Irving all the way

April 25 -- What a short, strange trip it's been.

With no Summer League and a contracted season, it feels like yesterday we caught our first glimpse of this so-called weak rookie class.

And what a glimpse it was.

Ricky Rubio, whom we waited on for two years, was even better than advertised. He -- along with Kevin Love -- rejuvenated the Wolves and injected life into a franchise that's longed for a 1-2 punch since the Kevin Garnett-Stephon Marbury days.

Isaiah Thomas, the No. 60 pick of the Draft, came out of nowhere and turned out to be the reliable, steady point guard the Kings needed.

Kenneth Faried, whom I was high on in my initial rankings, lived up to his Manimal moniker after the Nuggets dealt away Nene.

Klay Thompson did the same for the Warriors after Golden State dealt away Monta Ellis and was easily the best rookie scorer down the stretch, showing he's got ridiculous potential.

But through it all, one rookie stood out as the only true choice for Kia Rookie of the Year: Kyrie Irving. After playing just 11 games at Duke due to injury, Irving was a somewhat unknown at No. 1. But it didn't take long for the confident point guard to cement himself as the top choice. He not only led all rookies in scoring (18.8 points per game), but he made clutch shots and showed a leadership that will make him the cornerstone of the Cavs' rebuilding effort.

Dropped out: Tristan Thompson, Markieff Morris

Just missed the cut: Tristan Thompson, Kemba Walker, Derrick Williams, Morris, Bismack Biyombo

(Note: This will be the final Rookie Ladder of the season, which takes into account the season on the whole, where previously it was based both on the season overall with emphasis on recent play as well. Check back in July when I'll check in again from Summer League.)

-- Drew Packham, NBA.com

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