The Association has not been kind to NBA newcomers this season. Of the top ten draft picks, five have been forced to the sideline with injuries. Julius Randle, the seventh overall pick, was among the best of power forwards entering the NBA, but unfortunately was lost for the season after breaking his leg on opening night. The first big man taken in the 2014 NBA Draft, Joel Embiid, is not expected to play much of the first half of the season while recovering from a surgically repaired foot.
His successor in the draft, fourth overall pick Aaron Gordon, also went down with a foot injury that will leave him out indefinitely. Gordon played in the first 11 games for the Orlando Magic, averaging 15 minutes per game and 5.8 points per game. The rookie's best performance came in a 122-103 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Gordon netted six of his nine shots, scoring 17 points and grabbing six rebounds in 22 minutes played. The 19 year-old certainly appeared to jell very well at times with his new teammates and added a paint presence that the Magic have not had since Dwight Howard. Gordon has emphatically finished several alley-oops and his dunking ability shines when other teams do not have sufficient big men. He was shooting 58% from the field before going down with a foot injury.
Elfrid Payton has proved to be a solid replacement for Jameer Nelson on a transitioning Orlando Magic squad. Playing 24.8 minutes per game, Payton is averaging 5.4 points per game and 5.1 assists per game. Similar to Nelson, scoring is not a specialty for Payton, but his 5.1 assists per game situate him well in the league lead among rookies. He has yet to hit double figures in assists in a single game, but has come close multiple times. However, turnovers have been an issue for the rookie. Payton is averaging over 2 turnovers per game, which is an area of concern to this point.
K.J. McDaniels has come onto the scene nicely after being selected early in the 2014 draft by the Philadelphia 76ers. The former Clemson Tiger is averaging 8.5 points per game and is one of the few bright spots for the only winless team in the NBA. McDaniels has scored double figures in four games this season, but has also been victimized by rookie mistakes in the turnover department. However, his shooting has been solid and defense is certainly a strong point. McDaniels has a 6-foot-11 wingspan, which enabled him to lead the ACC in blocks. In his young professional career, steals have increased over the past couple of games, which is something to keep an eye on moving forward.
Jabari Parker has not exactly exploded onto the scene as many people anticipated. However, the second overall pick is tied with Andrew Wiggins with 10.6 points per game, the best among rookies. Parker also averages 5.6 rebounds per game and, while playing 29.1 minutes per game, has not made a tremendous impact. He has yet to break 20 points in a single game and his shooting has not been very efficient. Parker's play-making ability was sought after in the draft and has been noticeable at times. However, he needs to improve on using his size to his advantage, as the Milwaukee Bucks are relying on him to be their top performer.
As for the first overall pick, Andrew Wiggins has been similar to Parker in that he has not yet been impressive. In nine games played, Wiggins is averaging 10.6 points per game, shooting 46% from the field. Unlike Parker, Wiggins has been able to score double figures more frequently and has reached the 20-point mark once this season. The Minnesota Timberwolves have not exactly received an All-Star after trading away Kevin Love. However, there is plenty of basketball to be played and improvements to be made for Wiggins.
One of the rookie players making noise in his first season was not selected in the 2014 NBA Draft. Rather, he was selected with the sixth overall pick in the 2013 draft. After going down with an ACL injury towards the end of his college career, Nerlens Noel sat out the entire 2013-2014 NBA season for the Philadelphia 76ers. Now, in his true rookie season, the former Kentucky Wildcat has stepped up for a team that has a severe lack of talent.
Noel is a monstrous post presence, but his numbers do not reflect that, averaging just 6.6 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. Noel leads all rookies in rebounding, but is followed closely by Jabari Parker. Noel is another rookie who has missed time due to injury this season. However, it was not a knee issue but, rather a sprained ankle that sidelined the 20 year-old for several games. If Noel had anyone to take the load off of his back, this injury would not be too concerning. Nonetheless, he is healthy and could make a dynamic duo with Michael Carter-Williams as the season progresses.