NBA Draft 2023: 5 way-too-early Rookie of the Year favorites
The 2023 NBA Draft threw more than a few surprises our way. Here are the five most promising early candidates for Rookie of the Year.
The 2023 NBA Draft is officially in the rearview mirror, which means teams will now shift their focus to the summer ahead. Free agency, trades, summer league, training camp — it’s all coming right around the corner.
While Victor Wembanyama is the obvious headliner, last night featured several high-upside prospects landing in great situations. There were also plenty of surprises, some exhilarating, others disappointing.
We already graded every pick, but with the focus now shifting to the 2023-24 NBA season, which incoming rookies are set up for immediate success?
When predicting future Rookie of the Year candidates, it’s hard not to focus on the lottery picks. There’s a guaranteed spotlight and workload for someone drafted in the top 10 that just doesn’t really apply to prospects in the back half of the first round or the second round. That said, the All-Rookie teams are never chalk, so rest assured that someone will outperform expectations and sneak into this conversation.
Some honorable mentions: Detroit’s Ausar Thompson, OKC’s Cason Wallace, Charlotte’s Nick Smith Jr., Golden State’s Brandin Podziemski, and Utah’s Keyonte George. All five feel like reasonable bets based on various factors but don’t quite crack the top-five. If you want a second-round sleeper, Andre Jackson of Milwaukee feels like a guy who will scrap his way to minutes for a contender.
2023 NBA Draft: No. 5 Rookie of the Year candidate, Brandon Miller
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The Charlotte Hornets disappointed the fanbase and the broader NBA Draft community with the decision to select Brandon Miller over Scoot Henderson with the No. 2 overall pick. While he fits better with LaMelo Ball at first glance as a 6-foot-9 wing, Henderson is actually the better basketball fit (and overall prospect) due to his ability to put pressure on the rim, score at all three levels, and consistently create for teammates.
The idea of LaMelo as this ball-dominant point guard is wildly misguided. He’s frankly better suited to sharing the backcourt with another ball-handler of Scoot’s variety, which can unlock LaMelo’s shooting and penchant for connective, rapid-fire passing.
Alas, Miller is the pick and he will immediately incur a significant role in the Charlotte offense. While he was only the No. 7 prospect on the FanSided board, there’s still plenty for Hornets fans to be excited about. Miller is an elite shooter for his size, off the catch or pulling up. He also makes some impressive passes out of pick-and-rolls and could develop into a sturdy playmaker to ease Ball’s workload and bolster the halfcourt offense.
Miller can struggle at the rim and he doesn’t have the most explosive first step, which can lead to struggles generating space against high-level defenders. There are legitimate questions about his ability to develop into a go-to scorer in line with expectations at the No. 2 pick, but there’s always value in tall, versatile shooters and Miller will have plenty of reps next season to make his case for Rookie of the Year.