The future of the NBA showcased a ton of talent during the 2021-2022 NBA regular season as the future of the league continues to shine bright. 

This year the 2021 NBA Draft class featuring stars Cade Cunningham, Evan Mobley, Jalen Green, and Scottie Barnes are as deep as any of the recent draft classes. 

While the class lacked a once in a generation talent that we have seen over the past few years, the class did feature a ton of strong players with huge upsides.

Cunningham, who was selected 1st overall by the Detroit Pistons missed sometime early but showcased his ability to be the star the team needs. 

In addition, with Cunningham, Mobley was another key impact player who made a huge impact as a rookie while making the Cleveland Cavaliers make a run at the post season. 

While Mobley and Cunningham are both at the top of the class, the overall 2021 NBA Draft class has future stars in the making across the NBA.

With that said, here is our list of the Top 10 NBA Rookie Leaders for April 2022.

Honorable Mention

Bones Hyland

Team: Denver Nuggets

Prior to the 2021-2022 NBA Season the expectations for the 26th overall pick during the 2021 NBA draft was low as he was expected to fill in on a roster that featured solid starters such as Jamal Murray, Nikola Jokic and Michael Porter Jr. 

With Murray failing to recover from his injury from last season and Porter Jr going down early, Hyland filled in strong for the Nuggets while providing the team with a strong guard option. 

Hyland, who played his college ball at Virginia Commonwealth, finished the regular season averaging 10.1 points per game to go along with 2.7 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game.

Alperen Sengun

Team: Houston Rockets

The Houston Rockets need some star power for the future after losing James Harden to the Eastern Conference. 

While that talent level will be hard to reproduce, the Rockets were able to add some talent through the 2021 NBA draft with the addition of both Alperen Sengun and Jalen Green. 

Sengun, who the team drafted out of Besiktas with their 16th overall pick, finished the regular season ranked 6th among all rookies in rebounds while averaging 5.5 rebounds per game. Sengun also added 2.6 assists and 9.6 points per game. 

Top 10 NBA Rookies

10. Davion Mitchell

Team: Sacramento Kings

The Sacramento Kings rookie first round pick Davion Mitchell from the Baylor Bears finished the season as one of 13 rookies to average double digit points in their rookie season. 

Mitchell started off slow averaging just 9.4 points in his rookie month, turned up the production down the stretch while showcasing his abilities as a point guard. 

The Kings rookie finished strong in April averaging 14.3 points per game to go along with 10.8 assists and 1.3 rebounds per game. In five contests in April, Mitchell posted his only three double doubles of the 2021-22 NBA season.

9. Jalen Suggs

Team: Orlando Magic

The number five overall draft pick during the 2021 NBA Draft selected by the Orlando Magic from the Gonzaga Bulldogs, Jalen Suggs showed a glimpse of his ability to be a dual threat shooting guard with the ability to run the team’s offense. 

Suggs, who put together a solid college career finished his rookie season averaging 11.8 points per game to go along with 3.6 rebounds and 4.4 assists. 

The Magic rookie is one of two rookies that put together strong campaigns from the Magic with Franz Wagner also displaying his talent. Suggs ranked 9th among rookies in scoring and 4th among rookies in assists.

8. Brandon Williams

Team: Portland Trail Blazers

One of the big surprises among the rookie class is the Portland Trail Blazers point guard Brandon Williams who was playing for the G-League Westchester Knicks before the team signed him to a 10-day contract back in December. 

After allowing him to return to the Knicks, Williams rejoined the Trail Blazers to end the season while signing him to a two-way contract back in February. After joining the Trail Blazers, Williams averaged 13 points a game to go along with three rebounds and 3.9 assists per game. 

Williams has been without Damian Lillard who battled injuries down the stretch and CJ McCollum who was traded before the trade deadline.

7. Chris Duarte

Team: Indiana Pacers 

The Indiana Pacers roster is slowly in rebuild mode while adding multiple additions through the 2021 NBA draft including the likes of Chris Duarte, Terry Taylor, and Duane Washington Jr. 

Duarte was the biggest surprise of the group as he finished the season ranked 6th in scoring among all rookies while averaging 13.1 points per game. 

To go along with the 13.1 points per game, Duarte averaged 4.1 rebounds per game as well as 2.1 assists per game in his rookie NBA season.

6. Franz Wagner

Team: Orlando Magic

Coming in at Top 10 NBA Rookies as of April 11th, 2022, rankings list is the Orlando Magic 8th overall pick Franz Wagner who played his college ball for the Michigan Wolverines. 

Wagner, who has formed a solid alliance with fellow rookie Jalen Suggs, put together strong numbers in his first season in the NBA. 

Wagner who has solid size, speed and athleticism is a swing style forward who can do it all on both sides of the floor. Wanger finished 4th among all rookies in scoring while averaging 15.2 points per game and also averaged 4.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game.

5. Josh Giddey

Team: Oklahoma City Thunder

Despite the end of the 2021-22 NBA Schedule, the Oklahoma City Thunder 1st round pick Josh Giddey put together a brilliant season while becoming a fresh young face to watch around the NBA. 

Giddey, who played with the Adelaide 36ers within the National Basketball League, was selected by the Thunder with the 6th overall pick. During his rookie season, Giddey finished ranked 8th among rookies in scoring while also ranking 2nd in rebounds and 2nd in assists. 

Giddey finished the season averaging 12.5 points per game to go along with 7.8 rebounds and 6.4 assists per game while also becoming the youngest player to record a triple double at the NBA level.

4. Jalen Green

Team: Houston Rockets

Much like his teammate Alpren Sengun, Jalen Green landed with the Houston Rockets as the team looked to move into the future with a young core of talent. 

Green, who the Rockets selected with the 2nd overall NBA Draft pick, finished the season averaging 16.9 points per game to go along with 3.4 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game. 

Green finished the season strong averaging 25.5 points per game in five games in April while also averaging 5.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists.

3. Scottie Barnes

Team: Toronto Raptors 

The Toronto Raptors rookie is one of three rookies among the Top 10 NBA Rookies as of April 11th, 2022, rankings to find themselves appearing in the 2021-22 NBA Playoffs. 

Barnes, who is a key role player for a Raptors team that finished 5th in the Eastern Conference, has a chance to make a deep run within the NBA Playoffs. 

Barnes finished 5th in the team in scoring averaging 15.4 points per game, 2nd on the team in rebounds with 7.6 per game and 4th on the team in assists per game. 

2. Evan Mobley

Team: Cleveland Cavaliers

The top two selections for the 2021-22 Top NBA rookies could have easily been flipped depending on how you looked at each of their rookie campaigns. 

In the end, Mobley lands at number two while helping guide his Cleveland Cavaliers to the NBA Play-In tournament. The 3rd overall pick during the 2021 NBA Draft out of USC finished the season averaging 14.9 points per game to go along with 8.2 rebound and 2.5 assists per game. 

In two games in April, Mobley scored at least 17 points in both contests to go along with at least seven rebounds. Now the rookie has a chance to add to his success in the postseason.

1. Cade Cunningham

Team: Detroit Pistons

The top overall pick during the 2021 NBA Draft, Cade Cunningham has lived up to the hype as he put together a strong rookie season. Cunningham, who finished near the top in nearly every offensive category among all rookies, showcased his dominance while finding his footing during his first season in the NBA. 

Cunningham finished the season averaging 17.4 points per game to go along with 5.5 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game. Cunningham ranked 42nd in the NBA in scoring, 61st in rebound and 22nd in assists. 

The rookie’s best month came in March, where he averaged 22.9 points per game to go along with 5.9 rebounds and seven assists per game. The big question now is whether Cunningham or Mobley will take home the NBA Rookie of the Year Award. 

So who do you have as your leading candidate in the KIA Rookie Ladder for  Rookie of the Year in the 2021-2022 NBA Season? Rank below to be added in the Power Rankings and to have a chance to win a gift card to LAZADA, Amazon, Fanatics.com, or more that is specific to you. Join the contest by ranking below.

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