Here we are at midseason, and it’s time to take a glance at how some of the notable rookies have played. Here are some retrospective thoughts on the current class of NBA newcomers, their respective adjustments to the league and how it all adds up with my predraft assessments. This is very much not comprehensive—apologies if your favorite rookie didn’t get mentioned—but here’s what’s been on my mind so far this season.
What I missed about Paolo Banchero
Based on what we’ve seen so far this season, I think it’s fair to say the Magic nailed the No. 1 pick: Banchero has pretty clearly been the best rookie this season, averaging north of 20 points and flashing his versatility as an offensive focal point for Orlando. The Magic aren’t good yet, but they’re better than expected, and the Banchero–Franz Wagner tandem gives the organization some significant backbone to build around moving forward. Orlando can tailor versatile lineups around those two guys, who effectively combine skill, size and an all-around feel for scoring. Those are all relatively easy conclusions to draw at this point.
