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The Chicago Bulls received troubling news on Thursday: rookie forward Caleb Wilson will be sidelined for four to six weeks due to a fractured right hand. This marks the third hand injury Wilson has endured in the past 11 months, a concerning pattern for the young player.
During his freshman year at North Carolina, Wilson fractured his left hand and broke his right thumb, the latter injury forcing him to miss the end of the regular season. Despite these setbacks, Wilson had been a bright spot for the struggling Bulls (1-9), averaging 18.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 1.8 steals over his first 10 games as the No. 4 overall pick.
The extended absence will keep Wilson out until at least mid-to-late December. Although the NBA does not require a 65-game minimum for Rookie of the Year eligibility as it does for other awards, such a lengthy hiatus will likely cause Wilson to lose ground in what is shaping up to be one of the most competitive races in recent memory.
As of Friday, a clear top five has emerged in the Rookie of the Year odds. Warriors forward Yaxel Lendeborg, the No. 11 pick, is the current favorite at +115 on FanDuel. He is followed by Grizzlies forward Cameron Boozer (+290) and Kings guard Darius Acuff Jr. (+320). The top two picks in the draft—Wizards forward AJ Dybantsa and Jazz guard Darryn Peterson—are tied for fourth at +1600. Wilson sits next at +4000, with a significant drop-off thereafter.
Dybantsa missed the first four games with an ankle sprain, while Peterson started slowly but has impressed for the shorthanded Jazz over the past week and a half.
Assessing the NBA's Top Rookies
Less than a month into the season, three players have separated themselves from the pack. Boozer began the year as the favorite, with Wilson, Peterson, and Dybantsa close behind. However, two players selected outside the top five in a loaded draft class are poised to crash the party. Here is a scouting report on Boozer, Acuff, and Lendeborg and how they can maintain their momentum.
Cameron Boozer, Grizzlies
Boozer's college strengths have translated seamlessly to the NBA. Since the 2010-11 season, no college player has posted a better box plus/minus (18.75) than Boozer. His freshman season at Duke surpassed those of Cooper Flagg and Zach Edey, both of whom also won national player of the year honors. This speaks to Boozer's ability to impact the game even when he isn't scoring. He possesses a superb feel for the game and is already one of the league's best outlet passers. He crashes the boards aggressively and plays physically on both ends. However, one minor concern that also surfaced at Duke is rim finishing. Boozer struggled against bigger defenders in college, and he's encountering similar issues in the NBA, shooting just 46.6% at the rim on 58 attempts, per Synergy. That number has improved recently, but it remains an area for growth.
Yaxel Lendeborg, Warriors
Lendeborg has been outstanding and is a key reason the Warriors are off to an 8-4 start. The pressure will only increase in the coming weeks. He routinely exploited mismatches at Michigan and is doing the same in the NBA. His all-around game has made tremendous strides over the past 12 months, and he will continue to improve. The one knock on Lendeborg in the draft was his age—he was the oldest player selected in the first round and just turned 24—but he fits perfectly with Golden State's win-now timeline. Most impressive has been his shooting: he is converting 42.6% of his 3-point attempts while taking 5.7 per game. Last season at Michigan, coach Dusty May urged him to shoot more 3-pointers, and it paid dividends for his overall game. He is being asked to do more than his peers on a nightly basis. Since a rough shooting night in his NBA debut against the Clippers, his efficiency has been much better.
Darius Acuff Jr., Kings
Those who don't watch the Kings (and who can blame them?) might not realize that the box score doesn't tell the full story. Yes, Acuff has attempted over 20 shots per game in each of his first 11 games, but he also ranks 13th in the league in potential assists (12), 12th in assist points created, and 10th in total assists (80). The game is slowing down for Acuff in a good way. His passing was an underappreciated skill during his time at Arkansas. People will see the scoring numbers and immediately make a bad comparison for Acuff, but the truth is, he is being asked to run the offense, be the primary scorer, and facilitate. How many 19-year-olds in the NBA are asked to do that? Right now, the answer is just him. Acuff will continue to put up numbers for a bad Kings team that is waiting for the trade deadline to deal some veterans. In tonight's action, Darius Acuff Jr. (32 PTS, 10 AST) joined LeBron James (3x) as the only teenagers in NBA history to record 30+ points and 10+ assists in multiple games!
Peterson Showing Signs of Life After Slow Start
The debate surrounding the No. 1 pick was one of the biggest storylines leading up to this year's draft. With Dybantsa going to Washington and Peterson to Utah, they ended up in similar situations on teams with established veterans that seemed ready to take the next step. But for the Jazz, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Lauri Markkanen are out for extended periods due to injuries. With everyone in the lineup, Peterson struggled to find a clear-cut role during his first few games. He finished in single digits in two of his first four games, including taking just seven shots in his NBA debut. Coming out of high school, Peterson was best playing on-ball. However, at Kansas, he played more off-ball. Part of that was due to cramping issues that sidelined him for an extended period, but Peterson has shown he can play both roles well. The last four games have been excellent for Peterson and showed why he was the projected top pick entering last college basketball season. He has scored over 20 points in each of those games, including a 26-point outburst against the Timberwolves. Peterson's 3-point shooting has also been impressive during that stretch. With so many key veterans out for Utah, Peterson has been thrust into an expanded role. That will continue for the next several weeks. With Utah's season already looking like a mess, the organization's top priority should be developing Peterson into a primary option. If the last week is any indication, Peterson could re-enter a very competitive Rookie of the Year race.
Making Sense of Dybantsa's Start
Thursday was a rough shooting night for Dybantsa during the most entertaining Wizards game of the season, which ended with a double-overtime loss at home to Detroit. Dybantsa shot just 2 of 10 and finished with five points—the first time in his career he finished in single digits. However, he did hit a clutch mid-range jumper to send the game to double overtime. Outside of Kyshawn George taking seven shots in 26 minutes due to foul trouble, Dybantsa attempted the second-fewest shots (10) among starters. He also didn't get to the free-throw line, which was shocking because one of his greatest strengths is drawing fouls. Trae Young (23), Anthony Davis (21), and Alex Sarr (14) all attempted more shots against the Pistons. Dybantsa did contribute in other ways (eight rebounds and four assists), but that kind of game underlines why putting him in Tier 1 of the Rookie of the Year conversation is hesitant. And trust me, it's not because of talent. Dybantsa is awesome. The concern is that, with Davis and Young on the roster, the volume of shots for Dybantsa might not be there for him to win Rookie of the Year. Acuff is the primary option for the Kings. Lendeborg is now the de facto No. 1 option with Curry set to miss the next month. Peterson has been thrust into a larger role with veterans out. Boozer is putting up numbers on a nightly basis despite having a lower usage rate than Acuff, Wilson, and Lendeborg. Dybantsa is the face and future of Washington's franchise. He should be featured as such. If he isn't, he will likely fall behind the top three players in the race for the majority of the season.
Other Rookies Who Have Impressed
Even outside the top four names, several other rookies have performed well this season. Although they will likely be longshots to win Rookie of the Year, here are some sleepers and others worthy of recognition.
Keaton Wagler, Clippers
It's time for the Clippers to start Wagler. The impact he has off the bench is impressive. If given more minutes, he will shine. The stat that stands out about Wagler is that he is shooting better from beyond the arc (35.4%) than inside the arc (29.7%). He is shooting 86% from the free-throw line, a positive indicator for future shooting success. He will be fine.
Aday Mara, Thunder
Mara was a player who could make an immediate impact as a rookie because of his defense and offensive efficiency. Mara is shooting 60.3% from the field and blocking 1.8 shots per game. Check and check.
Mikel Brown Jr., Nets
The flashes from Brown are must-see TV. It's the same sentiment as during his time at Louisville. If you put together a highlight tape of Brown's best plays, you would think he's the best guard in the class. He has played in just seven games this season and hasn't started because of a minutes restriction.
Kingston Flemings, Hawks
Flemings has been great in spots off the bench and even as a starter. He is one of the most efficient rookies in the class—albeit on lower volume than his peers—and is shooting 52.1% from the field, 42.9% from 3, and 72.7% from the charity stripe.
Originally reported by cbssports.