Kia NBA ROTY Race: Latest ROTY ladder and power rankings feat. Paolo Banchero, Keegan Murray, and more | Dec. 14, 2022-23 NBA Season
No. 1 pick Paolo Banchero is once again starting to look like the runaway favorite for the 2022-2023 NBA Rookie of the Year (ROTY) award. Meanwhile, a familiar face has rejoined this week’s top five following a strong week.
On that note, here’s this week’s ROTY ladder.
#5 Keegan Murray | Sacramento Kings
Previous week’s ROTY ranking: N/A
Last Week: Games played - 4, Games won - 1, Games lost - 3
Overall: Games played - 24, Games won - 13, Games lost - 11
Last Week: PPG - 13.5, RPG - 3.8, APG - 0.5, SPG - 0.8, BPG - 1.0
Overall: PPG - 11.6, RPG - 4.0, APG - 0.8, SPG - 0.8, BPG - 0.7
Last Week: FG% - 50.0%, 3PT% - 50.0%, FT% - 75.0%
Overall: FG% - 42.8%, 3PT% - 36.4%, FT% - 83.9%.
Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray started to break out of his shooting slump last week. Murray shot 13-for-26 (50.0%) from 3-point land over four games. He also scored 15 or more points in three straight games before posting a three-point dud on Tuesday against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Murray remains a solid complimentary scoring option on a competitive Kings team this season. Sacramento currently holds a 14-12 slate and is seventh in the Western Conference.
#4 Jaden Ivey | Detroit Pistons
Previous week’s ROTY ranking: 3rd (↓1)
Last Week: Games played - 3, Games won - 0, Games lost - 3
Overall: Games played - 25, Games won - 7, Games lost - 18
Last Week: PPG - 12.7, RPG - 2.3, APG - 2.3, SPG - 0.7, BPG - 0.7
Overall: PPG - 15.3, RPG - 4.4, APG - 4.0, SPG - 1.1, BPG - 0.3
Last Week: FG% - 35.0%, 3PT% - 25.0%, FT% - 60.0%
Overall: FG% - 40.4%, 3PT% - 30.0%, FT% - 72.2%.
Detroit Pistons point guard Jaden Ivey had a brutal week efficiency-wise, finishing with a shooting split of just 35.0/25.0/60.0 through three games. He still scored in double digits in all three games, but Detroit went 0-3 to fall to a league-worst 7-22 record.
Ivey still has one of the most well-rounded stat-line averages among rookies. However, if he doesn’t improve his efficiency soon, he could be in danger of falling behind even further in the ROTY race.
#3 Jabari Smith Jr. | Houston Rockets
Previous week’s ROTY ranking: 4th (↑1)
Last Week: Games played - 3, Games won - 2, Games lost - 1
Overall: Games played – 26, Games won - 9, Games lost - 17
Last Week: PPG - 14.3, RPG - 7.3, APG - 0.7, SPG - 1.0, BPG - 1.0
Overall: PPG – 12.1, RPG - 7.1, APG - 0.7, SPG - 0.4, BPG - 1.0
Last Week: FG% - 51.9%, 3PT% - 50.0%, FT% - 80.0%
Overall: FG% - 38.2%, 3PT% - 36.8%, FT% - 83.6%.
Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. had a very productive week, scoring in double figures in two out of their three games. His week was highlighted by a 23-point performance on 69.2% shooting in a loss to the San Antonio Spurs.
Smith also shot 7-for-14 (50.0%) from deep last week and had eight or more rebounds in two out of three games. If he continues to score efficiently while rebounding at a high level, he could soon move into the top two in the ROTY race.
#2 Bennedict Mathurin | Indiana Pacers
Previous week’s ROTY ranking: 2nd (-)
Last Week: Games played - 4, Games won - 1, Games lost - 3
Overall: Games played - 28, Games won - 14, Games lost – 14
Last Week: PPG - 13.5, RPG - 5.3, APG - 1.3, SPG - 0.5, BPG - 0.0
Overall: PPG - 17.6, RPG - 4.0, APG - 1.5, SPG - 0.6, BPG - 0.1
Last Week: FG% - 40.4%, 3PT% - 19.0%, FT% - 80.0%
Overall: FG% - 41.5%, 3PT% - 34.9%, FT% - 80.1%.
Indiana Pacers shooting guard Bennedict Mathurin’s struggles continued last week as he shot just 4-for-21 (19.0%) from beyond the arc. Mathurin still scored in double figures in three out of four games and remains the second-leading scorer among rookies this season (17.6 PPG).
However, if he doesn’t start shooting more efficiently again, he will likely fall out of the top two for the first time this season.
#1 Paolo Banchero | Orlando Magic
Previous week’s ROTY ranking: 1st (-)
Last Week: Games played - 3, Games won - 3, Games lost - 0
Overall: Games played - 21, Games won - 5, Games lost - 16
Last Week: PPG - 22.0, RPG - 7.7, APG - 3.7, SPG - 1.0, BPG - 0.7
Overall: PPG - 21.8, RPG - 6.9, APG - 3.8, SPG - 0.8, BPG - 0.6
Last Week: FG% - 50.0%, 3PT% - 30.0%, FT% - 86.2%
Overall: FG% - 45.5%, 3PT% - 25.3%, FT% - 75.1%.
The Orlando Magic went just 2-16 over the first 18 games that Paolo Banchero played in. However, they followed that up with a surprising 3-0 run this week, beating the Toronto Raptors twice and also defeating the LA Clippers.
Banchero scored 20 or more points in all three games. This included a 20-point, 12-rebound double-double with five assists, one steal and one block in his most recent game versus the Raptors.
At this point, Banchero doesn’t appear to have much competition for ROTY.
For last week's ROTY ladder, click here.
Also read: Kia NBA MVP Race: Latest MVP ladder and power rankings feat. Luka Doncic, Giannis Antetokounmpo and more | Dec. 9, 2022-23 NBA Season