2008-09 NBA Rookie Class: Top 50
Who will win rookie of the year ?
By David Thorpe, Scouts Inc.
Year: Select Year 20092008 1-10 | 11-20 | 21-30 | 31-40 | 41-50 Next»
2008-09 NBA Rookie Class: Top 50
RK Player TM Age POS G MIN FG% 3FG% FT% STL BLK AST REB PTS PER
1 Michael Beasley MIA 19 PF --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Analysis: He's already a master of the "Boozer Bump" (the little nudge ... more
2 Greg Oden POR 20 C --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Analysis: This is based on his playing on two healthy legs, naturally. ... more
3 Marc Gasol MEM 23 C --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Analysis: Skilled, experienced and full of confidence. Don't discount the effect of ... more
4 Kevin Love MIN 19 PF --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Analysis: His game is special, but below the rim. He looked terrific ... more
5 Rudy Fernandez POR 23 G --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Analysis: I love players who have been productive in the best leagues ... more
6 O.J. Mayo MEM 20 SG --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Analysis: Relatively poor shot selection, but a great-looking stroke. He may not ... more
7 Derrick Rose CHI 19 PG --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Analysis: Looked to push the ball more on Tuesday, which is his ... more
8 Danilo Gallinari NYK 19 SF --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Analysis: Energy and skill are a great NBA combination, and Gallinari has ... more
9 Brook Lopez NJN 20 C --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Analysis: On Day 3 in Orlando, he struggled to hold his positions ... more
10 Russell Westbrook OKC 19 SG --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Analysis: On Day 3 in Orlando, he really struggled with finishing and ...
11 Courtney Lee ORL 22 SG --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Analysis: Had the unpleasant task of defending Kevin Durant, who was not ... more
12 Jerryd Bayless POR 19 PG --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Analysis: He literally refused to settle for anything but a hard drive ... more
13 D.J. Augustin CHA 20 PG --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Analysis: Very crafty with his pace, changing on the speed dribble, which ... more
14 Jason Thompson SAC 21 C --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Analysis: If he had gone to a big-name college, he'd be a ... more
15 Donte' Greene HOU 20 SF --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Analysis: Wow again. Greene scored 40 points in his summer-league debut. He ... more
16 Joe Alexander MIL 21 PF --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Analysis: Simply put, the worst performance of a first-round pick I've seen ... more
17 Roy Hibbert TOR 21 C --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Analysis: Highly skilled and smart. And huge, too. Should be able to ... more
18 Brandon Rush IND 23 SG --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Analysis: Has a beautiful outside stroke and is ready to defend -- ... more
19 Robin Lopez PHO 20 C --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Analysis: Lopez looked better on offense than he did at Stanford, showing ... more
20 J.J. Hickson CLE 19 PF --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Analysis: Wow. He did everything that can be asked of him, within
21 Darrell Arthur MEM 20 PF --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Analysis: There is no question he should have been drafted in the ... more
22 Nicolas Batum POR 19 SF --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Analysis: He didn't really do much or have many opportunities to show ... more
23 George Hill SAS 22 PG --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Analysis: A surprising draft choice for the Spurs, but one that makes ... more
24 Eric Gordon LAC 19 SG --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Analysis: Clearly has the tools to be an effective player, but currently ... more
25 Ryan Anderson NJN 20 PF --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Analysis: His shot looked flat on Day 3, and he produces little ... more
26 Kosta Koufos UTH 19 PF --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Analysis: Will he play in Greece for a season or two and ... more
27 D.J. White OKC 21 PF --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Analysis: Against the Nets on Day 3, he did a great job ... more
28 J.R. Giddens BOS 23 SG --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Analysis: Boston could use his athleticism, but his skill game needs lots ... more
29 Anthony Randolph GSW 19 PF --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Analysis: On draft night, he was No. 3 on my "biggest upside" ... more
30 Marreese Speights PHI 20 PF --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Analysis: Super-talented scorer, but he's stuck behind other high-level talents on a ... more
31 JaVale McGee WAS 20 PF --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Analysis: His first shot was a foot-on-the-line 3-pointer that was way short. ... more
32 Richard Hendrix GSW 21 PF --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Analysis: Brings strength and power to a front line filled with skinny ... more
33 Chris Douglas-Roberts NJN 21 SG --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Analysis: Terrific Game 3 attacking defenders off the dribble. He played with ... more
34 DeAndre Jordan LAC 19 C --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Analysis: Seems like a perfect candidate for the D-League. However, with the ... more
35 Shan Foster DAL 21 SG --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Analysis: SEC Player of the Year lucked out in Round 2 -- ... more
36 Mario Chalmers MIA 22 PG --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Analysis: He is really in command as a point guard, and has ... more
37 Alexis Ajinca CHA 20 C --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Analysis: A raw talent, Ajinca will probably spend the season in the ... more
38 Omer Asik CHI 22 C --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Analysis: Headed to Turkey, where he signed a five-year deal. ... more
39 Joe Crawford LAL 22 SG --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Analysis: A long shot to make the team. ... more
40 Goran Dragic PHO 22 PG --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Analysis: Solid point guard heading back to his Euroleague team
41 Joey Dorsey HOU 24 PF --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Analysis: Probably a solid NBA player, but he's stuck behind two young ... more
42 Tadija Dragicevic UTH 0 SF --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Analysis: A strong and offensive-minded forward who is likely staying in Europe. ... more
43 Semih Erden BOS 21 C --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Analysis: Might never leave the European leagues. ... more
44 Patrick Ewing Jr. SAC 24 SF --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Analysis: Big-time athlete seems like a good fit for the gravity-bound Kings, ... more
45 James Gist SAS 21 PF --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Analysis: Another athlete to help the Spurs' bench, but it's not a ... more
46 DeVon Hardin OKC 21 C --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Analysis: Great, late-value draft pick of a player who should have gone ... more
47 Malik Hairston SAS 21 SG --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Analysis: A crafty and talented wingman, Hairston may be more ready to ... more
48 Serge Ibaka OKC 18 C --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Analysis: Could develop into a player while in Europe over the next ... more
49 Darnell Jackson CLE 22 PF --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Analysis: He looks like a steal, statistically, but he'll have to play ... more
50 Nathan Jawai TOR 21 C --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Analysis: The big Aussie is headed to Europe, or perhaps the D-League

I think it will be between Beasley and Mayo. I think Mayo will be allowed to throw up shot after shot ala Kevin Durant. Something tells me Oden will be getting just trying to get his feet wet.

Beasley