5 best 2021-22 NBA rookies to draft in a standard fantasy basketball league

#3 Josh Giddey

Josh Giddey during the 2021 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot

The Oklahoma City Thunder are not expected to focus on winning basketball games in the 2021-22 NBA season. Their roster is one of the youngest in the league, and Josh Giddey was recently added via the NBA Draft as the sixth overall selection.

The 6'8" Australian point guard spent last season playing for in the NBL, where he averaged 10.9 points, 7.5 assists and 7.4 rebounds throughout 32.1 minutes per game. The well-rounded nature of Giddey's game could make him a fantasy basketball darling, picking up additional points in a variety of ways.

Hopefully the turnovers don't cause too much of a negative impact on his night value, but the Thunder will undoubtedly gift the 19-year-old a significant amount of playing time in year one.

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#2 Jalen Green

Jalen Green during the Houston Rockets v Toronto Raptors

The final two selections are a cake walk, starting with Jalen Green. One of the first players to participate in the G-League Ignite program rather than college, Green has already been given a taste of the NBA's style of play and physicality.

Throughout 15 games in the G-League bubble, the electric guard tallied 17.9 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.8 assists per showing. His average of 32 minutes is absolutely translatable to the Houston Rockets roster, who are focused on future development.

Green could average 20 points per game in his rookie season, and I don't think it would come as an absolute shock to many. He is liable for some monster scoring performances, as shown when he secured 30 points in the Ignite's lone playoff appearance.

Kevin Porter Jr. and Christian Wood may be sharing responsibility with Green this season, but it's hard to argue against the Rockets being Green's team moving forward. I would expect them to hand the keys to the rookies fairly early on.

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#1 Cade Cunningham

Cade Cunningham during the 2021 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot

Despite occasional whispers leading up to the NBA Draft that were likely smokescreens, Cade Cunningham seemed to be the consensus number one selection. He will walk into the Detroit Pistons as the focal point and initiator of their offense from day one, and his scoring and assists numbers will be representative of that.

During his time at Oklahoma State, Cunningham averaged 20.1 points, 3.5 assists and 6.2 rebounds per showing. The somewhat underwhelming assist number for a NBA prospect labeled as borderline elite in that aspect is a product of his subpar surrounding talent in college.

Cade did show a tendency to favor getting his teammates involved rather than takeover games at times during his tenure at Oklahoma State, which nearly led be to place Green in the lead spot.

It came down to the Rockets rostering other young players who could sap away his usage, while I expect Cunningham to initiate the offense with nearly every possession he is available for.