The 2023 NBA Draft produced one
of the greatest rookie seasons of all-time. Victor Wembanyama, the most highly anticipated
phenom since LeBron James, was selected No. 1 pick overall by the
San Antonio Spurs and he hasn’t disappointed. Through 52 games this
season, Wemby is averaging 20.7 points, 10.3 r,ebounds and an
astounding 3.4 blocks.
While he’s impressed and lived
up to the hype thus far, it’s not a huge surprise that he’s playing
at such a high level. Several players who slipped on draft night
have also exceeded expectations. Let’s examine the top five steals
of the 2023 NBA Draft thus far.
5. Jordan Hawkins | New Orleans Pelicans
Jordan Hawkins was the No. 14
overall pick in the draft and he’s been one of the most impressive
players drafted in the lottery thus far. Shooting an efficient 37%
from beyond the arc on 5.1 attempts per game, Hawkins has already
established himself as a volume shooter in year one. He’s played 55
games this season and made 10 starts for the Pelicans. In those 10
starts, Hawkins averaged 17.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.4
assists.
His best performance of the
season came against the Denver Nuggets when he had 30 points on
7-of-14 from three. He’s shown flashes of being an elite shooter
and overall offensive player, but consistency is the only thing
holding him back. With that said, he’s only averaging 19.2 minutes
this season and has still averaged nearly 10 points per game. New
Orleans did a fantastic job snagging him at No. 14.
4. Marcus Sasser | Detroit Pistons
Marcus Sasser hasn’t been as
flashy as other players on this list, but he’s been incredibly
efficient. Selected with the No. 25 overall pick, Sasser has gone
above and beyond for Detroit. Playing 54 games, Sasser has yet to
start but still has eight games scoring 17 or more points. He’s
hitting roughly 40% of his three-pointers while attempting over six
per game. That efficiency is ridiculous for any rookie, much less a
25th overall pick.
Sasser is on a team with a lot
of young players who are still developing, including Ausar
Thompson, the No. 5 overall pick of the draft. Thompson is
averaging just one more point than Sasser despite playing nine more
minutes per game. Perhaps most impressive is that Sasser is playing
just 16.2 minutes per game, yet his production has been off the
charts.
3. Jaime Jaquez Jr. | Miami Heat
To much surprise, No. 18 overall
pick Jaime Jaquez Jr. has been one of the standout rookies this
season. While his overall stats may not jump off the page, he has
taken over games in ways that few rookies manage to do. Over a
26-game stretch from November 20 to January 15, Jaquez averaged
16.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.0 assists. Unfortunately, he suffered a groin injury and
missed five games.
It took him a while to get back
into rhythm, but he has since recorded two 25+ point performances.
Jaquez could be a game-changer in the playoffs, which can’t be said
about most rookies. Many view him as the steal of the draft, but
there are a couple guys drafted later who have also
impressed.
2. Cam Whitmore | Houston Rockets
Though Whitmore missed the
majority of the first 30 games, he has been on a tear in 2024. Over
his last 18 games, he’s averaged over 15 points in just 20 minutes
a contest. His production has been unbelievable when he’s played,
as he’s averaging 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.2 steals per 36
minutes. Whitmore was projected to be an early-to-mid lottery pick,
and the Rockets drafted him at No. 20 overall. That’s the
definition of a steal, especially since he’s exceeding
expectations. Houston added to an already stacked young coure, and
their future is very bright.
1. GG Jackson II | Memphis Grizzlies
GG Jackson II has quickly taken
the NBA by storm, averaging 16.1 points over his last 14 games.
Over that stretch, he has made two starts and averaged 24 points,
6.5 rebounds, a steal and a block. He has been a hidden gem on an
abysmal Memphis Grizzlies team, giving them something to be excited
about each night. He recently had a 30-point performance against
the Oklahoma City Thunder in 37 minutes of action. He also had 26
points and 4 rebounds against the Charlotte Hornets.
He’s shown some unbelievable
flashes, especially considering he’s only 19 years old and was
drafted at No. 45 overall — making him the only second-round pick
on this list. As of late he’s been putting up elite numbers for a
rookie and he has a ton of long-term potential given his
age.
HONORABLE MENTION
Craig Porter Jr. | Cleveland
Cavaliers
Craig Porter Jr. has produced a
lot in little time. After going undrafted, he stepped up when
Cleveland’s backcourt was decimated by injuries. In five games as a
starter, he averaged 11.4 points, 7.4 assists, 6.2 rebounds, 1.4
blocks and 1.2 steals. Porter’s season-high came in a victory
against the defending champion Denver Nuggets as he scored 21
points in just 25 minutes. Both honorable mentions have obliterated
expectations, playing a key role despite being undrafted free
agents.
Ricky Council IV | Philadelphia 76ers
Ricky Council IV has played just
21 games this season, but he’s made his mark in Philadelphia. When
he plays over 10 minutes, Council has averaged nearly 13 points per
game. His most impressive performances of the season were a
17-point outing in just 10 minutes against the Golden State
Warriors and a 19-point, 10-rebound showing against the Washington
Wizards. Considering he was undrafted, he’s been a solid find for
Philly.
