NBA Rookie of the Year (ROTY) Power Rankings featuring Franz Wagner, Scottie Barnes and more | February 8th, 2022

The NBA has announced the participants for the Rising Stars Challenge for the 2022 All-Star Weekend. 12 rookies, 12 sophomores and four prospects from the NBA G League Ignite team were selected.

The rookies chosen include Cade Cunningham, Jalen Green, Evan Mobley, Scottie Barnes, Jalen Suggs, Josh Giddey and Franz Wagner. Davion Mitchell, Chris Duarte, Alperen Sengun, Herbert Jones and Ayo Dosunmu have also made the cut.

Let's take a look at this week's NBA Rookie of the Year power rankings and see if the there are changes.

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#5 Cade Cunningham

Cade Cunningham of the Detroit Pistons.

Previous week's NBA ROTY Power Ranking - #2

Last Week: Games played - 1; Games won - 0; Games lost - 1

Overall: Games played - 38; Games won - 11; Games lost - 29

Last Week: PPG - 6.0, APG - 1.0, RPG - 5.0

Overall: PPG - 15.8, APG - 5.2, RPG - 5.5

Last Week: FG% - 37.5%, 3P% - 0.0%, SPG - 2.0

Overall: FG% - 39.7%, 3P% - 32.8%, SPG - 1.3.

Cade Cunningham of the Detroit Pistons was named Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for January. Cunningham, however, has had a bad week, playing just one game. He's currently nursing a right hip pointer, suffering the injury against the New Orleans Pelicans.

Cunningham had six points, five rebounds and two steals before leaving the match against the Pelicans. It was a big week for other rookies in the top five last week, so Cade goes down to number five in this week's NBA ROTY power rankings.

If he is fit and firing again this week, there's a chance he'll be higher on the next edition of this list.

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#4 Franz Wager

Franz Wagner of the Orlando Magic.

Previous week's NBA ROTY Power Ranking - #3

Last Week: Games played - 4; Games won - 1; Games lost - 3

Overall: Games played - 55; Games won - 12; Games lost - 43

Last Week: PPG - 15.5, APG - 2.3, RPG - 3.5

Overall: PPG - 15.7, APG - 2.9, RPG - 4.5

Last Week: FG% - 49.0%, 3P% - 39.8%, FT% - 83.3%

Overall: FG% - 46.6%, 3P% - 35.1%, FT% - 85.0%.

Despite a solid week for Franz Wagner, he drops down one spot to number four in this week's NBA Rookie of the Year power rankings. Wagner averaged 15.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists in four games last week for the Orlando Magic.

Wagner also remains the Iron Man of the 2021 Draft Class, playing all 55 games for the Magic so far this season. He's improved shooting from the field and has been impressive from beyond the arc as well, but the Magic are still a bad team.

Nevertheless, Wagner has established himself as one of Orlando's pillars for the future.

#3 Josh Giddey

Josh Giddey of the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Previous week's NBA ROTY Power Ranking - #5

Last Week: Games played - 4; Games won - 2; Games lost - 2

Overall: Games played - 48; Games won - 16; Games lost - 32

Last Week: PPG - 17.5, APG - 7.3, RPG - 7.0

Overall: PPG - 12.1, APG - 6.2, RPG - 7.6

Last Week: FG% - 47.6%, 3P% - 17.6%, SPG - 1.0

Overall: FG% - 41.4%, 3P% - 25.3%, SPG - 1.0.

For the fourth straight month, Josh Giddey of the OKC Thunder was named Western Conference Rookie of the Month. There's no real threat to Giddey in the West, but his averages of 13.3 points, 8.6 rebounds and 6.1 assists in January are really impressive.

Giddey has steadily improved with the Thunder as the season has progressed. He's getting even more touches with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander out with an injury. Giddey averaged 17.5 points, 7.6 rebounds and 6.2 assists in four games last week, helping the Thunder to a 2-2 record. It's one of the reasons why he's third in this week's NBA ROTY power rankings.

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#2 Scottie Barnes

Scottie Barnes of the Toronto Raptors.

Previous week’s NBA ROTY Power Ranking - #4

Last Week: Games played - 4; Games won - 4; Games lost - 0

Overall: Games played - 44; Games won - 24; Games lost - 20

Last Week: PPG - 15.8, APG - 2.8, RPG - 8.5

Overall: PPG - 14.8, APG - 3.4, RPG - 7.8

Last Week: FG% - 49.0%, 3P% - 50.0%, FT% - 76.9%

Overall: FG% - 47.3%, 3P% - 31.9%, FT% - 72.9%.

Scottie Barnes of the Toronto Raptors is officially back as he enters this week's NBA Rookie of the Year power rankings at number two. Barnes averaged 15.8 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists in four games last week. He's become a vital part of Toronto's resurgence, helping them win all four contests.

Barnes has been a regular part of the Raptors' rotation and his impact is really underrated. His defense has been good, while his offense continues to improve every game. It's amazing to see Barnes, a rookie labeled as a non-shooter, shooting almost 32% from beyond the arc this season as well.

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#1 Evan Mobley

Evan Mobley of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Previous week’s NBA ROTY Power Ranking - #1

Last Week: Games played - 3; Games won - 2; Games lost - 1

Overall: Games played - 46; Games won - 30; Games lost - 16

Last Week: PPG - 15.3, APG - 2.3, RPG - 8.0

Overall: PPG - 14.9, APG - 2.6, RPG - 8.1

Last Week: FG% - 45.2%, 3P% - 0.0%, BPG - 1.0

Overall: FG% - 50.1%, 3P% - 28.6%, BPG - 1.7.

Evan Mobley of the Cleveland Cavaliers remains atop the NBA Rookie of the Year power rankings this week. Mobley started the week strong, putting up 29 points and 12 rebounds against the Houston Rockets. However, he followed it up with two dud games against the Charlotte Hornets and Indiana Pacers.

Mobley still averaged 15.3 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists in three games last week, but another poor run of performances could end his reign in the number one spot. The Cavaliers face the San Antonio Spurs, Indiana Pacers, Philadelphia 76ers and Atlanta Hawks next week.