Now that the 2012 campaign is nearly at the halfway point, a number of NBA rookies have begun to make their mark on the season like Kyrie Irving, Kemba Walker, and Brandon Knight. Other players like Derrick Williams, Tristan Thompson, and Jimmer Fredette have also made strides early on in their professional career.
In our initial rookie rankings of the season for January, #1 overall pick Kyrie Irving held down the top spot, followed by Minnesota point guard Ricky Rubio, and Nets swingman MarShon Brooks.
With Irving and Brooks missing significant time due to injuries, could there be a shake-up at the top? Which rookies will make the cut for February?
Check out which players crack our Rookie Rankings for February:
Atlanta Hawks5.5 ppg, 3.9 blocks, .448 FG%
Previous – NR
While the average NBA fans are probably wondering who Ivan Johnson is, members of the Atlanta Hawks fanbase surely already know as this 27 year old rookie does all the dirtywork on a club missing arguably their best player in Al Horford.
After several stops in Europe and the NBA D-League, Johnson has found a niche on the Hawks roster as a hard-nosed rebounder, screen setter, and defensive stalwart.
While his playing time is somewhat erratic, Ivan has notched several big games recently like a 14 point, 13 rebound effort against the 76ers, 10 points and 9 boards vs Memphis, and 10 points and 11 rebounds against Cleveland.
With steady playing time, look for Johnson to move up the rankings.
Houston Rockets6.7 ppg, 4.9 reb, 1.8 ast, 1.3 stl, .414 FG%
Previous – NR
Similar to his all around production in college at the University of Florida, Parsons really knows how to stuff the stat sheet.
When getting valuable playing time as part of new Rockets coach Kevin McHale’s frontcourt rotation, Parsons has had a number of big games over the past month like 16 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists vs the Bucks, 11 points and 7 boards against Minnesota, and let’s not forget his impressive 20 points and 7 rebounds vs the Bobcats.
Possessing supreme confidence and a nack for dunking the basketball, good things are definitely in Parsons’ future. Remember when he dunked over, then stared down last season’s Rookie of the Year Blake Griffin?
New Jersey Nets14.4 ppg, 4.2 reb, 1.6 ast, 1.1 stl, .454 FG%
Previous – 3
Although MarShon returned recently from a major injury that kept him out of 9 games over the past month, he still ranks 2nd among all rookies in scoring, and ranks in the Top 10 in rebounding.
Prior to the injury, he had been PG Deron Williams’ primary target in the starting line-up, providing instant offense and timely rebounding when needed.
Since our January rankings, Brooks has scored in double figures 6 times, including three 20 point games. Most impressive was his 22 point, 6 rebound effort vs Golden State and 20 point, 6 board night against the Bobcats.
Miami Heat8.2 ppg, 2.4 ast, 1.7 reb, .412 FG%, .308 3PT%
Previous – 4
After starting the season on fire and earning the nickname “Ice Cole” for hitting clutch shots, Norris has cooled a bit in his 2nd month as an NBA player, reaching double figures in scoring in 4 games.
Cole still ranks in the Top 10 in both scoring and assists among rookies and when given quality minutes behind Heat starter Mario Chalmers, he has come through like dropping 13 points on the Nuggets, 10 points and 3 rebounds vs Cleveland, and 12 points and 4 dimes on the Hornets.
Shot selection is key for Norris as his FG% has dropped nearly 100 points since his outstanding start where he shot more than 50% through his first month.
Sacramento Kings8.5 ppg, 2 ast, 1.3 reb, .378 FG%, .396 3PT%
Previous – 10
The jury is still out on Jimmer as to just how good an NBA player he can be as he continues to struggle with shot selection and defending opposing guards.
What we do know is that Fredette is a more than capable perimeter shooter as he is shooting the 3 at a nearly 40% clip. But with the improved accuracy from beyond, his FG% has plummeted, reaching only 37%, the lowest of his rookie season.
Prior to missing a handfull of games recently to injury, it appeared that Jimmer had found his scoring niche he displayed in college, scoring in double figures in 5 games since last month, including 4 straight in late January.
He set a career high by scoring 20 points and dropped 5 assists on the Grizzlies and 19 points and 3 assists on the Nuggets before missing 2 games, then scoring only 23 points over his past 3 contests. Which Jimmer will we see over the 2nd half of the season?
New York Knicks10.3 ppg, 3.6 reb, 3.5 ast, 2 stl, .374 FG%
Previous – NR
Although Iman was out due to injuries and missed our initial rankings for January, we’re no longer sleeping on Shumpert as he cracks this month’s Top 5 rookies.
While he appears to sometimes shoot too many 3 point shots, Iman has been a crucial cog in coach D’Antoni’s rebuilding project in New York. With Anthony and Stoudemire missing time recently, Shumpert has stepped his game up by averaging double figures in scoring, while playing outstanding defense on opposing guards, even ranking 2nd to only Ricky Rubio in steals among rookies.
His big games this month include a 20 point, 4 rebound effort against Phoenix, 18 points, 7 assists, and 4 rebounds vs Cleveland, and 17 points and 4 rebounds against Washington.
Charlotte Bobcats12.6 ppg, 4.1 reb, 3.6 ast, 1 stl, .357 3PT%
Previous – 5
With Bobcats starter DJ Augustin going down with an injury, Walker has taken full advantage of his opportunity to start, ranking 4th in scoring and 3rd in assists among rookies.
Kemba has set several career highs over the past month by scoring 23 points agaisnt Golden State and notching his first ever triple-double consisting of 20 points, 11 assists, and 10 rebounds vs Washington.
Other notable performances since our last rankings include a 22 point, 5 assist night vs the Knicks in his return to Madison Square Garden, 15 point, 6 assist, 4 rebound game against Orlando, and 16 points and 7 rebounds vs Boston.
Can Kemba push Kyrie Irving and Ricky Rubio for 2012 NBA Rookie of the Year?
Detroit Pistons12.5 ppg, 3.5 reb, 3.5 ast, .409 FG%, .365 3PT%
Previous – 8
Is there any coincidence that Knight is now the starter at point guard and the disappointing Pistons have reeled off a season high 4 consecutive wins? I think not, as Detroit coach Lawrence Frank has apparently is bought into Knight as their franchise player going forward.
Knight has been impressive over the past month, dropping 26 points and 7 assists vs Brandon Jennings and the Bucks, 20 points, 8 assists, and 5 rebounds against Atlanta, and 22 points vs Memphis.
He continues to develop at an above average rate, even cutting down on his turnover rate(2.7 per game), which was worst among rookies last rankings. Knight ranks 4th in scoring, 4th in assists, and in the Top 10 in 3 point shooting among freshmen.
Cleveland Cavaliers18 ppg, 5.1 ast, 3.5 reb, .492 FG%, .413 3PT%
Previous – 1
It speaks volumes as to just how good Ricky Rubio has been for Minnesota for us to drop Kyrie Irving to the #2 rookie this month.
Despite leading all rookies in scoring, along with ranking 2nd in assists, and among the Top 10 in rebounding, perhaps the only way for Irving to slide has been missing numerous games do to a nasty concussion sustained February 8th against the LA Clippers.
Prior to the unfortunate injury, Kyrie was phenominal, earning Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for January. His stats are unbelievable and if he continues on this path of averaging 18 points and 5 assists for the season, he may be the odds on favorite to win the ROY Award considering Magic Johnson is the only rookie to do so, and not win the award(won by Larry Bird).
Since our last rankings, Irving has scored in double figures in every game but one, and has set career highs in points with 32 against New Jersey and tied his high in assists with 7 in a game three times. He also could be in select company by season’s end since no rooke has ever finished a season with such shooting efficiency(.500FG%, .400 3PT%, .800FT%) as Irving is flirting with. Get better Kyrie…..
Minnesota Timberwolves10.9 ppg, 8.7 ast, 4.5 reb, 2.5 stl, .318 3PT%
Previous – 2
Perhaps no one outside of the fanatical Timberwolves fanbase was expecting the Spanish sensation to be so good in just his first NBA season. He leads all rookies and the NBA in steals, is 5th among all players in assists, ranks in the Top 5 among rookies in rebounding, and is a walking highlight reel.
Since our last rankings, Ricky has scored in double figures in 10 games, including notching 8 double-doubles in points and assists.
Most impressive was tying his career high for assists with 14 dimes against Sacramento, 17 points, 12 assists, and 7 boards vs Dallas, and his near triple-double vs Houston, consisting of 18 points, 11 assists, and 8 rebounds.
Once Kyrie Irvin ggets back to full strength, it looks to be a photo finish between he and Rubio for the 2012 NBA Rookie of the Year Award. Who ya got….?
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