Top 5 NBA Rising Stars

The 77th NBA season has now kicked off and is already showing some highly promising matches. There have been some great bets placed by fans too, with props on Dejounte Murray hitting 3 pointers being a top one. Each new season also bring new players too, and 2022 has been a good year for it so far too. So, let’s take a look at the top 5 NBA rising stars and see who might be at the top of their game this season.

  • Paolo Banchero – Orlando Magic

Paolo Banchero is an Italian American NBA player and plays as the power forward for the Orlando Magic. After completing his brilliant freshman season, he was the first overall pick for the team, as he demonstrated just how valuable a player he can be. He made his Magic debut in July 2022 and faced off against the Houston Rockets, bringing 17 points to the team that allowed them to win. Banchero has actually become the first NBA player other than LeBron James to put up more than 25 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists in their debut. He also became the second teenager in the history of the NBA to put up at least 30 points and 15 rebounds in one game, matching James again. So, with such a strong start to his career, we can only expect good things from this talented player. 

  • Bennedict Mathurin – Indiana Pacers

Canadian born Bennedict Mathurin plays for the Indiana Pacers after being selected sixth overall in the 2022 draft. This made him the first player from Montreal to be selected as a lottery pick and is only one of two Canadians picked overall during the first round. Following his debut where he accrued 23 points to lead the Pacers to victory over the Hornets, Mathurin was then named to the All-NBA Summer League Second team. Mathurin has also faced off against the Washington Wizards and the San Anotnio Spurs. This rising star also managed to become the first player for the Pacers to score 100 points in their first five non-rookie games. If these first five games of his are anything to go by, then we should see a great career for Mathurin for a long time to come. 

  • Jabari Smith Jr. – Houston Rockets

Houston Rockets place Jabari Smith Jr. was the third overall pick in the draft, which did make him the highest pick to come from college team the Auburn Tigers. His summer debut was one to watch as he managed to rack up 10 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists. He did also make a preseason match debut when he score 21 points against the Spurs. Smith typically plays in the power forward role but he’s super versatile and can be found in offense and defense. He’s often been compared to top players like Kevin Durant and Rashard Lewis, so who knows what the future has in store for Jabari Smith Jr.? 

  • Jalen Duren – Detroit Pistons 

After a successful stint in college team the Memphis Tigers, Jalen Duren was the 13th overall pick for the Charlotte Hornets in the draft. However, he was then traded to the New York Knicks, before settling at his current team the Detroit Pistons. His debut game was a win against the Portland Trail Blazers and Duren managed to score 9 points. His regular season debut was even more impressive with 14 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 blocks which lead the Pistons to victory over the Orlando Magic. During college Duren was a force to be reckoned with and became AAC Freshman of the Year. With his college career so strong and his debut off to a brilliant start, we can hope to see a lot more from Jalen Duren with the Pistons. 

  • Jaden Ivey – Detroit Pistons

After playing for the Purdue Boilermakers, Jaden Ivey has hit the big time after being the fifth overall pick for this year’s NBA draft and now plays for the Detroit Pistons. His summer debut was astounding for fans of the team, as he managed to score an impressive 20 points, bringing them to a win against the Portland Trail Blazers. His regular season debut was no less impressive as he scored 19 points and helped them score another win against the Orlando Magic. Ivey had to overcome a foot injury in college which forced him to miss out on 5 freshman games. However, he came back with a bang, and it seems as though his recovery was excellent. Jaden Ivey is definitely a new player to watch, and it seems as though he’ll be on the courts for a long time yet. 

There are so many fantastic rising stars in this year’s NBA, that it would be impossible to list them all. However, these 5 are some of the best around and have demonstrated their high levels of skills time and time again. So, the next time you’re watching the game, be sure to keep an eye out for these newbies. You’ll be surprised at just how well they can play! 

Least known sports you can bet on
Least known sports you can bet on