After being selected No. 1 overall in the first round of the 2020 NBA draft, Anthony Edwards had a slow start to his rookie year in Minnesota before catching fire in the season’s second half. The second-year wing then used that as a springboard to a more sustained breakthrough in year two, which drew heavy All-Star consideration earlier this year.
So far, Houston Rockets rookie Jalen Green — drafted No. 2 overall in 2021 — has followed a similar career template. After struggling with inefficiency early on, Green improved significantly as the 2021-22 year moved along, finishing with a historic 30+ point scoring streak and the Western Conference Rookie of the Month award for March/April games.
