NBA Rookie Rankings: Luka Doncic starts out on top

DALLAS, TX - OCTOBER 22: Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks looks on during a game against the Chicago Bulls on October 22, 2018 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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DENVER, CO – OCTOBER 20: Deandre Ayton #22 of the Phoenix Suns shoots the ball against the Denver Nuggets on October 20, 2018 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) /

4. Deandre Ayton

The Suns haven’t started the year off with much team success, but that’s not because Ayton hasn’t held up his end of the bargain. He’s been Phoenix’s best offensive player. If he maintains a stat line of 14.3 points and 10.7 rebounds per game then everyone in the Valley of the Sun should be very pleased.

The numbers don’t tell the full story of why the Phoenix coaching staff should be pleased with Ayton at the moment. The way he’s scored offensively has been different than most people expected. He’s shown much better footwork in the post than he did at Arizona. That means he’s not relying nearly as much on inefficient long 2s.

Defensively, Ayton is almost unrecognizable from the player he was in college. He’s never going to turn into a shot blocking star, but he’s shown some solid instincts on that end of the floor. Ayton still isn’t blocking the number of shots a player with his physical skills should, but he isn’t getting blown by the way most scouts expected.

Ayton may never grow into the dominant, complete big man who Phoenix wants, but the early returns make it obvious he’s solidly ahead of schedule.

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