Grizzlies rookies Jaylen Wells (left) and Zach Edey are making their presence felt in early 2024-25.

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This is not your older sibling's beginner class. Older, as in born 12 months ago and attentive to the players making their NBA debuts.

The Class of 2023 engaged in a battle for supremacy at the top of the Kia Rookie Ladder – San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama versus Oklahoma City Thunder big man Chet Holmgren – that was entertaining and lasted most of the season. Wembanyam is projected to already be in the NBA's top 100 (assuming the tradition continues in 2047), while Holmgren, Brandon Miller, Dereck Lively II and several others are realistically All-Star, All-NBA and even Hall of Fame can seek consideration.

The class of 2024? The early returns suggest that most graduates have made more modest contributions. They've started slow, with just two freshmen averaging 10 points, four averaging at least five rebounds and two averaging more than three assists every night.

But rotation men, sixth men and reliable starters are also important. What this group may lack in superstar magnetism, it should make up for in an evenly contested ROY race and frequent top-five finishes.

Weekly Summary

• In order not to lower expectations, However, it's worth noting that the lowest points average for a ROY winner came in 2016-17, when Milwaukee guard Malcolm Brogdon won. The 36th pick in 2016, Brogdon averaged 10.2 points in 26.4 minutes (also the fewest among ROY winners).

• Only Zach Edey (25) and Kyshawn George (20) are among this year's rookies. have so far scored at least 20 goals in a game. Ten rookies had nights of 15 or more.

• Seven of the top 10 picks in June are not ranked this week. No problem, plenty of time. That goes for No. 3 Reed Sheppard, a popular ROY pick who is slowly being brought up and joining a Rockets roster loaded with young talent.

• Just to illustrate, here's what the Rookie Ladder predicted a year ago at the start of the season: “There's no denying the obvious: Victor Wembanyama appears to be the best chance for rookie of the year since at least Minnesota's Karl-Anthony Towns (who received all 130 ROY first-place votes in 2015-16).” Coincidentally, Wembanyama received all 99 first-place votes from the optimized voting panel, thereby securing the Wilt Chamberlain Trophy.

Plot to watch

It will be a rookie-a-thon — or Newbie Palooza, if you prefer — when Washington visits Memphis on Friday night (8:00 p.m. ET, NBA League Pass). In the FedEx Forum, two teams will compete against each other, mainly made up of first-year participants. That includes the Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 5 on this week's rankings, along with Washington's Kyshawn George, a likely defending champion later this season.

Current ranking

(All statistics through Monday, November 4th)

1. Zach Edey, Memphis Grizzlies

Season statistics: 11.1 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 0.9 bpg
Draft pick: No. 9

Call it recency bias, but it was very good for the 7-foot-4 replacement for Steven Adams. Edey had his best game yet on Monday — 25 points, 12 rebounds, four blocks in 29 minutes in Brooklyn — for his second straight double-double. His integration into the Memphis system under Taylor Jenkins bodes well, and hasty comparisons to Yao Ming about Canada rather than China are not misplaced.

2. Bub Carrington, Washington Wizards

Season statistics: 10.3 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 4.8 apg
Draft pick: No. 14

Carrington and teammate Kyshawn George received compliments from Golden State Warriors starter Draymond Green on their energy and hitting power Monday in D.C. The 6-foot-10 point guard from Pitt — whose real first name, “Carlton,” makes him sound like a Gray Poupon devotee — had 16 points, eight boards and seven assists on the night. He's also averaging just 1.3 turnovers while hitting 50% of his shots from 16 feet on the new-to-him NBA arc.

3. Jaylen Wells, Memphis Grizzlies

Season statistics: 9.8 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 1.9 apg
Draft pick: No. 39

In the tradition of GG Jackson II, a 2023-24 midseason surprise, the Grizzlies found a second-rounder who looks like a goalie. When Marcus Smart (ankle) was injured, Wells improved from 8.2 ppg in 20.5 minutes to three starts, 35 minutes a night and 12.3 ppg, 5.7 rpg. He is a proud Washington State product, following in the footsteps of Craig Ehlo, Malachi Flynn and Klay Thompson.

4. Ryan Dunn, Phoenix Suns

Season statistics: 6.7 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 0.9 apg
Draft pick: No. 28

Dunn's early work as a D-and-three guy – in that order, the Suns' priorities for him – has Phoenix excited about his place on this star-studded 6-1 team. In his two starts, he averaged 14.5 points and sank seven of 13 from long range.

5. Alexandre Sarr, Washington Wizards

Season statistics: 9.8 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 2.8 bpg
Draft pick: #2

As the top rebounder in this class, Sarr believes the lights are on when it comes to picking his moments and finding his spots. Having Jonas Valančiūnas, who can handle more difficult matches, helps, while the athletic newcomer provides additional strength. Strong starts from fellow Wizards rookies Carrington and George have helped soften the spotlight.

The next 5:

6. Zacharie Risacher, Atlanta Hawks

Season statistics: 9.4 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 1.1 apg
Draft pick: No. 1

A star hasn't been born yet, but he's fourth among rookies in minutes per game, second in appearances and first in shots.

7. Jonathan Mogbo, Toronto Raptors

Season statistics: 6.8 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 1.9 apg
Draft pick: No. 31

The first pick from Round 2 ranks in the rookie top 10 in points, rebounds and assists.

8. Dalton Knecht, Los Angeles Lakers

Season statistics: 7.3 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 1.0 apg
Draft pick: No. 17

“Sir Charles” angered the NBA GMs by trading arguably the best perimeter shooter in the draft (47.4 FG%, 37.5% on 3-pointers) to the Lakers.

9. Jamal Shead, Toronto Raptors

Season statistics: 6.6 ppg, 1.1 rpg, 4.8 apg
Draft pick: No. 45

On-the-job intern dedicated to playmaking and defensive disruption.

10. Tristan da Silva, Orlando Magic

Season statistics: 8.3 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 1.5 apg
Draft pick: No. 10

“Da Silva lineup” since Paolo Banchero’s departure: Three games, 85 minutes, 33 points, 13 rebounds.