Evan Mobley – Cleveland Cavaliers
As the number three overall pick, Evan Mobley came into his rookie season with high expectations, and he met them. The former USC big man averaged 15 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game for the Cavs in 2021-22, making the youngster a standout in his class. He finished atop NBA.com’s Rookie Ladder.
Cade Cunningham – Detroit Pistons
Cade Cunningham was the top pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, and the rookie Detroit guard delivered the goods…along with the rock. With 17.4 PPG, 5.6 APG, and 5.5 RPG, he filled the stat sheet and proved himself to be a star in the making if he can stay healthy.
Scottie Barnes – Toronto Raptors
Barnes was electric on the court for the Toronto Raptors during the 2021-22 season. The rookie forward managed to score double digits in 61 out of 74 games he appeared in. He also nabbed double-digit rebounds several times and had over five dimes 21 times. That’s Rookie of the Year material.
Franz Wagner – Orlando Magic
Wagner is legit. The former Wolverine lit up the court this season, but consistency was the name of his game. Not only did he shoot 47 percent from the floor throughout the year, but he also shot 40 percent from the three-point line since February 1, making him a legitimate core piece for the Magic moving forward.
Jalen Green – Houston Rockets
Green didn’t play college ball, so he came into the 2021-22 season pretty raw and took some time to get going. When he did, however, he put on a show. In fact, he closed out his rookie season with a 41-point performance and averaged 22 per game down the stretch.
Josh Giddey – Oklahoma City Thunder
This Aussie was playing brilliant ball and according to most analysts was a leading Rookie of the Year contender. Unfortunately, he suffered a season-ending hip injury, ending his run at the title.
Bones Hyland – Denver Nuggets
Bones Hyland is a high-energy guard who continued to deliver throughout the 2021-22 NBA season. As the 26th pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, he surprised many in the league by putting up consistent numbers and leading all rookies with 131 three-pointers. Talk about a value pick.
His signature on 2021-22 rookie cards is a classic: just plain “Bones.”
Among the other players who had their moments and may be worth dropping a few bucks on include Ayo Dosunmu, Herbert Jones and Jonathan Kuminga.
See all 2021-22 NBA rookie cards for sale and auction here.
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