5 under-the-radar NBA rookies to watch
One of the best parts of a new NBA season is watching heralded rookies make their league debuts, especially the multiple top selections from the 2022 draft who could be franchise-altering players.
While lottery picks garner most of the hype, however, many other rookies are fighting for a chance to make their mark. Here are five under-the-radar rookies to watch this season.
Tari Eason, Houston Rockets
At this point, Eason barely qualifies as under the radar despite being relatively unknown before the Rockets drafted him with the 17th pick. He'd started just 12 of his 56 college games in two seasons split between Cincinnati and LSU.
Then he went off at Summer League, joining MVP Keegan Murray as the only two rookies to make the tournament's first team. He averaged 17.2 points and 10.2 rebounds across five games and showed off his elite defensive instincts and athleticism to the tune of nearly three combined blocks and steals per contest.
To keep the momentum going, Eason dropped an eye-popping 22.5 points, nine rebounds, and two steals per game across Houston's first two preseason contests. The versatile wing's noteworthy production, combined with a Rockets youth movement that is sure to give him plenty of minutes, should make Eason the most likely non-lottery pick to make an All-Rookie Team.
Blake Wesley, San Antonio Spurs
If nothing else, Wesley displayed aggressiveness and unwavering confidence while leading the Summer League Spurs in scoring. The downside: The lanky guard made just 30% of his 18 shot attempts per game across five contests in Las Vegas.
Beyond the inefficiency, there is a lot to like about Wesley's future in San Antonio. The 6-foot-5 19-year-old uses a powerful burst to blow by defenders and his long frame to attempt challenging finishes at the hoop. If he builds strength and gets more game action, his offensive repertoire could potentially fit into the mold of Donovan Mitchell or Eric Gordon.
In the meantime, Wesley is likely in for plenty of growing pains with the opportunity for flashes of brilliance. On a Spurs team projected to finish near the bottom of the standings, expect the No. 25 pick to get more on-ball opportunities than the average late-first-round rookie.
Andrew Nembhard, Indiana Pacers
After spending two seasons running an NBA-style offense at Gonzaga, Nembhard should be in line for immediate minutes for a rebuilding Pacers squad, likely backing up premier point guard Tyrese Haliburton. The Canadian's poise and court vision set him apart from most rookies, especially second-rounders.
While somewhat limited at scoring the basketball, Nembhard put on a decent display in the Pacers' preseason opener with eight points on 4-of-8 shooting, though he didn't attempt a 3-pointer or a free throw. However, it was his three assists and zero turnovers in 12 minutes that should catch the eye of head coach Rick Carlisle.
Indiana clearly coveted the No. 31 pick - the franchise gave him a fully guaranteed four-year contract with a team option for the final season. Expect that commitment to translate to tons of opportunity with the Pacers' second unit.
Jaden Hardy, Dallas Mavericks
Much like Wesley, Hardy also took on a high-usage, low-efficiency role at Summer League. The 6-foot-4 Mavericks guard averaged 15 points per game across his five contests, but he took 15 shots per game to get there, making just 34.7% of his field goals. It was more of the same inefficiency that tanked his draft stock while he was with the G League Ignite last season.
In Dallas' first preseason game, though, Hardy began to show why he'd previously been ranked as one of the top prospects in the draft class. Competing alongside other surefire NBA players for the first time, Hardy went off for 21 points in 23 minutes, making eight of his 16 shots and drilling four 3-pointers.
With the Mavericks losing scoring guard Jalen Brunson in free agency, Hardy could find a role as a self-creating scorer off the bench to complement star Luka Doncic. Even with his defensive shortcomings, he could see minutes for a playoff contender this season as long as he can be relatively efficient.
Simone Fontecchio, Utah Jazz
Fontecchio is a unique case on this list, since he wasn't drafted and is entering the league from Italy at 26 years old. Still, after finishing eighth in scoring in this summer's EuroBasket - ahead of established NBA players such as Bojan Bogdanovic and Jonas Valanciunas - the sharpshooter is beginning to make a name for himself in North America.
The 6-foot-8 forward sunk at least 38% of his 3-pointers in five straight campaigns against high-level European competition, prompting the Jazz to sign him to a two-year, $6.25-million, fully guaranteed deal this offseason. While shooting is his most NBA-ready skill, his sneaky athleticism and off-the-dribble scoring make him more well-rounded.
Most importantly, the Jazz are in the midst of a dramatic teardown, leaving virtually every rotation spot up for grabs. A hot start to the campaign could give the undrafted wing a chance to quickly go from relative unknown to effective rookie.