Kia Rookie Ladder

Kia Rookie Ladder: Cameron Boozer, Yaxel Lendeborg hold top spots in 2nd ranking

The standout forwards in Memphis and Golden State grab the top 2 spots with the 2026 draft class off to a dominant start.

Jeff Zillgitt

Jeff Zillgitt

Archive

Grizzlies rookie Cameron Boozer leads the Kia Rookie Ladder for the second straight week.

Three NBA rookies have combined for six performances of 30 points or more, including a 2026-27 rookie-best 38 points by one. That same rookie also posted 14 assists in a game. Another rookie had 14 rebounds in a game. Three rookies have made at least six 3-pointers in a contest.

One rookie has a triple-double and seven have generated double-doubles.

The rookies are playing big minutes (six with at least 30 minutes per game), producing and backing up why so many people thought the 2026 draft class was talented and deep.

It’s revealing how important rookies and their development are in today’s game. All before Wednesday’s matchup between San Antonio and Dallas (9:30 ET, ESPN), featuring the past three Rookie of the Year winners (Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle and Cooper Flagg) plus others who contributed in their rookie season.

It’s a challenging task to rank the performances because there have been so many good ones this early. But we can’t have three or four No. 1s or 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D and 1E. A slight edge goes to winning, and no one expected Memphis to be 6-1.

Here’s the latest Kia Rookie Ladder through the first two weeks of the season:

1. Memphis Grizzlies logo Cameron Boozer, Memphis Grizzlies

Season stats: 17.4 PPG, 10.3 RPG, 5.6 APG (37.5 FG% / 36.4 3P% / 94.4 FT%)

Best game in past week: Triple-double No. 1: 18 points (6-for-10 from the field, 4-for-5 on 3-pointers), 12 rebounds and 12 assists in a victory against Portland.

Of all the players in the league, just two – Giannis Antetokounmpo and Boozer – are averaging at least 17 points, 10 rebounds and 5.0 assists. Boozer leads rookies in double-doubles (three), rebounds per game and he’s contributing to winning. The Grizzlies are 6-1, and Boozer is plus-6.4 points per game, also tops among rookies who have played more than one game.

Last week: No. 1 ↔️
Draft pick: No. 3

2. Golden State Warriors logo Yaxel Lendeborg, Golden State Warriors

Season stats: 21.5 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 3.9 APG (50 FG% / 40 3P% / 76.9 FT%)

Best game in past week: Scored a career-high 37 points on 13-for-19 shooting (6-for-11 on 3-pointers) and delivered six assists in a victory against the LA Clippers.

Lendeborg is the sixth player in NBA history to register at least 100 points, 40 rebounds and 20 assists in their first five games, joining Elgin Baylor, Connie Hawkins, Oscar Robertson, Maurice Stokes and Sidney Wicks, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Last week: No. 2 ↔️
Draft pick: No. 11

3. Sacramento Kings logo Darius Acuff Jr., Sacramento Kings

Season stats: 26.1 PPG, 6.3 APG, 3.9 RPG (40.6 FG% / 31.3 3P% /84.8 FT%)

Best game in past week: Scored a career-high and 2026-27 rookie-best 38 points (12-for-25 shooting, including 9-for-14 on 3s) in a loss to Memphis. He also had five rebounds and five assists.

Acuff had a fantastic week, averaging 32.3 points, 8.3 assists and 5.3 rebounds while shooting 48.6% from the field and 42.4% on 3-pointers. He also leads rookies in assists per game, helped by 14 against New Orleans.

Last week: No. 4 ⬆️
Draft pick: No. 7

4. Chicago Bulls logo Caleb Wilson, Chicago Bulls

Season stats: 21.6 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 2.7 APG, 2.0 SPG, 1.3 BPG (43.2 FG% / 32.1 3P% / 69.4 FT%)

Best game in past week: 24 points (9-for-17 shooting, 4-for-9 on 3s, seven rebounds, four assists and four steals in a loss to Philadelphia.

Among rookies, Wilson is No. 2 in points, blocks and minutes, No. 3 in rebounds and No. 1 in steals per game.

Last week: No. 3 ⬇️
Draft pick: No. 4

5. Washington Wizards logo AJ Dybantsa, Washington Wizards

Season stats: 19 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.3 SPG (50 FG% / 27.3 3P% / 93.3 FT%)

Best game in past week: 21 points (7-for-17 shooting), five rebounds and three steals in a victory against Orlando.

Dybantsa missed Washington’s first four games with a sprained left ankle and has fit right in since making his debut on Oct. 28, scoring at least 17 points in his three games and finding his spots to score alongside a group of scorers, including Anthony Davis and Trae Young.

Last week: Not ranked ⬆️
Draft pick: No. 1

6. Utah Jazz logo Darryn Peterson, Utah Jazz

Season stats: 13.4 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 3.3 APG, 1.3 SPG (36.3 FG% / 37.5 3P% / 88.9 FT%)

Best game in past week: 18 points, five rebounds, three assists and one steal in a loss to San Antonio.

Peterson shot 40% on 3-pointers and 90.9% on free throws in three games and added 13 rebounds, 13 assists, five steals and four blocks in three games last week.

Last week: No. 6 ↔️
Draft pick: No. 2

7. Oklahoma City Thunder logo Aday Mara, Oklahoma City

Season stats: 6.4 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 1.7 BPG (55.9 FG% / 77.8 FT%)

Best game in past week: 10 points, (5-for-7 shooting), nine rebounds and one block in a victory against Cleveland.

With the Thunder’s mounting injuries, Mara’s playing time could increase. His per-36-minute stats, along with a positive plus-minus rating, make him a necessary contributor.

Last week: No. 7 ↔️
Draft pick: No. 12

8. Atlanta Hawks logo Kingston Flemings, Atlanta Hawks

Season stats: 7.1 PPG, 4.7 APG, 2.9 RPG (47.6 FG% / 38.5 3P% / 71.4 FT%)

Best game in past week: Had 23 points (9-for-12 shooting, 3-for-5 on 3s), five rebounds, five assists in a loss to Miami.

Flemings is third among rookies in assists per game while putting together solid shooting splits. He has had at least four assists in five of his seven games.

Last week: Not ranked ⬆️
Draft pick: No. 8

9. Los Angeles Clippers logo Keaton Wagler, LA Clippers

Season stats: 12.1 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 3.6 APG (29 FG% / 30.3 3P% / 84.8 FT%)

Best game in past week: Had 21 points (10-for-12 on free throws) and four rebounds in a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.

He continues to show an ability to get to the free throw line, with rookie highs in attempts per game (6.6) and makes per game (5.6) and is learning how difficult it is to make 3-pointers consistently in the NBA.

Last week: No. 5 ⬇️
Draft pick: No. 5

10. Cleveland Cavaliers logo Meleek Thomas, Cleveland Cavaliers

Season stats: 14.0 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 1.0 APG (48.9 FG% / 47.6 3P% / 100 FT%)

Best game in past week: 17 points, five rebounds and one steal in a loss to Oklahoma City.

His early 3-point shooting stats indicate he can develop into a reliable option for the Cavs from beyond the arc, making six 3s in the Cleveland’s two games before Election Day.

Last week: Not ranked ⬆️
Draft pick: No. 34

Other Rookies To Note:

Milwaukee Bucks logo Nate Ament, Milwaukee Bucks: Scored 14 points in a loss to Cleveland.

Milwaukee Bucks logo Brayden Burries, Milwaukee Bucks: Scored 14 points in a loss to Cleveland

Indiana Pacers logo Braden Smith, Indiana Pacers: Had 19 points (8-for-13 shooting), 10 assists, four rebounds, three steals and one block in a loss to Atlanta.

Brooklyn Nets logo Mikel Brown Jr., Brooklyn Nets: Had 13 points, three assists and two rebounds in a loss to New York.

Denver Nuggets logo Trevon Brazile, Denver Nuggets: Had 11 points and eight rebounds in a victory against New Orleans

Oklahoma City Thunder logo Bennett Stirtz, Oklahoma City Thunder: Had 11 points and three assists in a loss to Houston.

Dallas Mavericks logo Morez Johnson Jr., Dallas Mavericks: Had 10 points, six rebounds and three assists in a victory against Oklahoma City.

Rankings are updated weekly, based on season production, the past week’s games and availability. Rankings are the writer’s decision and do not reflect the opinion of the NBA or its teams.

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Jeff Zillgitt has covered the NBA since 2008. You can email him at jzillgitt@nba.com, find his archive here and follow him on X.

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