NBA News NBA News, Match Reports and Updates
• Subscribe to NBA League Pass NOW >
It’s been a while, as they say, since Atlanta’s Zaccharie Risacher and Washington’s Alex Sarr made a significant impact together in their inaugural NBA seasons during 2024-25.
These two European prospects were selected first and second in the 2024 Draft last June, but they faced expected challenges as rookies. Risacher sometimes ceded his starting minutes to Hawks bench players when coach Quin Snyder sought more seasoned experience, defensive prowess, or physicality on the wing. Similarly, Sarr’s lean frame occasionally made him vulnerable to being overpowered defensively.
However, here they stand, almost five months into the season, inching close to the upper echelons of the Kia Rookie Ladder. While they may not occupy the top two positions, it’s the closest they’ve been in quite some time.
This week’s Ladder continues to feature four lottery picks among the top five positions. Memphis’s Jaylen Wells stands out as the only Round 2 exception, coming in at No. 39. He has played (69) and triumphed (43) in more games than any of his counterparts.
Below is this week’s ranking as the chase for Kia Rookie of the Year and All-Rookie honors intensifies with three more Ladders to follow:
• Sarr’s progress is evident in his scoring, three-point shooting, and defensive play. Post-All-Star break, he has averaged 16.9 points, a leap from 11.4 prior, with his three-point shooting jumping to 37.1% from 30.8%. His net rating has also seen a significant shift from minus 15.9 points per 100 possessions to an improved 11.9 over the Wizards’ 10 games since the break.
• Lakers rookie Dalton Knecht has seized the chance to take on more shots while LeBron James recovers from his groin injury. In just nine games this March, he attempted 100 shots, converting at a rate of 50%, a notable improvement compared to his 42 attempts in February (40%).
• Staying prepared is crucial for rookies who are not given substantial playing time on less competitive teams, and none exemplifies this better than Boston’s Baylor Scheierman. The 24-year-old from Creighton, who was the last pick of the first round in June, recorded a season-high of 20 points in just 16 minutes against the Nets when the Celtics played without Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
Before this, his highest tally was 15 points in 30 minutes against the Sixers on March 6. This means that in his other 17 appearances, he aggregated 15 points over 113 minutes, hitting just 2-of-18 from beyond the arc (though he excelled with 9-for-14 in those key games against Brooklyn and Philadelphia).
Wednesday promises to be packed with rookie action as the Wizards go up against the Jazz in Salt Lake City (9 PM ET, NBA League Pass), followed by the Grizzlies matching up with the Blazers in Portland (10 PM ET, League Pass). A total of six young players — Alex Sarr, Bub Carrington, and Kyshawn George for Washington, and Isaiah Collier, Kyle Filipowski, and Cody Williams for Utah — continue to gain invaluable experience as they develop for their respective franchises.
Meanwhile, starting an hour later in Portland, we will see Ladder big men Zach Edey and Donovan Clingan face off in a rematch of their NCAA championship duel last year, where Clingan’s UConn defeated Edey’s Purdue.
(All statistics are as of Tuesday, March 18)
1. Stephon Castle, San Antonio Spurs
Season stats: 13.8 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 3.5 apg
Last Ladder: No. 1
Draft pick: No. 4
With Victor Wembanyama sidelined for the rest of the season and guard De’Aaron Fox undergoing pinkie surgery, Castle has taken the reins of the Spurs’ offense, aiming to put up numbers that could earn him Rookie of the Year votes. He is the only rookie to surpass 900 points, with Wells trailing him at 913-746, and has attempted over 700 shots. He shares the lead in steals (61) amongst rookies and ranks high in minutes played and assists.
2. Zaccharie Risacher, Atlanta Hawks
Season stats: 11.9 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 1.2 apg
Last Ladder: No. 3
Draft pick: No. 1
Risacher’s playing time and statistics have fluctuated — he averaged 15 points on 51% shooting this week — but Hawks coach Snyder has chosen to maintain focus beyond just shot making. “I don’t want us to get caught up on whether Zacch makes shots or misses them,” Snyder stated. “What matters is that Zacch is tough, competes, enjoys playing, and is committed to improvement.”
3. Jaylen Wells, Memphis Grizzlies
Season stats: 10.8 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 1.7 apg
Last Ladder: No. 2
Draft pick: No. 39
Wells has seen his shooting numbers drop to 32.2% in March, including an unproductive 25.4% from three-point range (15-for-59). His 14-point performance against Sacramento marked his first game in two weeks with double-digit scoring. Nevertheless, Memphis has performed well during his minutes over the past four games, with a plus-4.8 rating while averaging 25.2 minutes.
4. Zach Edey, Memphis Grizzlies
Season stats: 9.2 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 1.3 bpg
Last Ladder: No. 4
Draft pick: No. 9
Heading into Wednesday’s contest, Edey last competed with NCAA championship rival Clingan on Nov. 10, where both played off the bench during Memphis’ victory in Portland. His defensive performance has been on the upswing as opponents target his mobility in pick-and-roll situations.
5. Alex Sarr, Washington Wizards
Season stats: 12.5 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 1.6 bpg
Last Ladder: No. 8
Draft pick: No. 2
Sarr appeared revitalized during a strong week (24.3 ppg) that included a season-high 34 points (5-for-9 from three) in a victory over Denver. He is only the fourth rookie since 2020 on track to average at least 10 points, six rebounds, and one blocked shot per game.
6. Kel’el Ware, Miami Heat
Season stats: 8.6 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 1.0 bpg
Last Ladder: No. 5
Draft pick: No. 15
Some inconsistent performances against seasoned big men during Miami’s recent struggles haven’t deterred the Indiana native. “Those are players with years of experience, and I’m still learning through these challenges,” Ware commented.
7. Isaiah Collier, Utah Jazz
Season stats: 7.8 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 6.2 apg
Last Ladder: No. 6
Draft pick: No. 29
His sensational highlight play against Chicago on Monday involved sacrificing a wide-open layup from a player shooting 41%.
ISAIAH COLLIER OFF THE BACKBOARD TO LAURI MARKKANEN OH MY GOSH pic.twitter.com/YzRB61DDWq
— matt (@aightmatt) March 18, 2025
8. Yves Missi, New Orleans Pelicans
Season stats: 8.8 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 1.4 bpg
Last Ladder: No. 7
Draft pick: No. 21
Coming back after two absences due to an ankle injury, Missi recorded 12 points and 10 rebounds against Detroit, achieving his first double-double in March (he now has 11 total).
9. Bub Carrington, Washington Wizards
Season stats: 9.2 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 4.1 apg
Last Ladder: No. 9
Draft pick: No. 14
Only four rooks in Washington’s history since the 1976-77 NBA/ABA merger have averaged at least 9.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists: John Wall, Jordan Crawford, Tom Gugliotta, and now Carrington.
10. Donovan Clingan, Portland Trail Blazers
Season stats: 6.1 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 1.6 bpg
Last Ladder: Not ranked
Draft pick: No. 7
With Clingan stepping into the starting role for the past 15 games, Portland holds a record of 7-8. Notably, half of the 48 rebounds he’s collected in the last four games have come from offensive efforts.
* * *
Steve Aschburner has been covering the NBA since 1980. You can reach him via email here, view his archives here, and follow him on X.
The opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily represent those of the NBA, its teams, or Warner Bros. Discovery.
