COMPARING TEEN TITANS
The Rockets loaded up on teenagers, drafting four in the first round headlined by Jalen Green, the second player taken in the NBA draft. Green was immediately made a starter with Alperen Sengun likely to find a place in the rotation, while Josh Christopher and Usman Garuba work to develop and carve out niches.
There have been many teenage rookies who have contributed and in some cases, excelled. A look at some of the best:
Of the top scorers among teenage rookies, only James came straight from high school. After James, the next highest scorer among players who made the jump from high school is Dwight Howard, who ranked 18th. Doncic was a professional and looked it from the day he arrived. Anthony, Durant and Edwards had one year of college ball. Edwards, last season’s runner-up for Rookie of the Year, might be overshadowed in that group, but he does lead the three Timberwolves teenagers in scoring, edging Andrew Wiggins and Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett. Of the top 20 scorers as teenage rookies, 20 are still active. But it is not necessarily a surefire indication of future success with Emmanuel Mudiay and Kevin Knox so far falling well short of those early expectations.
Howard cannot match the numbers across the board that Doncic put up. But when it comes to immediate impact, perhaps no teenager can top him. In win shares, per Basketball Reference, Howard ranks first all-time for teenage rookies. (He was edged in blocked shots by former Rockets teammate Josh Smith and former Rockets forward Eddie Griffin.) Even as a rookie, he was a sensational defensive center. It is remarkable Doncic was so productive as a rebounder but the surprise might be to see the Marvin Bagley’s numbers considering how overshadowed he has been by other members of the 2018 draft class in Deandre Ayton, Doncic and Trae Young. He is eighth in scoring among teenagers in their rookie season. Robinson was not just a strong rebounder from the start. He was ahead of his time as a range-shooting four, and the only player among the top 20 in win shares as a teenage rookie to have played in the ’70s, ’80s or earlier.
During his Rookie of the Year season in 2020-21, Ball edged Doncic for the most assists by a teenage rookie, but Doncic still ranks first or second in points, rebounds and assists per game. (Ball is seventh in scoring among teenagers in their rookie season.) Doncic’s 2018-19 Rookie of the Year season topped James’ 2003-04 Rookie of the Year season in assists. Rookies generally don’t pile up assist numbers, but the Rockets have one player — Kevin Porter Jr. — in the top 20 for assists for teenage rookies.
Bryant’s rookie stats might not seem to indicate the greatness to come, but the Lakers knew. They so believed in what he would become that they put the ball in his hands down the stretch of Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals, with Bryant so confident he was not shaken by four airballs in the final five minutes. (He went to a local high school for shooting drills after.) Antetokounmpo’s numbers were not much better. Tatum’s numbers seem more modest, but when it comes to rookie win shares, only Howard tops him among teens. After then comes the members of the draft class of ’03, Bosh, Anthony and James.