{"id":9330,"date":"2023-01-20T13:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-01-20T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/atswins.ai\/blog\/draft-digest-rookie-of-the-week-kessler-continues-to-impress-griffin-lifts-hawks-to-perfect-record-nba-draft-digest\/"},"modified":"2023-01-20T13:00:00","modified_gmt":"2023-01-20T13:00:00","slug":"draft-digest-rookie-of-the-week-kessler-continues-to-impress-griffin-lifts-hawks-to-perfect-record-nba-draft-digest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/atswins.ai\/blog\/draft-digest-rookie-of-the-week-kessler-continues-to-impress-griffin-lifts-hawks-to-perfect-record-nba-draft-digest\/","title":{"rendered":"Draft Digest Rookie of the week: Kessler continues to impress, Griffin lifts Hawks to perfect record &#8211; NBA Draft Digest"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> [ad_1]<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div wp_automatic_readability=\"81.585766423358\"><!-- tml-version=\"2\" --><\/p>\n<p>Each week, the Draft Digest team selects an NBA rookie from each conference as the player of the week. <\/p>\n<p>In most rookie classes, there will always be a significant number of players who are picked outside the lottery and who end up being steeled at that position. Additionally, they are usually drafted by teams that are looking to compete now, or teams that had great records in the previous year. <\/p>\n<p>This class is already looking deep, with lots of freshman talent making an impact. <\/p>\n<aside class=\"m-in-content-ad-row l-inline mm-in-content-ad-row--in-content not-size-a not-size-b not-size-c\" data-ad-group=\"in_content-0\"\/>\n<aside class=\"m-in-content-ad-row l-inline mm-in-content-ad-row--in-content not-size-a not-size-b not-size-d\" data-ad-group=\"in_content-0\"\/>\n<aside class=\"m-in-content-ad-row l-inline mm-in-content-ad-row--in-content not-size-a not-size-c not-size-d\" data-ad-group=\"in_content-0\"\/>\n<aside class=\"m-in-content-ad-row l-inline not-size-b not-size-c not-size-d\"\/>\n<p>Who brought home the hardware this week?<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"eastern-conference\">Eastern Conference <\/h2>\n<p><strong>AJ Griffin (Atlanta Hawks)<\/strong><\/p>\n<phoenix-flat-gallery class=\"m-in-content-gallery\" id=\"ci02b5ce42e000253a\" config=\"{&quot;imageIds&quot;:[{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;ci02b2d469d0002605&quot;,&quot;slug&quot;:&quot;usatsi_19609704&quot;}]}\"><phoenix-flat-gallery-slide class=\"m-in-content-gallery--slide\" id=\"ci02b2d469d0002605\">\n<div class=\"m-detail--body-item m-detail--body-item-inline\">\n<figure class=\"l-inline tml-image m-detail--tml-image--inline\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\" wp_automatic_readability=\"1\"><phoenix-picture><picture class=\"is-waiting-to-load\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1240px) 700px, (min-width: 675px) 620px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/.image\/c_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_380\/MTk0NDUxMjg0MDUxMzcxNTI1\/usatsi_19609704.webp 380w, https:\/\/www.si.com\/.image\/c_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_620\/MTk0NDUxMjg0MDUxMzcxNTI1\/usatsi_19609704.webp 620w, https:\/\/www.si.com\/.image\/c_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_1240\/MTk0NDUxMjg0MDUxMzcxNTI1\/usatsi_19609704.webp 1240w, https:\/\/www.si.com\/.image\/c_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_700\/MTk0NDUxMjg0MDUxMzcxNTI1\/usatsi_19609704.webp 700w, https:\/\/www.si.com\/.image\/c_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_1400\/MTk0NDUxMjg0MDUxMzcxNTI1\/usatsi_19609704.webp 1400w\"><source sizes=\"(min-width: 1240px) 700px, (min-width: 675px) 620px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/.image\/c_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_380\/MTk0NDUxMjg0MDUxMzcxNTI1\/usatsi_19609704.jpg 380w, https:\/\/www.si.com\/.image\/c_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_620\/MTk0NDUxMjg0MDUxMzcxNTI1\/usatsi_19609704.jpg 620w, https:\/\/www.si.com\/.image\/c_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_1240\/MTk0NDUxMjg0MDUxMzcxNTI1\/usatsi_19609704.jpg 1240w, https:\/\/www.si.com\/.image\/c_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_700\/MTk0NDUxMjg0MDUxMzcxNTI1\/usatsi_19609704.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.si.com\/.image\/c_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_1400\/MTk0NDUxMjg0MDUxMzcxNTI1\/usatsi_19609704.jpg 1400w\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" class=\"m-detail--tml-image m-image\" alt=\"AJ Griffin, Atlanta Hawks\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/.image\/c_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_700\/MTk0NDUxMjg0MDUxMzcxNTI1\/usatsi_19609704.jpg\" height=\"3231\" width=\"4847\" srcset=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" itemprop=\"contentUrl url\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/phoenix-picture><!-- disableImageMeta is needed to prevent duplicate rendering of the image meta.--><!-- Duplicate rendering can occur because we have moved the image metadata outside of--><!-- the .m-detail-header--container. The original image metadata in tmlImage is needed--><!-- for the InContent detail header which renders when the media size is inline or breakout.--><figcaption wp_automatic_readability=\"2\">\n<p class=\"tml-image--attribution\" itemprop=\"author\"><span>Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/phoenix-flat-gallery-slide><\/phoenix-flat-gallery>\n<p><em>Stats from last week: 4 GP | 10.8PPG | 2.5 RPG | 58.3% 3PT | 68.0% FG<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Atlanta went 4-0 this week with a big contribution from the Griffins. Despite being a rookie, he found a way to make time and space for the Hawks&#8217; offense.  <\/p>\n<p>Most impressive is the number he&#8217;s had in under 20 minutes per game this week. He didn&#8217;t need a major minute to make an impact, and in the last four games Griffin has come out of the deep with his 12-for-7 and stepped back his game looked vulnerable.  His 77 3PE is one of his best in this class, according to Cerebro Sports.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"m-in-content-ad-row l-inline mm-in-content-ad-row--in-content not-size-a not-size-b not-size-c\" data-ad-group=\"in_content-1\"\/>\n<aside class=\"m-in-content-ad-row l-inline mm-in-content-ad-row--in-content not-size-a not-size-b not-size-d\" data-ad-group=\"in_content-1\"\/>\n<aside class=\"m-in-content-ad-row l-inline mm-in-content-ad-row--in-content not-size-a not-size-c not-size-d\" data-ad-group=\"in_content-1\"\/>\n<aside class=\"m-in-content-ad-row l-inline mm-in-content-ad-row--in-content not-size-b not-size-c not-size-d\" data-ad-group=\"in_content-0\"\/>\n<p>He was still a contributing role player as a scorer, but the ceiling looks high. The Hawks drafted Griffin in last summer&#8217;s draft.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"western-conference\">western conference <\/h2>\n<p><strong>Walker Kessler (Utah Jazz)<\/strong><\/p>\n<phoenix-flat-gallery class=\"m-in-content-gallery\" id=\"ci02b5ce44300026bb\" config=\"{&quot;imageIds&quot;:[{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;ci02b5b3b3200026e2&quot;,&quot;slug&quot;:&quot;usatsi_19802493&quot;}]}\"><phoenix-flat-gallery-slide class=\"m-in-content-gallery--slide\" id=\"ci02b5b3b3200026e2\">\n<div class=\"m-detail--body-item m-detail--body-item-inline\">\n<figure class=\"l-inline tml-image m-detail--tml-image--inline\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\" wp_automatic_readability=\"1\"><phoenix-picture><picture class=\"is-waiting-to-load\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1240px) 700px, (min-width: 675px) 620px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/.image\/c_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_380\/MTk1MjU5NzM4MzYxOTYzNzE5\/usatsi_19802493.webp 380w, https:\/\/www.si.com\/.image\/c_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_620\/MTk1MjU5NzM4MzYxOTYzNzE5\/usatsi_19802493.webp 620w, https:\/\/www.si.com\/.image\/c_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_1240\/MTk1MjU5NzM4MzYxOTYzNzE5\/usatsi_19802493.webp 1240w, https:\/\/www.si.com\/.image\/c_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_700\/MTk1MjU5NzM4MzYxOTYzNzE5\/usatsi_19802493.webp 700w, https:\/\/www.si.com\/.image\/c_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_1400\/MTk1MjU5NzM4MzYxOTYzNzE5\/usatsi_19802493.webp 1400w\"><source sizes=\"(min-width: 1240px) 700px, (min-width: 675px) 620px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/.image\/c_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_380\/MTk1MjU5NzM4MzYxOTYzNzE5\/usatsi_19802493.jpg 380w, https:\/\/www.si.com\/.image\/c_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_620\/MTk1MjU5NzM4MzYxOTYzNzE5\/usatsi_19802493.jpg 620w, https:\/\/www.si.com\/.image\/c_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_1240\/MTk1MjU5NzM4MzYxOTYzNzE5\/usatsi_19802493.jpg 1240w, https:\/\/www.si.com\/.image\/c_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_700\/MTk1MjU5NzM4MzYxOTYzNzE5\/usatsi_19802493.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.si.com\/.image\/c_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_1400\/MTk1MjU5NzM4MzYxOTYzNzE5\/usatsi_19802493.jpg 1400w\"><img class=\"m-detail--tml-image m-image\" alt=\"Walker Kessler, Utah Jazz\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/.image\/c_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_700\/MTk1MjU5NzM4MzYxOTYzNzE5\/usatsi_19802493.jpg\" height=\"3587\" width=\"5381\" srcset=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" itemprop=\"contentUrl url\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/phoenix-picture><!-- disableImageMeta is needed to prevent duplicate rendering of the image meta.--><!-- Duplicate rendering can occur because we have moved the image metadata outside of--><!-- the .m-detail-header--container. The original image metadata in tmlImage is needed--><!-- for the InContent detail header which renders when the media size is inline or breakout.--><figcaption wp_automatic_readability=\"2\">\n<p class=\"tml-image--attribution\" itemprop=\"author\"><span>Bruce Clackhorn &#8211; USA TODAY Sports<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/phoenix-flat-gallery-slide><\/phoenix-flat-gallery>\n<p><em>Stats from last week: 4 GP | 15.3 PPG| 13.3 RPG | 5.8 ORPG | 77.1% FG<\/em><\/p>\n<aside class=\"m-in-content-ad-row l-inline mm-in-content-ad-row--in-content not-size-a not-size-c not-size-d\" data-ad-group=\"in_content-2\"\/>\n<p>Kessler helped lead Utah to a 3-1 record this week, playing nearly 30 minutes per game and playing a major role in the rotation. He has recorded double-doubles in three of his four contests.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"m-in-content-ad-row l-inline mm-in-content-ad-row--in-content not-size-a not-size-b not-size-c\" data-ad-group=\"in_content-2\"\/>\n<aside class=\"m-in-content-ad-row l-inline mm-in-content-ad-row--in-content not-size-a not-size-b not-size-d\" data-ad-group=\"in_content-2\"\/>\n<aside class=\"m-in-content-ad-row l-inline mm-in-content-ad-row--in-content not-size-b not-size-c not-size-d\" data-ad-group=\"in_content-1\"\/>\n<p>In perhaps Kessler&#8217;s best NBA game, he compiled a 20-point, 20-rebound game against Rudy Gobert and the Minnesota Timberwolves this week. <\/p>\n<aside class=\"m-in-content-ad-row l-inline mm-in-content-ad-row--in-content not-size-a not-size-c not-size-d\" data-ad-group=\"in_content-3\"\/>\n<p>One of the fastest rising rookies in the class, the 7-footer has found a way to dominate on both ends. He&#8217;s a rim protector and glass cleaner and a great value to Jazz. <\/p>\n<aside class=\"m-in-content-ad-row l-inline mm-in-content-ad-row--in-content not-size-b not-size-c not-size-d\" data-ad-group=\"in_content-2\"\/>\n<hr class=\"mm-horizontal-rule mm-horizontal-rule--hr1\"\/>\n<p>Want to join the discussion? Like Facebook&#8217;s Draft Digest <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/DraftDigest\" onclick=\"return phoenixTrackClickEvent(this, event);\" target=\"_blank\">follow me on twitter<\/a> Stay up to date with the latest NBA Draft news. You can also meet the team behind the coverage.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/>[ad_2]<br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/__i\/rss\/rd\/articles\/CBMiiQFodHRwczovL3d3dy5zaS5jb20vbmJhL2RyYWZ0L25ld3NmZWVkL2RyYWZ0LWRpZ2VzdC1yb29raWVzLW9mLXRoZS13ZWVrLWtlc3NsZXItY29udGludWVzLXRvLWltcHJlc3MtZ3JpZmZpbi1saWZ0cy1oYXdrcy10by1wZXJmZWN0LXJlY29yZNIBjgFodHRwczovL3d3dy5zaS5jb20vbmJhL2RyYWZ0Ly5hbXAvbmV3c2ZlZWQvZHJhZnQtZGlnZXN0LXJvb2tpZXMtb2YtdGhlLXdlZWsta2Vzc2xlci1jb250aW51ZXMtdG8taW1wcmVzcy1ncmlmZmluLWxpZnRzLWhhd2tzLXRvLXBlcmZlY3QtcmVjb3Jk?oc=5\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[ad_1] Each week, the Draft Digest team selects an NBA rookie from each conference as the player of the week. In most rookie classes, there<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9331,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":[],"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9330","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nba","two-columns"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/atswins.ai\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/usatsi_19689492.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/atswins.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9330","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/atswins.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/atswins.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atswins.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atswins.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9330"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/atswins.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9330\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atswins.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9331"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/atswins.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9330"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atswins.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9330"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atswins.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9330"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}