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The two-month mark of the NBA season has come and gone, which means we can fully believe what we’re seeing now. The days of outliers and small sample sizes are behind us. Many of the league’s rookies, meanwhile, are starting to play with more confidence as we hurtle toward 2024. Let’s check in on five. (All stats through Dec. 27 games.)
Miami Heat: Jaime Jaquez Jr. is hooping
A 31-point, 10-rebound outburst on Christmas introduced Jaquez to a large portion of the country, but Miami’s rookie has been hooping all season, including double-digit scoring performances in 15 of his previous 16 games leading up to Christmas.
Many believed Miami reached for Jaquez, picking him 18th overall, but his talent — paired with the Heat’s uncanny ability to develop players — is a match made in hoops heaven. He’s averaging 13.7 points (fourth among rookies) and has scored 20-plus in five games. He’s a draft steal.
Portland Trail Blazers: Slowly but surely for Scoot Henderson
A brutal start for Henderson caused some folks to jump off the Scoot train early. Although he’s still not setting the world ablaze with awe-inspiring performances (11.1 PPG, 36.9% shooting from the floor), Henderson is at least starting to play with confidence, resulting in more of the Scoot we expected. He has seven double-digit scoring outings in December, including two double-doubles. It’s not all happening at once, but the development is showing for the 19-year-old.
Utah Jazz: Keyonte George looks comfortable
George’s shooting splits (36.1% FG, 32.3% 3PT) don’t tell the full story for the 6-foot-4 rookie. Aside from having 35 more assists than any other rookie, he also looks comfortable in pick-and-rolls and has no problem facilitating the offense when he’s on the floor. He has such a smooth game for someone who is barely 20, and when the shots start falling more frequently (they will), George will be a nightmare to defend.
Golden State Warriors: Trayce Jackson-Davis is making the most of an opportunity
Jackson-Davis received an occasional few minutes throughout the first two months of the season, but another Draymond Green suspension earlier this month opened up a huge opportunity for the 6-foot-9 power forward. He’s making the most of his chance at playing consistent minutes (4.9 PPG, 3.5 RPG).
TJD — one of the best players in the country last season at Indiana — posted back-to-back double-doubles last week and clearly has the game feel necessary to stick around in the league for a long time. Unfortunately for Golden State, that opportunity came because of Green’s antics, but Jackson-Davis is thriving nonetheless.
Washington Wizards: Bilal Coulibaly will be worth the wait
Coulibaly — the seventh pick in the draft — didn’t receive the fanfare his French basketball teammate Victor Wembanyama did, but that doesn’t mean Coulibaly won’t be an extremely high-level NBA player. Averaging 8.9 points, four rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.6 stocks (steals + blocks), he has shown a little bit of everything through 30 games. Flashes of offensive creation, rim protection, wing defense and rebounding should have Wizards fans giddy about his ceiling — especially in a season when not much else has gone right for Washington (5-25).
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