NBA Rookie of The Year (ROY) Rankings 2024-25: Top 5 candidates after Week 10 ft. Zach Edey

The 2024-25 NBA Rookie of the Year (ROY) race is getting more interesting every week. Stephon Castle took over the No. 1 spot last week after Jared McCain went down with injury. But the San Antonio Spurs combo guard doesn't have a stranglehold of the lead, as Jaylen Wells and Yves Missi are hot on his heels.

Wells, the most consistent rookie this season, made a serious push for pole position following another solid week 10 performance. Will that be enough to dislodge Castle from the top or will Missi overtake them both?

Here’s how the best freshmen fared in the latest NBA Rookie of the Year rankings:

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2024-25 NBA Rookie of the Year Rankings

#5 Zach Edey

The Memphis Grizzlies big man returned to the top 5 of the NBA Rookie of the Year rankings. Zach Edey had to sit out a few games due to an ankle injury and struggled a bit when he returned. The 7-foot-4 big man cracked the first five contenders with a strong showing last week.

In his last three games, Edey averaged 13.0 points, 12.7 rebounds and 2.0 blocks. The No. 9 pick in 2024 had his best game last week on Thursday against the Toronto Raptors, finishing with 21 points, 16 rebounds, two assists and two blocks.

Edey could have pushed his way to the No. 4 spot, but Alex Sarr did enough to hold that position.

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#4 Alex Sarr

Alex Sarr gets the nod at No. 4 over Edey because he played more minutes and had a bigger role for his team.

The Frenchman averaged 29.7 minutes per game compared to his rival’s 27.1 MPG. Sarr is also featured more in Washington’s system on both ends of the floor. The Wizards have used him as their starting center or power forward, depending on their opponents.

The No. 2 pick this year deserves his spot in the NBA Rookie of the Year power rankings.

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#3 Yves Missi

Yves Missi keeps his spot from last week but is hot on the heels for the No. 2 slot. Last week, the New Orleans Pelicans big man averaged 9.7 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.7 blocks in his last three games. The Pelicans are winless during that stretch but not because of Missi.

Missi is dealing with a mid-back contusion, which could force him to sit out games next week. If that happens, his push to move another run in the NBA Rookie of the Year rankings could take a hit. For now, he's firmly No. 3 on the list.

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#2 Stephon Castle

Stephon Castle’s NBA Rookie of the Year campaign has taken a hit since he returned to a reserve role. With Devin Vassell playing well with the starters, Castle’s opportunities have dwindled.

Last week, the No. 4 pick of the 2024 NBA draft averaged 7.3 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists. Castle continues to struggle with his shooting, particularly from deep, where he shot 33.3% last week. However, he remains perhaps the San Antonio Spurs’ best perimeter defender, so his value is still significant.

After one year at the top, Castle could slide another rung lower if Yves Missi is healthy and continues his stellar play.

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#1 Jaylen Wells

Jaylen Wells hasn’t held the top of the NBA Rookie of the Year race since Jared McCain’s four-week reign and before Stephon Castle took over. With Castle struggling, Wells is back at No. 1.

Last week, the Memphis Grizzlies rookie averaged 9.5 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists. The No. 39 pick in the 2024 NBA draft shot poorly 33.3%, including 25.9% from deep, but it was enough to dislodge Castle.

Wells must be wary of the rookies pushing to overtake him from pole position. Another strong week from Missi could see the Pelicans center take the No. 1 slot for the first time.