Cavs’ Mobley holds off Raps’ Barnes for top spot in last Rookie Ladder

Putting together my first and second All-Rookie squads

Over the course of the season, Aschburner and I have agreed on most rookie ladder rankings, and I definitely can’t say I disagree with how he had Evan Mobley on the top rung in the final rookie ladder. However, I do have one small change that I would like to make involving two guards, in particular. Josh Giddey deserves to be on the first team more than Jalen Green, at least from my perspective, given his all-around impact this season for OKC.

Green was horrible for much of the first half of the season, and for the most part, pre-All-Star break play in general. He was so bad, that at times the Rockets were better with him off the court, even for extended stretches.

Still, with that being said, he rebounded incredibly well after the All-Star break, and the talent for him as a scorer in undeniable, and he has immense potential in his own right.

On the other side, Giddey missed every game after the break, but his pre-All-Star break play was pretty special as well. Those are really the only two names I would swap. So let’s take a look at my All-Rookie First and Second Teams, to that point.

JB’s All-Rookie 1st Team

Evan Mobley, Forward, Cavs

Scottie Barnes, Forward, Raptors

Cade Cunningham, Guard, Pistons

Franz Wagner, Forward, Magic

Josh Giddey, Guard, Thunder

JB’s All-Rookie Second Team

Jalen Green, Guard, Rockets

Herbert Jones, Forward, Pelicans

Ayo Dosunmu, Guard, Bulls

Bones Hyland, Guard, Nuggets

Jonathan Kuminga, Forward, Warriors