The NBA draft brings in a fresh new crop of talent every year, and the results are often unpredictable. Every franchise thinks they’ve picked up the next superstar or gotten a sneaky talented role player, but we never truly know how a player will look until they step on the floor. The 2022 NBA draft was considered a solid one, although lacking superstars. Well, so far, the players didn’t get this message, with some already looking like they will be franchise-defining players.
Several months through the season, there are several rookies that look like they will last a long time in the league, outperforming the expectations that had been set for them. If you had looked on betting sites Canada, these weren’t the guys many had penciled in for the season they are having. But oddsmakers on sportsbooks like Fezbet can’t see the future, and no one could have seen these rookie seasons coming. Let’s look at six NBA rookies that have drastically outshined initial expectations from fans and oddsmakers alike.
Paolo Banchero
Many expected Paolo Banchero to have a strong rookie season. He was the first overall pick, after all, and joining a moribund Orlando Magic franchise that lacked scoring upside. All he has done since arriving is take over. He is the Magic’s clear-cut first option and is playing shockingly well. For the season, he is averaging 21.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 3.9 assists while shooting a solid 45% from the floor. These are fringe all-star numbers. Even as the first pick in the draft, he has massively exceeded what people thought he was going to be capable of and is playing around 35 minutes a night. He looks like a future All-NBA player.
Bennedict Mathurin
When Bennedict Mathurin was picked 6th overall, the hope was that he could blossom into a go-to scorer for the Indiana Pacers. The expectation was not that he would become one straight away. However, he has done just that. This high-flying, sweet-shooting Canadian shooting guard has averaged 17.8 points per game while shooting 42% from the field and 35.9% from deep. He has had massive scoring outbursts, including a 32-point game against the Brooklyn Nets, and he has looked fearless and confident. Mathurin is chasing a feat no one has accomplished before: to become the first player to win Sixth Man of the Year and Rookie of the Year, as he is coming off the bench for the Pacers.
AJ Griffin
AJ Griffin was initially seen as a potential top-ten pick out of Duke but slipped in the draft to the Atlanta Hawks at 16th overall. Expectations were limited for Griffin, who hadn’t exhibited much of an off-the-dribble game at Duke, although his shot was clearly an asset. Since he arrived in Atlanta, Griffin has surprised with both his clutchness and his readiness for the NBA level. He has already hit two buzzer-beating shots and is averaging 10.3 points on 45% from the field and 34.7% from three for a Hawks team angling for the playoffs.
Andrew Nembhard
Andrew Nembhard is our second Canadian on this list and the least heralded of all the players here. Nembhard was picked in the second round by the Indiana Pacers following a solid career at Gonzaga. There weren’t any real expectations for him to even play, as second-rounders rarely do in their rookie season. Few could have seen Nembhard coming. He is averaging 8.9 points, three rebounds, and four assists on a hyper-efficient 47% from the floor and 40% from deep. He is now drawing starter minutes on Indiana and has even had a 31-point, 13-assist game on his resume. He has forced himself into the conversation as a big part of the Pacers’future.
Walker Kessler
The Utah Jazz seemingly embraced the tank this season when they traded their two franchise cornerstones. Walker Kessler, the 22nd overall pick, came back as part of the return for Rudy Gobert. Both player and team weren’t discussed much in NBA circles, but both have outperformed expectations. Kessler is a hulking figure at 7’1 and 245 pounds, and he has become an incredible defender and rebounder for the Jazz. He is clearly the best rookie shot blocker in the league right now and is averaging 6.5 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks while shooting a jaw-dropping 74% from the field.
Tari Eason
Tari Eason was picked out of LSU with the 17th pick in the draft. He had shown flashes of NBA skills in college, but few expected him to put it together this fast. Eason has been a crucial role player for the Rockets and might already be the young team’s best wing defender. He handles tough assignments when he’s on the floor and is currently averaging 8.4 points and 5.3 rebounds while shooting 42% from the field and 36% from three. He looks like he will be a prototypical three-and-D wing player that will be in the league for a long time.
