Jaylen Wells has elevated his game since entering the Grizzlies’ starting lineup.
Injuries often lead to rookie opportunities, freeing minutes for youngsters who might otherwise have to learn by watching. In the case of a team like Memphis — which might want to install the sort of take-a-number dispenser you see in bakeries outside its overrun training room — minutes have grown into a reliance on the new guys.
That’s how guard Jaylen Wells and center Zach Edey claim the top two spots on this week’s Kia Rookie Ladder.
Wells, snagged out of Washington State nine picks into the second round, got moved into Memphis’ starting lineup on Halloween and has upped his production across the board. From 8.2 points on 33% shooting with a minus-13.2 net rating in reserve, Wells as a starter is at 14 ppg, 49% and a plus-20.2.
Edey has come off the bench in the Grizzlies’ two more recent games with Brandon Clarke moving into the starting lineup. His numbers are up, too, in scoring, rebounding, assists, shooting, even minutes (from 19.1 to 23).
Here’s more on them, as well as eight other rung-holders in this week’s Ladder.
• Edey, the Ladder king last week, had five steals, three blocks and nine turnovers in his first 46 minutes as a reserve.
• But the big fellow’s defensive timing is improving. Edey has blocked seven shots in his past four games, compared to three in his first seven.
• Utah’s Isaiah Collier has joined fellow Jazz rookies Kyle Filipowski and Cody Williams in getting reliable minutes. His debut was delayed for seven games by a hamstring injury. But the Draft’s No. 29 pick made a cameo against Milwaukee Thursday, then started at San Antonio Saturday and chipped in seven points, six rebounds, four assists, a steal, a block and no turnovers.
Better shooting efficiency. So far, Washington’s Alex Sarr is underwater in terms of points per game (9.2) vs. shots per game (9.8). San Antonio’s Stephon Castle is breaking even, with 8.5 of each. It’s often said that shooting is the last piece of the puzzle for new guys and that pattern held last season. By Dec. 1 a year ago, Scoot Henderson, Gradey Dick and Jarace Walker all were averaging more takes than makes but all three cleaned that up by season’s end.
(All stats through Tuesday, Nov. 12)
1. Jaylen Wells, Memphis Grizzlies
Season stats: 11.4 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 1.6 apg
Last Ladder: 3
Draft pick: No. 39
The Grizzlies blew out the Lakers, Wizards and Trail Blazers by an average of 28.6 points per rout and Wells was a driving force. He averaged 15.7 points and was a plus-20, better than Edey’s plus-10.7. And he continues to impress defensively, along with rookies Ryan Dunn of Phoenix, Toronto’s Jonathan Mogbo and Washington’s Kyshawn George.
2. Zach Edey, Memphis Grizzlies
Season stats: 11.2 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 0.9 bpg
Last Ladder: 1
Draft pick: No. 9
Former No. 1 pick Greg Oden, the big man whose career was cut short by injuries, heaped praise on Edey during an appearance on Johnny Manziel’s podcast. “I wasn’t sure how his game would translate in the NBA, but when you’re freakin’ 7-3, nobody else can do anything about it,” Oden said.
3. Bub Carrington, Washington Wizards
Season stats: 9.6 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 5.1 apg
Last Ladder: 2
Draft pick: No. 14
With 10 points and 10 rebounds at Memphis Friday, the former Pitt guard became the youngest Wizards player (19 years, 110 days) to notch a double-double. He also added eight assists. Carrington ranks in the Top 5 for the Class of 2024 in minutes, points, rebounds, assists and steals per game.
4. Zaccharie Risacher, Atlanta Hawks
Season stats: 11.7 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1.3 apg
Last Ladder: 6
Draft pick: No. 1
Broke through with 33 points against the Knicks last week. The Hawks want him shooting and he’s obliging, ranking first among rookies in shots, minutes, and points, while tied for No. 1 in steals.
5. Jared McCain, Philadephia 76ers
Season stats: 11.5 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 1.5 apg
Last Ladder: Not ranked
Draft pick: No. 16
McCain grabs a rung this week, with opportunity and production matching his confidence in teammate Tyrese Maxey’s three-game absence. The Sacramento native has averaged 22.7 points and 30.6 minutes in this stretch, hitting 40% of his 3s, and leads this class in usage rate (26.4).
6. Ryan Dunn, Phoenix Suns
Season stats: 7.0 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 0.7 apg
Last Ladder: 4
Draft pick: No. 28
Minutes up, shots down (4.7) for the week, though he tops the rookies at 39.5% from deep.
7. Alexandre Sarr, Washington Wizards
Season stats: 9.2 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 2.4 bpg
Last Ladder: 5
Draft pick: No. 2
Patience, please: 3 road games in 4 nights saw Sarr shoot 26.7%, 2-of-13 on 3s.
8. Yves Missi, New Orleans Pelicans
Season stats: 6.6 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 1.5 bpg
Last Ladder: Not ranked
Draft pick: No. 21
Double-double (17 points, 11 rebounds) vs. Nets Monday has him third in boards and blocks among rookies.
9. Kyshawn George, Washington Wizards
Season stats: 9.6 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 2.6 apg
Last Ladder: Not ranked
Draft pick: No. 24
After wild 6-of-17 from arc Nov. 4, Swiss native settled in for 9-of-20 week.
10. Stephon Castle, San Antonio Spurs
Season stats: 8.5 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 2.8 apg
Last Ladder: Not ranked
Draft pick: No. 4
Four starts in past week, three with 10+ points, including 23 vs. Jazz.
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Steve Aschburner has written about the NBA since 1980. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on X.
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