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Is Sixers Nerlens Noel the best rookie at Summer League?

By Henry McKenna

Feb 18, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Nerlens Noel (4) during warmups prior to the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at the Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 18, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Nerlens Noel (4) during warmups prior to the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at the Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jabari Parker and Andrew Wiggins were top 2 selections. But the best rookie at Summer League wasn’t even selected in this year’s draft. Admittedly, Nerlens Noel is a loophole player — he was selected sixth overall in the 2013 NBA Draft. Regardless, you’d have a hard time making the case he’s not the best rookie at Summer League. The 6-foot-11 youngster is disturbing the peace in all the right ways.

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On Tuesday, he had four blocks.

“When the guards start being a little more timid on their drives and they start shooting a lot more floaters then I know I’m the reason,” Noel said, via Pro Basketball Talk.

Noel has played strong and tough these last few games. Though he’s supposedly around 230 pounds, which makes him quite light, and more likely to get pushed around once he steps onto the court with veterans. Dwight Howard would have his way with the rookie. But rookies are the best competition he’s got right now — and he’s making it look easy.

“He’s active, he’s all over the place,” Sixers Summer League coach Chad Iske said, via Pro Basketball Talk. “He’s trying to do everything, he’s trying to do too much on both ends. The hard part is do you want to just settle him down or do you want him to play with that aggressiveness? I don’t want to give him too much and cloud him, and then he’s thinking instead of playing. I think we just have to get out there and find the happy balance between him being within our rules and him being himself.”

He’s been a highlight reel with blocks and dunks. Surrounded by other young players like Joel Embiid, Michael Carter-Williams and perhaps Dario Saric, it will be interesting to see if he can take a leadership role, too.

Be sure to check FanSided.com’s official NBA page to keep up to date on the latest news and rumors from around the league all summer long.

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