The 2024-25 NBA rookie class is off to a rough start. That, historically bad. There are reasons to hold out hope – writing anyone off after less than two weeks of action is absurd – but there’s a reason why draft 2024 was classified as weak. It will take time and a lot of patience for most of these players to break out.

Normally, there is a pretty clear group of Rookie of the Year favorites. The intersection of opportunity and polish is incredibly valuable for a beginner, and there just aren’t too many players checking both boxes right now. Even pick no. 1 started the season coming off the bench. Zach Edey, college basketball’s most dominant player of the last decade, starts at Memphis. He averages less than 20 minutes per game. The leashes are short and the picks are thin.

So these rankings evolve quite a bit with each passing game as a result. It only takes one performance to shine a whole new light on this rookie class. As a result, I would advise against putting too much stock in these rankings. It’s good to understand the landscape right now, but expect this list to look very different when the season ends. So much will change and evolve in the coming months.

Here are the top 10 rookies so far.

Donovan Clingan is averaging 5.7 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in 12.9 minutes. The Blazers continue to lean heavily on Deandre Ayton, but it’s only a matter of time before Clingan’s sound fundamentals, efficient playmaking and overall rim protection give him a bigger role. Don’t be shocked if Portland spends the next few months trying their best to unload Ayton’s contract.

A five-year college star who went undrafted in June, Jamison Battle has quickly emerged as a rotation pivot for the injury-plagued Raptors. Battle’s efficient 3-point shooting set him apart from other rookies, not to mention solid rebounding from the wing and an overall air of poise that eluded most of his peers.

Some metrics dismiss Jamal Shead (justifiably) for his ineffective shooting on goal, but he’s averaging 5.0 assists in 18.6 minutes as Toronto’s backup point guard while playing strong defense on the perimeter. Shead’s ability to fight over screens and cover the point of attack is valuable for a team that is now missing several of its top defenders. He brings valuable energy off the bench and Toronto needs it, badly.

The scoring efficiency that defined Jonathan Mogbo in college didn’t translate well through seven games, but the 6-foot-6 “center” made his impact felt on defense. He changes screens, chokes the perimeter like a frenzied attack dog and wreaks havoc as a lean lateral roamer (1.3 steals, 0.9 blocks in 17.1 minutes). Sleek screen setting, passing and vertical pop around the rim should translate into viable offense eventually.

An eight-assist, no-turnover performance in 37 minutes was a nice feather in Bub Carrington’s cap on Saturday. He struggles to score on the wing, as expected, but Carrington’s play and shooting at just 19 is mighty impressive. He leads all rookies in minutes per game and should continue to get ample opportunities in DC.

Alex Sarr hasn’t figured out the offense yet, but the Wizards are putting him in there for 24.8 minutes a night and let what happens. That’s the right strategy for a rebuilding team, and it’s allowed us to see plenty of flashes from the No. 1 overall pick. 2, including some stellar defensive moments (2.8 blocks per game).

He needs to add strength and operate with more force, especially on offense, but all of Sarr’s summer league hand-wringing seems silly in retrospect. The tools are readily apparent, and he contributes for a Wizards team that has been far more competitive than expected early on.

At some point, Washington will regress to the Cooper Flagg sweepstakes, which should coincide with an even bigger workload for Sarr. He hasn’t put the pieces together on offense, but it’s hard to find a 7-footer who moves this gracefully with or without the rock. Sarr has legitimate face-up parity, navigating tight spaces off the dribble comfortably and pulling off the occasional advanced pass. His low turnover clip (0.6 vs. 1.8 assists) is a positive sign.

It wasn’t the start most people expected Rookie of the year betting favorite Zach Edey, who has been a frequent victim of trouble. He has started all seven appearances for Memphis, but is averaging just 18.3 minutes. The leash is short, and it’s clear that Edey is still adjusting to the pace of NBA basketball.

Edey almost never fouled at Purdue, essentially out of necessity. The Boilermakers couldn’t afford to lose Edey, so he was asked to play an ultra-conservative brand of defense. Edey’s role is much different in the NBA. He needs to be active with his hands and intimidating at the rim. At 7-foot-4 and 305 pounds, it shouldn’t come as much of a shock that Edey struggles to combat the quickness and athleticism inherent in the pros. It’s worth the time and patience to figure it out.

However, despite the myriad issues, Edey has been more productive than most of his peers, averaging a healthy 9.1 points and 5.7 rebounds on 58 percent shooting. If the defense comes around and Edey can stay on the floor longer, his mismatched creation in the post combined with his wide screen setting and oceanic catch range on the lob should lead to consistent impact and yes, Rookie of the Year.

Yves Missi was the Pelicans’ missing link. It’s only a matter of time before he starts full-time and provides significant value as New Orleans’ defensive anchor. Herb Jones and Dejounte Murray (once he returns) will continue to wreak havoc with their perimeter work, but the Pelicans won’t be a viable defense without a solid presence in the middle. The front office was unable to land a quality veteran center to replace Jonas Valanciunas, but that may not matter with Missi’s rapid rise.

Missi made his first career start on Saturday, tallying four points, 10 rebounds and a block in 26 minutes of action. Nothing too special, but Missi’s ridiculous athleticism and red-hot motor allow her to cover a ton of ground on the defensive back line. The Pelicans are looking for a long-term solution at center for centuries. In Missi, they might actually have it.

His offensive production has understandably been down, but Missi is an expert lob threat with some face-up juice and a weakness he doesn’t get enough credit for. Defensive play (1.5 blocks in 20.8 minutes), solid fundamentals and relentless energy should keep Missi on this list as the season progresses.

Jaylen Wells, a second-round pick in the 2024 draft, immediately found a home in the Grizzlies’ rotation. He has now made back-to-back starts with Desmond Bane injured, leading to back-to-back performances of at least 15 points, five rebounds and two made 3s for the Washington State product.

This was the book about Wells getting out of school. At 6-foot-7, he’s a deadeye shooter, which is a role the Grizzlies always seem to relish. Following in the footsteps of Luke Kennard and, of course, Bane, Wells has a fairly complete set of responsibilities alongside Ja Morant or Scotty Pippen in the backfield. He’s there to run the floor, clear the 3-point line and keep defenders busy with off-ball movement.

He doesn’t do much beyond shooting, but that’s valuable enough on its own, especially when the rest of his teammates can’t seem to find the ocean on the beach. Wells is making 38.7 percent of his 4.4 3-point attempts per game, averaging 10.3 points in 24.8 minutes. A day-one contributor to an aspiring contender, Wells has given off a true All-Rookie vibe through two weeks.

Your rookie leader in 3-pointers made in a few weeks is Ryan Dunn, which absolutely boggles the mind. Dunn straight up couldn’t shoot in college. He made 20 percent of his one-pointers per game as a sophomore at Virginia. Not only did Dunn lack touch, he lacked confidence. Indeed, his entire offensive game was a mess, defined by a timid approach, shaky decision-making and a complete absence of finesse.

Lo and behold, Dunn is shooting 39.3 percent from deep on 4.7 attempts so far in Phoenix, accomplishing those numbers in just 17.8 minutes. So he was a legitimately productive backup scorer in the Suns’ second unit, not to mention the whirlwind defense that made Dunn a prospect in the first place. Dunn is arguably the best point guard in this draft, listed at 6-foot-6 with long arms and a supernatural nose for the basketball.

Dunn camps in the passing lanes and switches across the positional spectrum with ease. We’ve seen several examples of Dunn guards dominating at the point of attack or shutting down stronger wings with effort and intensity. The Suns needed another high-level perimeter defender next to Kevin Durant. There was a gaping hole in their rotation last season. Dunn delivers, and his minutes should increase exponentially as the season progresses and Mike Budenholzer realizes what he has.