team, Franz Wagner is a consistent bright spot. He has scored two points in back-to-back games on the road against the duo of teams from Los Angeles.</p>
<p>This coincided with a dip in his defensive counting stats, something to monitor for the team as their rebuild progresses. Finding balance is an essential need for the Magic, and while Wagner is providing some of that so far, he can only get better as his teammates do as well. Scoring in double-digits for 10 straight games after a zero-point performance is a nice look.</p>
<h2>Week 8 NBA Rookie Ladder Power Rankings: 3. Scottie Barnes, Toronto Raptors</h2>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Rank" data-rank="3" 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">3 </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/2021/12/14/nba-rookie-ladder-week-8/"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><strong>15.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.2 steals</strong></p>
<p><strong>Shooting splits: .489/.340/.723</strong></p>
<p>Scottie Barnes is falling down a slot on this list through no fault of his own. He only played two games this week and was solid in both. In a loss against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Barnes posted a line of 18 points, eight rebounds, five assists, two blocks, and one steal.</p>
<p>He followed that up against the New York Knicks with a line of 12 points, 15 rebounds, three assists, two steals, and two blocks. His only fault is that, while he continues to remain an elite complementary piece, doing a little bit of everything well, another player is establishing himself as a go-to scoring threat.</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/2021/12/14/nba-rookie-ladder-week-8/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 2-1 </a>
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<img class="wp-image-439518 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/12/14/nba-rookie-ladder-week-8/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2134,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1357984432.jpeg" alt="NBA Rookie Ladder" width="3200" height="2134" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1357984432.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1357984432-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">DETROIT, MICHIGAN – DECEMBER 08: Cade Cunningham #2 of the Detroit Pistons tries to drive to the basket against Daniel Gafford #21 of the Washington Wizards during the second half at Little Caesars Arena on December 08, 2021 in Detroit, Michigan. Washington won the game 119-116. 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 Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>Week 8 NBA Rookie Ladder Power Rankings: 2. Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons</h2>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Rank" data-rank="2" data-rank-type="player" data-name="Cade Cunningham" data-team-id="64" data-meta-a="" data-meta-b="Previous: 3rd" data-inner-content=""> <div class="power-ranking remove-native-227"> <div class="order">2 </div> <div class="power-head"> <h3>Cade Cunningham </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/2021/12/14/nba-rookie-ladder-week-8/"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><strong>15.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 1.4 steals</strong></p>
<p><strong>Shooting splits: .382/.322/.826</strong></p>
<p>Finally making some progress up the list, Cade Cunningham has arrived at the number two spot on the ladder. He has ascended to <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/12/14/nba-rookie-ladder-week-8/"https://www.nba.com/stats/players/traditional/?sort=PTS&dir=-1&Season=2021-22&SeasonType=Regular%20Season&PlayerExperience=Rookie%22 target="_blank" rel="noopener">the top spot in rookie scoring</a>, pouring in at least 16 points in six games.</p>
<p>He has dropped 26 or more points in three of those games, doing everything in his power to attempt to end the losing streak for the Detroit Pistons. The moment in Sunday’s game when he drove at Kevin Durant for the and-one was a sight to behold.</p>
<p>With Jerami Grant now sidelined for the next six to eight weeks, the usage rate for Cunningham is only going to go up. He will be putting together a statistical case to continue his ascent.</p>
<p>Week 8 NBA Rookie Ladder Power Rankings: 1. Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers</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: 1st" 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">1</span> </h4> </div> <div class="power-logo"> <img src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/12/14/nba-rookie-ladder-week-8/"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><strong>14.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.9 blocks</strong></p>
<p><strong>Shooting splits: .482/.333/.775</strong></p>
<p>For now, Evan Mobley remains at the top. The rest of his counting stats compare favorably enough to Cunningham’s that he can currently weather the scoring onslaught the number one overall pick has been displaying of late.</p>
<p>Mobley was held below his season average in two out of four games this week but spiked the week with a 15-point, 15-rebound outing. Most importantly, Mobley is currently having the biggest impact on winning any of the rookies.</p>
<p>He’s helping lead a Cleveland Cavaliers team currently on a three-game winning streak, while Cunningham’s Detroit Pistons have dropped 12 straight.</p>
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