Top 10 NBA Best Rookies 2023 Rankings | NBA Playoffs 2023

Ranking the best NBA Rookies after the 2023 NBA Regular Season ends as Paolo Banchero leads the way in the NBA Rookie Ladder

By Fan Rankings | November 19, 2022 - 07:13 PM

The 2022 NBA Draft delivered an exciting crop of future stars for the NBA while many of the top tier picks from the draft took big strides in their rookie season.

One of those rookies that took center stage is the former number one overall NBA Pick during that 2022 NBA Draft Paolo Banchero from the Duke Blue Devils.

The former Blue Devils star didn’t disappoint in his first season while leading all rookies in scoring while landing atop the Top 10 NBA Rookies 2022 rankings list.

Banchero, who ranked among the best rookies in the NBA in scoring, rebounding, and assists is just one of a few rookies deserving of a spot on the top NBA rookies list.

Joining him on the list includes the Indiana Pacers star rookie Bennedict Mathurin who finished runner up to Banchero in scoring among rookie while also being solid on the glass.

In addition to Mathurin other top 2022-23 NBA rookies including Jaden Ivey of the Detroit Pistons, Jalen Williams of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Jabari Smith of the Houston Rockets, and Keegan Murray of the Sacramento Kings. Here is a look at the Top 10 NBA Rookies 2022 rankings list.

Honorable Mention

Tari Eason

Team: Houston Rockets

Previous Ranking: #8

Landing just outside of the Top 10 NBA Rookies 2022 rankings list is the Houston Rockets first round pick during the 2022 NBA Draft Tari Eason.

Eason, who was drafted from the LSU Tigers finished his rookie season averaging 9.3 points per game to go along with six rebounds and 1.1 assists per game.

Despite an up and down rookie season Eason appeared in 82 games for the Rockets while also providing solid defense while averaging 1.2 steals per game while helping to build a strong young core of players in a Rockets team looking to rebuild for the future.

Andrew Nembhard

Team: Indiana Pacers

Previous Ranking: Honorable Mention #2

One NBA team loaded with young talent is the Indiana Pacers with one of those young future stars coming at the hands of Andrew Nembhard.

The former Gonzaga Bulldogs star who was drafted late within the 2nd round of the 2022 NBA draft did not disappoint as a rookie finishing the season averaging 9.5 points per game to go along with 2.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists.

The 4.5 assists per game ranked 42nd in the NBA in total assists per game. Over his final 10 games of the season Nembhard showcased his potential averaging 14.9 points per game to go along with 7.9 assists and 2.8 rebounds per game.

Top 10 Best NBA Rookies So Far

10. Shaedon Sharpe

Team: Portland Trail Blazers

Previous Ranking: Unranked

In at number 10 on the Top 10 NBA Rookies 2022 rankings list is the former Kentucky Wildcats commit Shaedon Sharpe.

After not playing the Kentucky Wildcats last season, many questions were left to be asked about how much he had developed after leaving high school Sharpe didn’t disappoint finishing the season ranked 9th among all rookies in scoring with at least 40 games played while finishing the season averaging 9.9 points per game.

The former five-star recruit who was taken with the Portland Trail Blazers seventh overall pick, Sharpe added three rebounds and 1.2 assists to go along with his 9.9 points per game.

9. Malaki Branham

Team: San Antonio Spurs

Ranking: Unranked

A new name to land among the top rookies in the NBA list as the 2022-23 NBA Season comes to an end is the San Antonio Spurs former first round pick Malaki Branham.

Branham who played his college basketball with the Ohio State Buckeyes finishes his rookie year on a strong note including averaging 14.9 points per game over his final 10 games to go along with 3.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists.

Overall Branham averaged 10.2 points per game in his rookie season to go along with 2.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists. During the season the Spurs guard posted at least 20 points in 10 different games for the Spurs.

8. Jeremy Sochan

Team: San Antonio Spurs

Previous Ranking: #7

One player who might not get enough recognition among the top NBA rookies was another member of the San Antonio Spurs team Jeremy Sochan. Sochan finished the season ranked among the top 10 of all NBA rookies in scoring (7th), rebounding (7th), and assists (6th).

The Spurs forward finished the 2022-23 NBA Season averaging 11 points per game to go along with 5.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. Sochan posted two double doubles while topping the 20-point mark six times over the course of the season.

7. Keegan Murray

Team: Sacramento Kings

Previous Ranking: #6

Coming out of college regarded as one of the top overall scorers Keegan Murray slowly showcased his ability to be a top tier threat on a very talented Sacramento Kings team.

This includes a strong performance down the stretch that saw Murray shoot 45.6 percent from behind the three-point line pushing his season total to a 41.1 three-point percentage mark.

In addition to his hot shooting from behind the line, Murray averaged 14.4 over his final 10 games to push his rookie total to 12.2 points per game. His strong play helped the Kings reach the playoffs for the first time since 2006.

6. Jalen Duren

Team: Detroit Pistons

Previous Ranking: #9

The future looks promising for the Detroit Pistons after landing Cade Cunningham last year and a pair of talented rookies this year with Jalen Duren being one of those rookies.

Duren averaged 9.1 points per game over his first 67 games in the NBA but was even more impressive on the glass. The Pistons rookie from the Memphis Tigers posted 8.9 rebounds on the year while finishing 21st in the NBA in total rebounds per game.

Duren was also solid on the defensive end of the floor posting nearly one blocked shot and one steal per game for a Pistons team that is continuing to build for the future.

5. Jalen Williams

Team: Oklahoma City Thunder

Previous Ranking: #4

Rounding out the Top 5 on the Top 10 NBA Rookies 2022 rankings list is the Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams. Williams, who was selected by the Thunder with their 12th overall pick played a key role in the team’s success this season.

The Thunder forward finished his rookie season averaging 14.1 points per game while posting 17.8 points per game over his final nine games of the season.

His ability to score landed Williams fourth among all NBA rookies in scoring. In addition, Williams added 4.5 rebounds per game to go along with 3.3 assists and 1.4 steals per game.