Breaking Down the Top 10 NBA Rookies Making an Impact This Season
2025-11-04 19:12
As I sit here scrolling through basketball highlights with the FIBA World Championship looming on the horizon, I can't help but marvel at how this season's rookie class is defying expectations. While leagues like the PBA, PVL, UAAP, and NCAA in the Philippines are still figuring out their training schedules during that crucial 16-day international window, these first-year NBA players are already establishing themselves as legitimate difference-makers. Having covered basketball for over a decade, I've rarely seen such immediate impact from so many newcomers simultaneously.
Let me start with Paolo Banchero, because frankly, what he's doing in Orlando is ridiculous. The kid is averaging 21.3 points and 6.8 rebounds while shooting 45% from the field - numbers we haven't seen from a rookie since Blake Griffin. What impresses me most isn't just the stats but how he's already become the focal point of Orlando's offense. I watched him dismantle the Celtics last week, and his decision-making in crunch time was something you'd expect from a five-year veteran. Meanwhile, Bennedict Mathurin is bringing that explosive scoring punch off Indiana's bench, dropping 18.7 points per game with a confidence that borders on arrogance - and I mean that as the highest compliment.
The international flavor of this class deserves special attention, especially with the World Championship context. Jalen Williams in Oklahoma City has been my personal favorite surprise - his 13.5 points and 4.2 assists don't jump off the page, but watch him play and you'll see why Thunder fans are so excited. His basketball IQ is off the charts, and at 6'6" with a 7'2" wingspan, he creates matchup nightmares every night. Then there's Keegan Murray in Sacramento, who's shooting 42% from three-point range on nearly seven attempts per game. In today's spacing-obsessed NBA, that skill alone makes him incredibly valuable already.
What fascinates me about this particular rookie group is how they're thriving despite the disrupted basketball calendar worldwide. While professional and collegiate leagues in the Philippines and elsewhere navigate scheduling around the World Championship, these NBA newcomers have adapted seamlessly to the league's grueling pace. Jabari Smith Jr. in Houston struggled early but has found his rhythm recently, posting 15.2 points and 8.1 rebounds over his last ten games. His defensive versatility at 6'10" is exactly what modern teams covet.
I have to give a shoutout to Jaden Ivey in Detroit, whose explosive athleticism reminds me of a young Russell Westbrook. His 16.1 points and 4.5 assists don't tell the full story of how he's transformed Detroit's transition game. And Walker Kessler in Utah - my goodness, this kid came out of nowhere to become one of the league's most surprising rim protectors, averaging 2.4 blocks in just 22 minutes per game. I'd argue he's already a top-10 defensive center in the league, which is insane for a rookie.
The depth of impact extends beyond the lottery picks too. Tari Eason in Houston brings relentless energy off the bench, Christian Braun provides championship DNA in Denver, and Jeremy Sochan's defensive versatility in San Antonio is exactly what you'd expect from a Popovich disciple. What strikes me about this class is their readiness - they're not just prospects developing for the future but genuine rotation players contributing to winning basketball right now.
As we approach the World Championship period that's causing scheduling headaches for various leagues globally, these rookies continue their steady adaptation to NBA life. Their immediate success makes me wonder if we're witnessing a new normal, where the gap between collegiate/international basketball and the NBA is narrowing. From where I sit, this might be the most impactful rookie class since 2018, and I'm genuinely excited to track their development as the season progresses and beyond.
Heather Bolton Suber ’02
Leah Schnell ’01
Sarah Grimes Wiggins ’93
Dr. Ralph Swearngin
Point University will induct four members into the Athletics Hall of Fame during a luncheon on Friday, October 24, during Homecoming weekend.
The class of 2025 includes Leah Schnell ’01, Heather Bolton Suber ’02, Dr. Ralph Swearngin and Sarah Grimes Wiggins ’93. The Athletics Hall of Fame was launched in May 2024, when six inaugural members were inducted.
“We look forward to honoring the second Hall of Fame class during Homecoming,” said Jaunelle White, vice president of intercollegiate athletics and chief student development officer. “It’s always a great feeling to have our alumni back on campus mingling with our current student-athletes and coaches. These individuals were elite during their time at Atlanta Christian College and deserve to be recognized.”
Schnell attended Atlanta Christian College from 1998 to 2001, where she earned a degree in business while competing in both basketball and volleyball. On the basketball court, she earned First Team All-Conference, Scholar Athlete, and First Team All-American honors for three consecutive years. Schnell also held the title of all-time leading scorer from 1998-2001. She now thrives as a commercial construction project manager at Barnsley Construction Group and as an entrepreneur.
Suber, from Havana, Florida, attended ACC from 1998 to 2002. A dedicated two-sport athlete, she earned numerous accolades, including First Team All-Conference, Second Team All-Conference, Honorable Mention and First Team All-American. One of her most memorable achievements came when she made eleven three-pointers in a single game. Suber graduated with a degree in early childhood education and went on to earn a master’s degree in education and a specialist degree in instructional technology. For over 23 years, she has served as an educator.
Swearngin has had a distinguished career in education, athletics and ministry spanning several decades, including 20 years at ACC in roles such as professor, dean of students, athletics director and coach. He held national leadership positions with the NCCAA, served as a trustee of Point University for over 10 years, and worked extensively in ministry and education in California, earning degrees from Whittier College and Georgia State University. His athletic involvement includes 23 years as a high school football official in California and Georgia, 22 years with the Georgia High School Association — retiring as executive director in 2014 — and service on national football and softball rules committees. Honored with multiple Hall of Fame inductions and the Atlanta Falcons Lifetime Achievement Award, Swearngin has authored two books and remains active in retirement through preaching and leading Bible studies, alongside his wife of 58 years, Evelyn.
Wiggins grew up in Roswell, Georgia, where she began playing basketball at the age of ten. After two years at Florida State University, she transferred to ACC in 1990. While at ACC, Wiggins was named to the All-American team in both 1991 and 1992. In her final year, she led her team in scoring, helping them finish second in the nation, and was named national MVP in 1992. She earned a bachelor of science in elementary education in 1993 and later received a master’s degree in technology and media sciences from Georgia Southern University in 2009. For the past 33 years, Wiggins has worked as a dedicated educator. In 1997, she married Todd Wiggins. Together, they have two children, Preston, 26, and Logan, 22.
