10 Best NBA rookies to watch out for in the 2021-22 season

#7 Moses Moody

Arkansas v Oral Roberts - Moses Moody wants the ball

Moses Moody joins a talented young core at the Golden State Warriors that also features James Wiseman and Jonathan Kuminga. Moody projects to be more of an off-ball guard to begin his career and will provide additional spacing for the Warriors' primary scoring options (like they need any more spacing!)

With good rebounding ability and a willingness to run the break, the Warriors will have every inclination to run a high-tempo offense if Moody and Kuminga run the floor. Furthermore, Moody's off-ball creation predominantly comes from his movement on the half-court, and by residing on the same team as Curry, there's every reason to believe he will develop in this aspect to cause defenses match-up headaches all season long.

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#6 Josh Giddey

2021 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot - Josh Giddey posing with a basketball

Josh Giddey is one of the most intriguing prospects in this year's rookie class. A 6'8'' point guard, who is capable of running an NBA offense from day one, will utilize his pick-and-roll game to get scoring opportunities at the rim.

If you're looking for a player comparison, think a taller, more athletic Ricky Rubio - except Giddey seems determined to develop a three-point shot in the not-to-distant future.

How Giddey pairs with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is going to be an interesting caveat to begin the season, but the pairing has the potential to become one of the more diverse backcourts in the NBA in a few years' time.

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#5 James Bouknight

Maryland v UConn - Bouknight doing what he does best....Looking to score

James Bouknight is arguably the best scorer in this year's draft class and will add flair and excitement to an already tantalizing Charlotte Hornets roster. Despite Bouknight's poor three-point shooting last season, his offensive game is well rounded, especially from mid-range to the rim.

LaMelo Ball will thrive when teeing up the Hornets' latest rookie, as their skillsets seem to be tailor-made for each other. On the one hand you have a distributing maestro and in Bouknight the Hornets now have an isolation scorer who loves to get his teammates fired up.

Questions remain about Bouknight's ceiling and what steps he can take to improve his game beyond refining his scoring touch, but players who can get hot in a jiffy and inject scoring energy off the bench are incredibly valuable around the league.

Bouknight might not be in the race for Rookie Of The Year, but it's safe to assume his impact will have a positive effect on the Hornets offense this upcoming season.

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#4 Evan Mobley

USC v Gonzaga - Evan Mobley using his strength to bully his defender

Evan Mobley feels like a project for the Cleveland Cavaliers, and while he will undoubtedly get minutes throughout the season, most of his impact will come on the defensive end and as a rebounder.

Mobley has a developmental ceiling that screams generational talent with numerous All-Star appearances, but big-men usually take longer to acclimate to the NBA, and with Jarrett Allen already on the roster, Mobley will get his chances off the bench.

Mobley will find himself tasked with using his lateral quickness and impressive hip dexterity to guard smaller players on the perimeter and deter shot attempts when operating as a drop defender. Also expect to see some high-flying dunks off lobs or pick-and-roll plays as Mobley begins to scratch the surface of his endless potential.

He's ranked fourth on this list due to how good he is and can become, although there's every chance we don't see the best out of him for a few more seasons.