CLEVELAND, OHIO - FEBRUARY 18: Josh Giddey #3 of the Oklahoma City Thunder dribbles the ball during the 2022 Clorox Rising Stars at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on February 18, 2022 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images)

CLEVELAND, OHIO - FEBRUARY 18: Josh Giddey #3 of the Oklahoma City Thunder dribbles the ball during the 2022 Clorox Rising Stars at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on February 18, 2022 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images)

NBA

NBA Rookie Ladder: The race at the All-Star break

by Michael Shearer Follow @bballispoetry
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NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – FEBRUARY 14: Scottie Barnes #4 of the Toronto Raptors reacts against the New Orleans Pelicans during a game at the Smoothie King Center on February 14, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana, NBA Rookie Ladder: The race at the All-Star break. 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)

NBA Rookie Ladder: 4. Scottie Barnes

Pts/Rebs/Asts/Stls/Blks:14.4/7.4/3.3/1.0/0.8

FG%/3P%/FT%: 47.0%/31.3%/73.3%

Scottie Barnes entered the All-Star break on a little bit of a slump. He averaged 11.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 3.0 assists on 43 percent shooting in the five games before the break, and he might be hitting the rookie wall.

Coach Nick Nurse has been playing him fewer minutes, perhaps in acknowledgment of that fact, but Scottie is still a critical part of what the Raptors do on both sides of the ball.

Barnes is in a strange situation – his skill set as a jack-of-all-trades forward overlaps with 90 percent of the Toronto Raptors roster. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, as it’s allowed him to slot in and immediately contribute to what they were doing, but it does mean that he’s struggled a little bit to carve out a unique role.

That said, his immediate productivity and endearing personality have made him an exciting player who could quickly become a future star. Tightening up his individual defense and honing an outside shot will be essential to maximizing his potential, but he’s already a valuable NBA player right now.

Toronto is pushing up the Eastern Conference standings, and Barnes is a big reason for their surge.

NBA Rookie Ladder: 3. Cade Cunningham

Pts/Rebs/Asts/Stls/Blks:15.7/5.5/5.2/1.3/0.7

FG%/3P%/FT%: 39.4%/32.7%/85.6%

Cade Cunningham has had a peak-and-valley season. After missing the first month and then starting his career with a historic shooting slump, Cunningham righted the ship. His all-around game and clutch heroics (well, as heroic as one can be on a 13-45 team) put the league on notice.

Then, he sustained a right hip injury and has struggled again in his return, shooting just 18-51 in his three games before the break.

That said, Cade might have the highest ceiling of any player on this list. Even as his shooting touch has come and gone, he’s retained the confidence to take good shots and attack opposing players.

A highlight from early in the season was him getting blocked by Anthony Davis twice in the final minute of a game against the Lakers. While some clowned Cade, I saw a young man who rose to the competitive challenge, even if his skill wasn’t quite enough yet. That sort of mindset will serve him well in the future.

He was even named MVP of the Rising Stars tournament, a surprisingly competitive and fun event in NBA All-Star weekend:

Cade’s recent struggles have moved him down a peg on this list, but he’ll undoubtedly bounce back like he always does.

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