Kia Rookie Ladder: New Grizzlies starter Jaylen Wells climbs to No. 1.

On November 14, 2024By Littum

Jaylen Wells has elevated his game since entering the Grizzlies’ starting lineup.

Injuries often lead to rookies, giving time off for youngsters who would otherwise have to learn by watching. In the case of a team like Memphis — which might want to install the kind of take-a-number dispenser you see in bakeries outside its overflowing practice facility — minutes have grown into a dependency on the new guys.

That’s how guard Jaylen Wells and center Zach Edey claim the top two spots on this week’s Kia Rookie Ladder.

Wells, drafted out of Washington State nine picks in the second round, was moved into Memphis’ starting lineup on Halloween and has increased his production across the board. From 8.2 points on 33% shooting with a minus-13.2 net rating in reserve, Wells as a starter is 14 ppg, 49% and a plus-20.2.

Edey has come off the bench in the Grizzlies’ two recent games, with Brandon Clarke moving into the starting lineup. His numbers are also higher in scoring, rebounds, assists, shooting, even minutes (from 19.1 to 23).

Here’s more about them, as well as eight other rung holders in this week’s Ladder.

Weekly summary

• Edey, the Ladder King last weekhad five steals, three blocks and nine turnovers in his first 46 minutes as a reserve.

• But the big guy’s defensive timing is getting better. Edey has blocked seven shots in his last four games, compared to three in his first seven.

• Utah’s Isaiah Collier has joined fellow Jazz rookie Kyle Filipowski and Cody Williams in getting reliable minutes. His debut was delayed for seven games due to a hamstring injury. But the draft’s No. 29 pick made a cameo against Milwaukee on Thursday, then started at San Antonio on Saturday and had seven points, six rebounds, four assists, one steal, one block and no turnovers.

Storyline for clock

Better shooting efficiency. So far, Washington’s Alex Sarr is underwater in terms of points per game. match (9.2) vs. shots per battle (9.8). San Antonio’s Stephon Castle is going zero, with 8.5 of each. It’s often said that shooting is the last piece of the puzzle for new guys, and that pattern occurred last season. On Dec. 1 a year ago, Scoot Henderson, Gradey Dick, and Jarace Walker all averaged more carries than makes, but all three cleaned up at season’s end.

Latest ranking

(All statistics through TuesdayNov. 12)

1. Jaylen Wells, Memphis Grizzlies

Season statistics: 11.4 pages, 3.3 pages, 1.6 pages
Last ladder: 3
Draft selection: No. 39

The Grizzlies blew out the Lakers, Wizards and Trail Blazers by an average of 28.6 points per game. route, and Wells was a driving force. He averaged 15.7 points and was a plus-20, better than Edey’s plus-10.7. And he continues to impress defensively alongside rookies Ryan Dunn of Phoenix, Toronto’s Jonathan Mogbo and Washington’s Kyshawn George.

2. Zach Edey, Memphis Grizzlies

Season statistics: 11.2 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 0.9 bpg
Last ladder: 1
Draft election: No. 9

Former No. 1 overall pick Greg Oden, the big man whose career was cut short by injuries, heaped praise on Edey during an appearance on Johnny Manziel’s podcast. “I wasn’t sure how his game would translate in the NBA, but when you’re crazy 7-3, nobody else can do anything about it,” Odin said.

3. Bub Carrington, Washington Wizards

Season statistics: 9.6 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 5.1 apg
Last ladder: 2
Draft election: No. 14

With 10 points and 10 rebounds in Memphis Friday, the former Pitt guard became the youngest Wizards player (19 years, 110 days) to record a double-double. He also added eight assists. Carrington ranks in the Top 5 for the Class of 2024 in minutes, points, rebounds, assists and steals per. match.

4. Zachary Risacher, Atlanta Hawks

Season statistics: 11.7 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1.3 apg
Last ladder: 6
Draft election: No. 1

Break through with 33 points against the Knicks last week. The Hawks want him to shoot and he’s accommodating, ranking first among rookies in shots, minutes and points while tied for No. 1 in steals.

5. Jared McCain, Philadelphia 76ers

Season statistics: 11.5 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 1.5 apg
Last ladder: Not ranked
Draft election: No. 16

McCain is taking a step this week, with opportunity and production to match his confidence in teammate Tyrese Maxey’s three-game absence. The Sacramento native has averaged 22.7 points and 30.6 minutes during that stretch, hitting 40% of his 3s, and leads this class in usage rate (26.4).

The next 5:

6. Ryan Dunn, Phoenix Suns

Season statistics: 7.0 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 0.7 apg
Last ladder: 4
Draft election: No. 28

Minutes up, shots down (4.7) for the week, though he tops rookies at 39.5% from deep.

7. Alexandre Sarr, Washington Wizards

Season statistics: 9.2 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 2.4 bpg
Last ladder: 5
Draft election: No. 2

Patience, please: 3 road games in 4 nights saw Sarr shoot 26.7%, 2-of-13 on 3s.

8. Yves Missi, New Orleans Pelicans

Season statistics: 6.6 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 1.5 bpg
Last ladder: Not ranked
Draft election: No. 21

Double-double (17 points, 11 rebounds) vs. The Nets Monday have him third in boards and blocks among rookies.

9. Kyshawn George, Washington Wizards

Season statistics: 9.6 pages, 4.4 revs, 2.6 pages
Last ladder: Not ranked
Draft election: No. 24

After a wild 6-of-17 from the Nov. 4 bow, the Swiss native settled for a 9-of-20 week.

10. Stephon Castle, San Antonio Spurs

Season statistics: 8.5 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 2.8 apg
Last ladder: Not ranked
Draft election: No. 4

Four starts in the past week, three with 10+ points, including 23 vs. Jazz.

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Steve Aschburner has been writing about the NBA since 1980. You can email him herefind his archive here and follow him on X.

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