Top 3 NBA rookies playing less minutes than expected so far in the 2021-22 NBA season

#2 James Bouknight

Memphis Grizzlies v Charlotte Hornets

James Bouknight has played the fewest total minutes of any 2021 NBA lottery selection throughout his first eight games with the Charlotte Hornets. That includes Jonathan Kuminga, who has only been available for one game so far this season.

The University of Connecticut product averaged 18.7 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists while converting 44.7 percent from the field and 29.3 percent from three during his sophomore campaign.

His space creation and tough shot-making abilities were enough to garner lottery consideration from NBA teams. The Hornets selected him at pick 11 while players such as Alperen Segnun, Chris Duarte, Moses Moody and Jalen Johnson were still on the board. At the time, Bouknight was viewed as a player who was "falling" relative to expectations headed into the draft.

Bouknight was selected onto a team that is already full of guard and wing talent that makes breaking the rotation an insanely difficult task. LaMelo Ball, Terry Rozier, Miles Bridges, Kelly Oubre Jr., Cody Martin and Ish Smith are all more capable players than Boukight at the early stage.

There is no word on whether James Bouknight will spend time with the Greensboro Swarm, the Hornets' G-League roster, this season. However, with just two minutes logged after eight games of availability, it would not be surprising to see Bouknight begin his NBA journey with the Swarm.

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#1 Corey Kispert

Indiana Pacers v Washington Wizards

Corey Kisepert's lack of NBA minutes early in his career is easily the biggest surprise of listed players. The Gonzaga product was labeled NBA-ready with his supposedly elite three-point shot and four years spent in a top NCAA program.

In his senior season, Kispert was a major contributor to a Bulldogs team that went undefeated before the NCAA tournament championship game against Baylor. His 18.6 points per night while converting 44.0 percent of 6.5 three-point attempts per night rightfully caught the eye of many NBA teams.

Kispert's 6'7" size and shooting seemed to be a skillset that the Washington Wizards could properly idealize from day one of his NBA career, but minutes have been scarce to come by for him.

After seven NBA games, Kispert is averaging just over eight minutes a night and saw upward of 10 total minutes on just three occasions. The Russell Westbrook trade that added wing depth in Kyle Kuzma and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope may have made cracking the rotation more difficult for Kispert.

The primary appeal of older, four-year college players is their readiness to contribute at the NBA level from early in their careers. It's shocking that the 22-year-old has hardly been able to receive playing time thus far in Washington.