Summer League hoops are underway and providing the much-anticipated debut of a talented rookie class. It’s never wise to form concrete opinions about young players’ fantasy outlooks this time of year, but these exhibitions are worth paying at least some attention to. With that said, let’s rank the rookie class for the upcoming fantasy season for the first time since before the draft. Check out our fantasy basketball rookie rankings below.
Fantasy Basketball Rookie Rankings
1. Cameron Boozer (F – MEM) | Previous ranking: 1
Cameron Boozer, the owner of one of the greatest statistical seasons in recent college memory, will start in Memphis’ opener as the team’s best player. Enough said.
2. Darryn Peterson (G – UTA) | Previous ranking: 3
Unlike Cameron Boozer in Memphis, Darryn Peterson joins a team of established, productive veterans in Utah. The opportunity for Peterson to post major fantasy numbers remains, even still.
It’s just a hunch, but Peterson, who reportedly thinks of himself as a point guard, may see his minutes staggered with incumbent lead guard Keyonte George, paving the way for both to lead their own units throughout games. The second overall pick has all the makings of a malleable offensive star in the NBA. Whether or not he’s entrusted to create for others in addition to himself remains to be seen.
3. AJ Dybantsa (F – WSH) | Previous ranking: 2
The Wizards are… a good team? Maybe just on paper? Who knows?
If they’re not a good team, they’re certainly committed to becoming one. The Anthony Davis-to-Golden State rumors swirled for maybe 12 hours before it became clear that Washington doesn’t have any interest in moving him. Days later, Washington brass decided to make a trade for former Laker Deandre Ayton to back up Davis.
These decisions won’t make the Wizards a contender, but they’re clear signs that the tanking days are over. The prize of said tanking, first overall pick AJ Dybantsa, is positioned around a mix of young players and former stars as a result. Primarily on-ball offensive threats, both Davis and Trae Young will stand in the way of Dybantsa having free rein and a higher fantasy ceiling.
4. Darius Acuff Jr. (G – SAC) | Previous ranking: 5
Darius Acuff Jr. is now part of what is probably the most mismanaged roster in the NBA. This doesn’t exactly hurt his fantasy stock, however. DeMar DeRozan‘s release means one less veteran for Acuff to compete with for shots in Sacramento’s starting lineup. Zach LaVine, Domantas Sabonis and Malik Monk are still on the roster (for now).
Considering Acuff’s playstyle and where the Kings fall in the NBA’s food chain, you can safely make the bet that he’ll be posting some unreal volume for a rookie.
5. Caleb Wilson (F – CHI) | Previous ranking: 4
There’s little doubt that Caleb Wilson will see plenty of NBA action early on in Chicago. His collegiate statistical profile and archetype require him to develop while playing heavy minutes throughout his rookie campaign.
To be frank, Wilson’s shot diet of dunks and mid-range jumpers won’t be as fruitful in the NBA as it was last season at North Carolina. Considering the presence of Matas Buzelis, Josh Giddey and Norman Powell, there won’t be a ton of shots to go around. Wilson’s fantasy appeal will come in the form of generating steals and blocks, rebounding and efficient scoring.
6. Yaxel Lendeborg (F – GSW) | Previous ranking: 7
Without trying that hard to overreact to NBA Summer League showings, Yaxel Lendeborg‘s debut was awfully promising. The 24-year-old went for 19 points, five rebounds and six assists. Lendeborg followed up with a less impressive but well-rounded 11-point, eight-rebound game two nights later.
Lendeborg will serve as a versatile piece of the Warriors’ offense because of his size, passing and scoring flexibility. Players who fit this mold often see considerable fantasy success.
7. Keaton Wagler (G – LAC) | Previous ranking: 8
Keaton Wagler is poised to split ball-handling duties with Darius Garland from the beginning of the Clippers’ season. A tall, wiry point guard, Wagler spent most of his freshman season manufacturing Illinois’ offense. The 19-year-old was no slouch without the rock in his hands, though. Wagler shot nearly 40% from three last season, and a fair amount of them were assisted.
For a rookie who will likely struggle to combat NBA physicality, Wagler’s proficiency in catch-and-shoot jumpers will keep him on the floor while he adjusts.
8. Kingston Flemings (G – ATL) | Previous ranking: 6
Kingston Flemings‘ best fantasy days will come after his rookie campaign, during which he comes off the bench behind CJ McCollum. That said, the Houston product sneakily possesses one of the more intriguing fantasy profiles in the class.
Along the same lines as Yaxel Lendeborg‘s jack-of-all-trades mantra, Flemings has a way of filling every section of the box score. Through two NBA Summer League games, Flemings has recorded three rebounds and 14 assists to just two turnovers, with five steals and three blocks. While he’s struggled to score efficiently, Flemings is already showing he can impact both sides of the ball.
9. Mikel Brown Jr. (G – BKN) | Previous ranking: 10
For starters, go do yourself a favor and check out Mikel Brown Jr.‘s wizardly pass from Monday night’s NBA Summer League game. Whew.
Brown may not be fully given the keys to Brooklyn’s intriguing offense, especially now that Julius Randle is there, but he’ll have no issue flexing his creativity and elite shooting range.
Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez would be wise to heavily experiment with his lottery-pick guard duo of Brown and Egor Demin throughout the upcoming campaign. They both do similar things offensively, so only time will tell whether their skill sets are redundant or too much for defenses to handle.
10. Hannes Steinbach (C – CHA) | Previous ranking: 14
The most likely outcome for Hannes Steinbach‘s rookie season is splitting center minutes with Moussa Diabate. Both will be required to protect the rim and swallow up as many rebounds as humanly possible.
What sets Steinbach apart from Diabate is his upside as a scorer. Diabate didn’t have a firm hold on Charlotte’s starting center role last season and was sometimes phased out of games due to his limited versatility. Steinbach, because of his 18.5 points per game last season at Washington, projects as a more offensively inclined big.
11. Ebuka Okorie (G – DET) | Previous ranking: 15
Few rookies face greater pressure than Stanford’s Ebuka Okorie. The lightning-quick guard, alongside Daniss Jenkins, will be relied upon to steady the ship when Cade Cunningham goes to the bench.
Okorie lacks the ideal height of an NBA point guard, but he makes up for it with his speed, handle and finishing ability. He completely engineered Stanford’s offense this past season and still managed 46.5/35.4/83.2 shooting splits.
With Detroit’s championship window open (should they re-sign Jalen Duren, anyway), Okorie’s shot-making talent needs to be utilized.
12. Brayden Burries (G – MIL) | Previous ranking: 12
Brayden Burries‘ fantasy stock may have been better off with Giannis Antetokounmpo on the roster. Instead, Milwaukee now welcomes Tyler Herro, Kasparas Jakucionis and capable self-creator Jaime Jaquez Jr. to its ball-handling corps. It’s a group that also includes Kevin Porter Jr. and Ryan Rollins.
Thankfully, though, Burries is comfortable generating his own offense from anywhere on the floor. The 6-foot-4 guard uses his stocky frame to punish teams in transition and when driving downhill. Burries really competes on the boards and on the defensive end, as well.
13. Morez Johnson Jr. (F – DAL) | Previous ranking: 17
Morez Johnson Jr. was the surprise selection of the lottery when he went ninth overall to Dallas. New Mavericks head coach Dusty May coached Johnson through Michigan’s championship campaign just a few months ago.
More than anything, Johnson fits the “grinder” archetype: A player who consistently generates more possessions and does most of his work beneath the basket. A capable lob threat and work-in-progress shooter, the 6-foot-10 forward will have to rely on Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving for shots. But trust in Johnson to produce in most other areas on his own.
14. Aday Mara (C – OKC) | Previous ranking: 9
Aday Mara has joined the young stable in Oklahoma City that’s filled with players waiting to break through and become everyday contributors. While Mara has too many arrows in his quiver not to make an impact in his rookie campaign, he’s too far back in the Thunder’s loaded frontcourt to warrant a higher ranking.
Mara will compete with the newly re-signed Isaiah Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren, who man starting roles, plus Jaylin Williams, Kenrich Williams and 2025 first-rounder Thomas Sorber. The path to playing time is a steep one.
15. Christian Anderson (G – CHA) | Previous ranking: 21
Christian Anderson is the most recent embodiment of the viral saying, “I accidentally became important at work, and it’s ruining my life.”
Anderson is, as it stands, the backup point guard in Charlotte — a truly shocking development after the LaMelo Ball trade. The Texas Tech product almost certainly didn’t expect to step into this position so soon after being drafted.
Since Coby White is set to replace Ball in Charlotte’s starting lineup, Anderson’s role will be similar to White’s from the second half of last season. Anderson’s game resembles Keaton Wagler’s in that he’s a gifted playmaker and a talented long-range shooter. At the same time, Anderson lacks the strength to routinely beat stingy perimeter defenders.
Fantasy Basketball Rookie Rankings: Best of the Rest
- 16. Labaron Philon Jr. (G – PHI)
- 17. Bennett Stirtz (G – OKC)
- 18. Allen Graves (F – TOR)
- 19. Dailyn Swain (F, G – CHI)
- 20. Nate Ament (F – MIL)
- 21. Cameron Carr (G, F – LAL)
- 22. Zuby Ejiofor (F, C – ATL)
- 23. Tarris Reed Jr. (C – SAS)
- 24. Karim Lopez (F – MEM)
- 25. Joshua Jefferson (F – BKN)
- 26. Ryan Conwell (G – MIA)
- 27. Chris Cenac Jr. (F – BOS)
- 28. Henri Veesaar (C – ATL)
- 29. Isaiah Evans (G, F – MIN)
- 30. Koa Peat (F – PHO)