In the latest edition of our NBA Rookie Ladder, Jaime Jaquez Jr. makes his presence felt for the Miami Heat and there's a new rookie atop the ranking.
Even though all the talk around the NBA Rookie of the Year race heading into the start of the season revolved around Victor Wembanyama, there are several other first-year players who have made an impact for their respective teams.
A month into the season, these are no longer hot starts. The rookies that have stood out through the first few weeks of the season are likely going to stick. The question is, how high may they rise over the course of their rookie seasons? That's going to be one of the more intriguing storylines to follow over the next few weeks.
For now, let's look back at the month that was. Let's explore our NBA Rookie Ladder 2.0.
Honorable mention: Jordan Hawkins, New Orleans Pelicans
Stats: 13.0 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 37.9 FG%, 35.4 3PT%
Jordan Hawkins continues to play a sizable role for the New Orleans Pelicans. Decimated by injuries, Hawkins has been relied on pretty much through the first month of the season. For the most part, he's come through. Averaging 13 points per game on 35 percent shooting from 3-point range, Hawkins has emerged as a valued contributor for the Pelicans.
If there is some nitpicking when it comes to Hawks, it comes in terms of his overall offensive efficiency. Even though he's been productive for the Pelicans, shooting less than 40 percent from the field overall is less than ideal. It may not be that much of an issue now but if New Orleans is forced to trim their rotation, it's hard to imagine him being a staple for the team considering his inconsistency at times.