NBA rookies, generally speaking, the talent and potential of the number one pick are undoubtedly the most prominent. The top 15 picks in the draft are known as lottery picks, and they are all young players with relatively high talent. Newcomers after the 20th pick may have very average talent and strength, and it is quite difficult for them to become core rotation players. How did he, a low pick, go from being a bench player during garbage time to becoming the team leader? 43+3+3! An unassuming 27th pick who went from being a substitute to becoming the team leader, while the number one pick gave up on himself.
In the 2021 NBA Draft, Cade Cunningham was selected as the first overall pick, the Rockets chose Jalen Green as the second overall pick, and the Cavaliers selected Evan Mobley as the third overall pick. The Raptors' fourth pick was Scottie Barnes, the Magic's fifth pick was Jalen Suggs, the sixth pick was Josh Giddey, the seventh pick was Jonathan Kuminga, and the eighth pick was Franz Wagner. At the time, everyone said that the 2021 class was a weak draft year, but the top 8 picks had very good talent and strength, and basically none of them were busts; this class of rookies was still very high quality. Recently, Jalen Green of the Rockets has been continuously breaking out, scoring 42 points against the Grizzlies, which was very sharp.
According to American media NBA data experts, Jalen Green and Cam Thomas have each scored 40+ points nine times in their careers, ranking first among the 2021 rookie class. Yes, there is also Cam Thomas, a scorer in the 2021 class. Thomas was the 27th pick in the 2021 draft, and he was just a low pick, but unexpectedly, he rose very quickly as a substitute for the Nets. This season, Thomas averaged 24.7 points + 3.6 rebounds + 3.4 assists, with a field goal percentage of 44.8%, a three-point percentage of 37.5%, and a free throw percentage of 87.5%. Thomas also scored 43 points + 3 rebounds + 3 assists + 2 steals in a single game.
Cunningham, Jalen Green, and Thomas are the most outstanding scorers in the 2021 class. Cunningham averaged 24.5 points + 6.6 rebounds + 9.4 assists + 0.9 steals this season, with a field goal percentage of 46%, a three-point percentage of 38.2%, and a free throw percentage of 78.8%. Jalen Green averaged 21 points + 4.4 rebounds + 2.6 assists + 1.0 steals this season, with a field goal percentage of 42.7%, a three-point percentage of 34.5%, and a free throw percentage of 87.1%. Cunningham's scoring is relatively more stable, and his passing and organizing abilities are getting stronger and stronger. Jalen Green and Thomas, on the other hand, have stronger explosive power: they have a stronger ability to score 40+ points.
The Nets have been rebuilding over the past two years, and Thomas has never been the top star because he was just the 27th pick. After the breakup of the Durant + Harden + Irving trio, the Nets' main core is Bridges, number one pick Ben Simmons, and Cameron Johnson. Bridges was traded by the Nets to the Knicks during the offseason. This season, number one pick Ben Simmons made a comeback but did not put up eye-catching statistics or show great strength; he was completely overshadowed by Thomas' stats and performance. Cameron Johnson averaged 19.6 points + 4.2 rebounds + 3.0 assists this season, and the Nets are ready to sell him at a high price.
Number one pick Simmons averaged only 6.3 points + 5.3 rebounds + 7.1 assists + 0.8 steals this season, not daring to attempt a single three-pointer. Simmons' highest-scoring game this season was 15 points, and fans say he no longer has the passion and motivation to play, considering it self-giving up and not striving for progress. In contrast to Simmons, Nets youngster Thomas, who came from a low pick, is very eager to play and wants to play, break through his own talent limit, and create another career peak; this is also an important reason why he became the Nets' top scorer. Going from a substitute to the team leader is indeed a very inspiring comeback.
