NBA Rookie Rankings
All 33 rookies with a projected role, ordered by 9-cat value rather than by where they went in the NBA draft. 4 are being drafted inside the top 100 picks; 2 project inside the top 100 by value. The widest gap is AJ Dybantsa, going around pick 54 and projecting 198.
| # | Player | Pos | Proj min | Overall rank | 9-cat value | ADP | Market gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SF/PF | 32.0 | 98 | -1.10 | 92 | +7 | |
| 2 | PG/SG | 31.8 | 99 | -1.11 | 42 | +57 | |
| 3 | PF/C | 33.5 | 103 | -1.26 | 25 | +78 | |
| 4 | SF/PF | 28.6 | 120 | -1.68 | 141 | -21 | |
| 5 | PG/SG | 29.5 | 147 | -2.47 | 188 | -41 | |
| 6 | PF/C | 21.0 | 172 | -3.23 | 161 | +11 | |
| 7 | SF/PF | 32.8 | 198 | -3.88 | 54 | +144 | |
| 8 | PG/SG | 33.7 | 199 | -3.90 | 170 | +29 | |
| 9 | PG/SG | 28.0 | 208 | -4.12 | 180 | +28 | |
| 10 | PG/SG | 22.5 | 214 | -4.20 | 159 | +55 | |
| 11 | PG/SG | 30.4 | 228 | -4.44 | 141 | +88 | |
| 12 | SF/PF | 26.0 | 239 | -4.73 | 252 | -13 | |
| 13 | PG/SG | 20.8 | 256 | -5.23 | 302 | -46 | |
| 14 | SF/PF | 26.0 | 260 | -5.43 | 196 | +64 | |
| 15 | PG/SG | 22.0 | 261 | -5.48 | 210 | +51 | |
| 16 | PF/C | 20.0 | 267 | -5.63 | 214 | +53 | |
| 17 | SF/PF | 22.0 | 295 | -6.29 | 227 | +68 | |
| 18 | C | 16.0 | 297 | -6.31 | 185 | +112 | |
| 19 | PG/SG | 22.0 | 300 | -6.33 | 264 | +36 | |
| 20 | PG/SG/SF | 15.0 | 326 | -6.74 | 320 | +6 | |
| 21 | C | 16.0 | 327 | -6.78 | 235 | +92 | |
| 22 | PF/C | 16.0 | 333 | -6.90 | 203 | +130 | |
| 23 | SF/PF | 18.0 | 335 | -6.99 | 242 | +94 | |
| 24 | SF/PF | 18.0 | 337 | -7.05 | 380 | -43 | |
| 25 | C | 15.0 | 350 | -7.25 | 381 | -31 | |
| 26 | SF/PF | 18.0 | 353 | -7.27 | 239 | +114 | |
| 27 | PG/SG | 16.0 | 358 | -7.34 | 254 | +105 | |
| 28 | PF/C | 16.0 | 366 | -7.47 | 353 | +13 | |
| 29 | PG/SG | 18.0 | 381 | -7.86 | 241 | +140 | |
| 30 | PF/C | 12.0 | 385 | -7.91 | 343 | +42 | |
| 31 | PG/SG | 8.8 | 415 | -8.43 | 312 | +103 | |
| 32 | PG/SG | 12.0 | 439 | -9.08 | 411 | +28 | |
| 33 | SF/PF | 12.0 | 449 | -9.56 | 370 | +79 |
Market gap is overall value rank minus ADP. A positive number in red means the market drafts him earlier than the projection supports; negative green means he is going later than his value. Every rookie carries real uncertainty, because a projection cannot see a role that changes in November.
Next: sleepers and busts across the whole pool, draft strategy for which categories to punt, or the full ADP board.
Common questions
Who is the top rookie in fantasy basketball this season?
Caleb Wilson (CHI), projected 32.0 minutes a game and ranked 98 overall in 9-cat value. That is the best projection in the class, which is not the same as being a good fantasy starter.
Why do rookies rank so low in 9-cat?
Because 9-cat scores the things rookies do worst. Young players shoot poor percentages on real volume and turn the ball over while they learn, and both of those are full categories. A rookie can score 16 a game and still be a negative in category leagues.
Should I draft rookies at their ADP?
Usually not, on these numbers. 4 rookies are being drafted inside the top 100 picks while only 2 project inside the top 100 by value. Rookie ADP is driven by NBA draft position and name recognition, neither of which is a fantasy projection.
Are rookies better in points leagues?
Yes, materially. Points leagues ignore the percentage categories and penalise turnovers lightly, so a high-usage rookie who is a 9-cat negative can be a solid points-league contributor. Switch format on the rankings page.
How often does this update?
Projections refresh several times a day, and ADP comes from live Sleeper drafts, so both the order and the gap move as the market does.