Kia Rookie Ladder: Cameron Boozer, Yaxel Lendeborg hold top spots in 2nd ranking

Grizzlies rookie Cameron Boozer leads the Kia Rookie Ladder for the second straight week.

Three NBA rookies have combined for six performances of 30 points or more, including a 2026-27 rookie-best 38 points by one. That same rookie also posted 14 assists in a game. Another rookie had 14 rebounds in a game. Three rookies have made at least six 3-pointers in a contest.

One rookie has a triple-double and seven have generated double-doubles.

The rookies are playing big minutes (

six with at least 30 minutes per game

), producing and backing up why so many people thought the 2026 draft class was talented and deep.

It’s revealing how important rookies and their development are in today’s game. All before Wednesday’s matchup between San Antonio and Dallas (

9:30 ET, ESPN

), featuring the past three Rookie of the Year winners (Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle and Cooper Flagg) plus others who contributed in their rookie season.

It’s a challenging task to rank the performances because there have been so many good ones this early. But we can’t have three or four No. 1s or 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D and 1E. A slight edge goes to winning, and no one expected Memphis to be 6-1.

Here’s the latest Kia Rookie Ladder through the first two weeks of the season:

1.

Cameron Boozer

, Memphis Grizzlies

Season stats

:

17.4 PPG, 10.3 RPG, 5.6 APG (37.5 FG% / 36.4 3P% / 94.4 FT%)

Best game in past week

Triple-double No. 1: 18 points (6-for-10 from the field, 4-for-5 on 3-pointers), 12 rebounds and 12 assists in a victory against Portland.

Of all the players in the league, just two – Giannis Antetokounmpo and Boozer – are averaging at least 17 points, 10 rebounds and 5.0 assists. Boozer leads rookies in double-doubles (three), rebounds per game and he’s contributing to winning. The Grizzlies are 6-1, and Boozer is plus-6.4 points per game, also tops among rookies who have played more than one game.

"He's just a rookie!"

Cam Boozer's

@memgrizz

teammates hype him up after he becomes the SECOND-YOUNGEST player ever to record a TRIPLE-DOUBLE at just 19 years and 103 days old, posting 18 PTS, 12 REB and 12 AST in Memphis' win tonight!

pic.twitter.com/6qWSimnKU9

— NBA (@NBA)

October 30, 2026

Last week

No. 1 ↔️

Draft pick

: No. 3

2.

Yaxel Lendeborg

, Golden State Warriors

21.5 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 3.9 APG (50 FG% / 40 3P% / 76.9 FT%)

Scored a career-high 37 points on 13-for-19 shooting (6-for-11 on 3-pointers) and delivered six assists in a victory against the LA Clippers.

Lendeborg is the sixth player in NBA history to register at least 100 points, 40 rebounds and 20 assists in their first five games, joining Elgin Baylor, Connie Hawkins, Oscar Robertson, Maurice Stokes and Sidney Wicks, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

YAXEL LENDEBORG: MOST POINTS BY A WARRIORS ROOKIE IN A SINGLE GAME SINCE STEPH IN 2010!

🌉 37 PTS (career-high, game-high)

🌉 6 AST

🌉 6 3PM

🌉 13-19 FGM

4 straight wins for

@Yaxel_Lendeborg

and the

@warriors

!

pic.twitter.com/422cb82ur7

November 2, 2026

No. 2

↔️

: No. 11

3.

Dari

u

s Acuff

Jr., Sacramento Kings

26.1 PPG, 6.3 APG, 3.9 RPG (40.6 FG% / 31.3 3P% /84.8 FT%)

Scored a career-high and 2026-27 rookie-best 38 points (12-for-25 shooting, including 9-for-14 on 3s) in a loss to Memphis. He also had five rebounds and five assists.

Acuff had a fantastic week, averaging 32.3 points, 8.3 assists and 5.3 rebounds while shooting 48.8% from the field and 42.4% on 3-pointers. He also leads rookies in assists per game, helped by 14 against New Orleans.

Darius Acuff Jr. in last night's action:

38 PTS (game-high)

9 3PM (ties NBA rookie record)

Acuff Jr. (19y, 349d) became the youngest player in Kings franchise history to record consecutive 30-PT games… surpassing Oscar Robertson (21y, 357d)!

pic.twitter.com/aY5KWWCbR3

November 1, 2026

No. 4

⬆️

: No. 7

4.

Caleb Wilson

, Chicago Bulls

21.6 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 2.7 APG, 2.0 SPG, 1.3 BPG (43.2 FG% / 32.1 3P% / 69.4 FT%)

24 points (9-for-17 shooting, 4-for-9 on 3s, seven rebounds, four assists and four steals in a loss to Philadelphia.

Among rookies, Wilson is No. 2 in points, blocks and minutes, No. 3 in rebounds and No. 1 in steals per game.

Swat, runs the break… and throws the lob!

Caleb Wilson making plays on BOTH ends for the

@chicagobulls

👏

pic.twitter.com/rvfydMfzdO

October 29, 2026

No. 3 ⬇️

: No. 4

5.

AJ Dybantsa

, Washington Wizards

19 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.3 SPG (50 FG% / 27.3 3P% / 93.3 FT%)

21 points (7-for-17 shooting), five rebounds and three steals in a victory against Orlando.

Dybantsa missed Washington’s first four games with a sprained left ankle and has fit right in since making his debut on Oct. 28, scoring at least 17 points in his three games and finding his spots to score alongside a group of scorers, including Anthony Davis and Trae Young.

AJ Dybantsa’s NBA journey is officially underway!

In his

@WashWizards

debut:

🧙‍♂️ 19 PTS

🧙‍♂️ 8-12 FGM

pic.twitter.com/5lSPqFutTy

Not ranked ⬆️

: No. 1

6.

Darryn Peterson, Utah Jazz

13.4 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 3.3 APG, 1.3 SPG (36.3 FG% / 37.5 3P% / 88.9 FT%)

18 points, five rebounds, three assists and one steal in a loss to San Antonio.

Peterson shot 40% on 3-pointers and 90.9% on free throws in three games and added 13 rebounds, 13 assists, five steals and four blocks in three games last week.

No. 6 ↔️

: No. 2

7.

Aday Mara

, Oklahoma City

6.4 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 1.7 BPG (55.9 FG% / 77.8 FT%)

10 points, (5-for-7 shooting), nine rebounds and one block in a victory against Cleveland.

With the Thunder’s mounting injuries, Mara’s playing time could increase. His per-36-minute stats, along with a positive plus-minus rating, make him a necessary contributor.

No. 7 ↔️

: No. 12

8.

Kingston Flemings, Atlanta Hawks

7.1 PPG, 4.7 APG, 2.3 RPG (47.6 FG% / 38.5 3P% / 71.4 FT%)

Had 23 points (9-for-12 shooting, 3-for-5 on 3s), five rebounds, five assists in a loss to Miami.

Flemings is third among rookies in assists per game while putting together solid shooting splits. He has had at least four assists in five of his seven games.

: No. 8

9

.

Keaton Wagler, LA Clippers

12.1 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 3.6 APG (29 FG% / 30.3 3P% / 84.8 FT%)

Had 21 points (10-for-12 on free throws) and four rebounds in a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.

He continues to show an ability to get to the free throw line, with rookie highs in attempts per game (7.0) and makes per game (6.2) and is learning how difficult it is to make 3-pointers consistently in the NBA.

No. 5 ⬇️

: No. 5

10.

Meleek Thomas, Cleveland Cavaliers

14.0 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 1.0 APG (48.9 FG% / 47.6 3P% / 100 FT%)

17 points, five rebounds and one steal in a loss to Oklahoma City.

His early 3-point shooting stats indicate he can develop into a reliable option for the Cavs from beyond the arc, making six 3s in the Cleveland’s two games before Election Day.

: No. 24

Other Rookies To Note:

Nate Ament, Milwaukee Bucks:

Scored 14 points in a loss to Cleveland.

Brayden Burries, Milwaukee Bucks:

Scored 14 points in a loss to Cleveland

Braden Smith, Indiana Pacers:

Had 19 points (8-for-13 shooting), 10 assists, four rebounds, three steals and one block in a loss to Atlanta.

Mikel Brown Jr., Brooklyn Nets:

Had 13 points, three assists and two rebounds in a loss to New York.

Trevon Brazile, Denver Nuggets:

Had 11 points and eight rebounds in a victory against New Orleans

Bennett Stirtz, Oklahoma City Thunder:

Had 11 points and three assists in a loss to Houston.

Morez Johnson Jr., Dallas Mavericks:

Had 10 points, six rebounds and three assists in a victory against Oklahoma City.

Rankings are updated weekly, based on season production, the past week’s games and availability. Rankings are the writer’s decision and do not reflect the opinion of the NBA or its teams.

* * *

Jeff Zillgitt has covered the NBA since 2008. You can email him at

jzillgitt@nba.com

, find

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