The race for the 2024-25 NBA Rookie of the Year has intensified with the announcement of finalists, featuring Atlanta Hawks forward Zaccharie Risacher, San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle, and Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaylen Wells. Risacher has made a significant impact this season, averaging 12.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.2 assists while showcasing his scoring ability with four 30-point games. Meanwhile, Castle leads all rookies with 14.7 points per game and has played a pivotal role for the Spurs, earning MVP honors in the Rising Stars Game.

Wells, a second-round pick, also had a notable season, contributing 10.4 points per game and earning Western Conference Rookie of the Month honors for October and November. The trio was selected based on voting by a global panel of 100 sportswriters and broadcasters, with Castle emerging as the betting favorite for the award, closely followed by Risacher. The award will be announced during the playoffs on TNT, adding to the excitement surrounding these young talents.

The Memphis Grizzlies are gearing up for a challenging playoff series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, scheduled to kick off on April 20 at the Paycom Center. The Thunder, boasting the best record in the league, swept the Grizzlies in their four regular-season matchups, making this an uphill battle. Memphis will be without their top perimeter defender, Jaylen Wells, due to injuries, placing added pressure on Scotty Pippen Jr. to contain the Thunder’s star guard, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who is a frontrunner for the MVP award.

Game 1 of the series will air at noon on ABC, followed by Game 2 on April 22. Memphis is seeking to leverage their playoff experience to turn the tide against a formidable opponent, while the Thunder will rely on their consistent performance throughout the season.

The current NBA Rookie of the Year race is largely overshadowed by a lackluster class, featuring players like Stephon Castle, Alex Sarr, and Zaccharie Risacher. Despite moments of brilliance, these rookies have struggled to make a significant statistical impact. The 2024-25 season has seen only five rookies averaging double-digit points per game, a stark decline compared to previous seasons where at least eight rookies reached this milestone annually.

Further analysis reveals that this year's rookies are scoring 13.7 points per 36 minutes, a full 3.3 points lower than the league average, marking the largest gap in 40 years. The overall rookie shooting efficiency is also concerning, sitting at 53.7% in true shooting percentage compared to the NBA average of 57.6%. This trend of declining rookie performance has become prevalent over the past decade. Factors such as the youth of players entering the league and the increasing trend of one-and-done college prospects are contributing to the struggles of new talent adjusting to the NBA.

The Memphis Grizzlies announced that rookie Jaylen Wells will miss the rest of the 2024-25 season due to a serious injury sustained during a recent game. After being undercut on a dunk attempt against the Charlotte Hornets, Wells was hospitalized with a fractured wrist, facial laceration, and concussion. Although he is expected to make a full recovery, he will miss the final two games of the regular season and any potential postseason appearances.

Wells, the 39th overall pick, had a promising rookie season, averaging 10.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.7 assists over 79 games. He became a key player in the Grizzlies’ frontcourt and was named Western Conference Rookie of the Month in both October and November. His impressive performance throughout the season positioned him as a strong contender for the Rookie of the Year award.