On Wednesday, Donovan Clingan from Portland and Zach Edey from Memphis will meet again after their NCAA championship match last year.
It’s been a while since Zaccharie Risacher of Atlanta and Alex Sarr of Washington made a significant impact together in their debut NBA seasons for 2024-25.
Both players were selected 1-2 in the 2024 Draft last June, but encountered some challenges as newcomers. Risacher, who has seen his starting minutes get reduced due to the need for experience and stronger wing defense, often found himself substituted. Similarly, Sarr’s lighter frame has left him vulnerable against more physical opponents.
However, five months in, they are closing in on the top of the Kia Rookie Ladder. They may not occupy the first two spots, but their proximity is the closest they’ve been in a while. Four of the top five on this week’s Ladder are lottery picks, with Memphis’ Jaylen Wells standing out as the lone Round 2 player, having played more games (69) and won more (43) than his peers.
Weekly Recap
• Sarr shows clear signs of improvement in scoring, shooting from deep, and defensive play. Since the All-Star break, he has averaged 16.9 points compared to 11.4 beforehand, with a 37.1% shooting accuracy from beyond the arc, up from 30.8%. His net rating has also significantly improved, going from minus 15.9 to plus 11.9 in the Wizards’ last 10 matches.
Storyline to Watch
Rookiepalooza takes the spotlight Wednesday as the Wizards play the Jazz in Salt Lake City and the Grizzlies take on the Blazers in Portland. Alex Sarr, Bub Carrington, and Kyshawn George for Washington will be gaining valuable experience for their future roles, while for Utah, Isaiah Collier, Kyle Filipowski, and Cody Williams are also learning on the job.
Latest Ranking
(All stats are as of Tuesday, March 18)
1. Stephon Castle, San Antonio Spurs – With the absence of Victor Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox due to injuries, Castle has taken over as the focal point of the Spurs’ offense. He’s the only rookie to surpass 900 points this season, showcasing his skills and earning votes for Rookie of the Year.
2. Zaccharie Risacher, Atlanta Hawks – His stats have fluctuated, but he showed improvement this past week with an average of 15 points and 51% shooting. Coach Quin Snyder emphasizes the importance of Risacher’s resilience beyond just scoring.
3. Jaylen Wells, Memphis Grizzlies has struggled with shooting percentages this month but continues to contribute positively in Memphis’ games, with his team performing well during his minutes.
4. Zach Edey, Memphis Grizzlies – As he prepares for Wednesday’s rematch against Clingan, Edey’s recent defensive efforts have improved, especially against fast breaks.
5. Alex Sarr, Washington Wizards – After a strong week scoring 24.3 points and achieving a season-high of 34 points in a win over Denver, Sarr is showcasing his potential, aiming to become a consistent performer.
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