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Week 1 recap · Rookies

Week 1 rookie report: every rookie who played, with minutes and stats against 9cat’s projections

40 rookies got on the floor in the opening week, and 13 played 15 or more minutes a game. One week is a small sample, but minutes are the first sign of a rookie’s fantasy role, and 2 of them are already playing well above what 9cat projected. Here is every rookie who played, grouped by playing time.

By 9cat ·

All games from Tuesday 20 to Sunday 25 October. Stats are each rookie’s per-game averages over the games he played; green and red show where his average game was clearly above or below the week’s average game (across every player with 15+ minutes), with FG% and FT% weighted by attempts. Projected minutes and the two 9cat ranks (All categories: total, where missed games count, and per game) come from 9cat.app Projections. Bigger role and Smaller role mean 5+ minutes a game above or below that projection.

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At a glance13 rookies with 15+ minutes a game

  1. 36 minDarius Acuff Jr. SAC · 22.3 PTS, 2.7 REB, 4.7 AST
  2. 34 minCaleb Wilson CHI · 22.3 PTS, 8.0 REB, 1.3 AST
  3. 34 minYaxel Lendeborg GSW · 18.7 PTS, 8.3 REB, 4.3 AST
  4. 34 minCameron Boozer MEM · 15.3 PTS, 11.7 REB, 5.0 AST
  5. 30 minDarryn Peterson UTA · 10.7 PTS, 3.3 REB, 2.0 AST
  6. 26 minKeaton Wagler LAC · 13.0 PTS, 4.3 REB, 4.0 AST
  7. 23 minTrevon Brazile DEN · 10.5 PTS, 10.5 REB, 0.0 AST
  8. 22 minAlpha Diallo DEN · 4.0 PTS, 2.0 REB, 3.0 AST
  9. 20 minMikel Brown Jr. BKN · 7.0 PTS, 2.5 REB, 4.0 AST
  10. 18 minKingston Flemings ATL · 2.3 PTS, 3.7 REB, 4.3 AST
  11. 17 minGraham Ike GSW · 10.0 PTS, 4.7 REB, 1.3 AST
  12. 15 minAllen Graves TOR · 6.0 PTS, 4.3 REB, 1.3 AST
  13. 15 minEmanuel Sharp SAC · 5.3 PTS, 0.7 REB, 0.3 AST

Most minutes first: minutes, points, rebounds and assists per game in week 1.

Starter minutes25+ minutes a game · 6 rookies

Rookies already playing a starter’s share. These are the ones to watch in standard leagues.

  1. Cameron Boozer

    MEM · PF · 3 games · 33.7 MPG (projected 30.9) · Helped REB, FT%, AST · Hurt FG%, TO

    9cat rankTotal 83Per game 94

    Best game, @ GSW on Fri 23 Oct: 25 PTS · 13 REB · 6 AST · 2 STL · 0 BLK · 4 3PM · 6 TO · 6-13 FG · 9-9 FT in 37 min

    FG%27.1%FT%93.3%3PM2.0PTS15.3REB11.7AST5.0STL0.7BLK0.7TO2.7

  2. Yaxel LendeborgBigger role

    GSW · SF/PF · 3 games · 34.0 MPG (projected 24.6) · Helped REB, 3PM, PTS · Hurt FT%, TO

    9cat rankTotal 174Per game 192

    Best game, @ PHX on Sat 24 Oct: 26 PTS · 9 REB · 5 AST · 0 STL · 1 BLK · 6 3PM · 2 TO · 9-19 FG · 2-3 FT in 36 min

    FG%43.9%FT%66.7%3PM2.7PTS18.7REB8.3AST4.3STL1.3BLK0.3TO2.7

  3. Caleb Wilson

    CHI · SF · 3 games · 34.3 MPG (projected 31.1) · Helped PTS, REB, STL · Hurt TO, FG%

    9cat rankTotal 66Per game 81

    Best game, vs WAS on Sat 24 Oct: 30 PTS · 14 REB · 3 AST · 2 STL · 1 BLK · 1 3PM · 0 TO · 10-24 FG · 9-11 FT in 38 min

    FG%40.7%FT%78.9%3PM1.3PTS22.3REB8.0AST1.3STL2.0BLK1.3TO4.0

  4. Keaton Wagler

    LAC · PG/SG · 3 games · 26.3 MPG (projected 28.1) · Helped FT% · Hurt TO, BLK

    9cat rankTotal 202Per game 214

    Best game, vs SAC on Wed 21 Oct: 15 PTS · 5 REB · 5 AST · 2 STL · 0 BLK · 3 3PM · 1 TO · 4-8 FG · 4-4 FT in 29 min

    FG%34.8%FT%89.5%3PM2.0PTS13.0REB4.3AST4.0STL1.3BLK0.0TO3.0

  5. Darryn Peterson

    UTA · SG/PG · 3 games · 30.3 MPG (projected 30.4) · Helped TO · Hurt 3PM

    9cat rankTotal 166Per game 181

    Best game, vs NOP on Fri 23 Oct: 15 PTS · 3 REB · 1 AST · 0 STL · 0 BLK · 1 3PM · 0 TO · 6-12 FG · 2-2 FT in 30 min

    FG%40.6%FT%83.3%3PM0.3PTS10.7REB3.3AST2.0STL1.0BLK0.3TO0.7

  6. Darius Acuff Jr.Bigger role

    SAC · PG · 3 games · 36.0 MPG (projected 30.6) · Helped PTS, AST · Hurt FG%, REB

    9cat rankTotal 142Per game 163

    Best game, vs MEM on Sun 25 Oct: 22 PTS · 3 REB · 7 AST · 0 STL · 1 BLK · 2 3PM · 1 TO · 9-23 FG · 2-2 FT in 36 min

    FG%32.9%FT%78.9%3PM1.3PTS22.3REB2.7AST4.7STL1.0BLK0.3TO2.7

In the rotation15 to 25 minutes a game · 7 rookies

Regular minutes off the bench. Worth tracking in deeper leagues, and one injury from a bigger role.

  1. Trevon Brazile

    DEN · 2 games · 23.0 MPG · Helped REB · Hurt AST

    Not in 9cat’s projections

    Best game, vs NOP on Sat 24 Oct: 17 PTS · 9 REB · 0 AST · 1 STL · 2 BLK · 3 3PM · 2 TO · 6-11 FG · 2-4 FT in 28 min

    FG%41.2%FT%66.7%3PM1.5PTS10.5REB10.5AST0.0STL0.5BLK1.0TO1.5

  2. Graham Ike

    GSW · 3 games · 16.7 MPG · Helped TO · Hurt AST

    Not in 9cat’s projections

    Best game, @ PHX on Sat 24 Oct: 12 PTS · 10 REB · 2 AST · 1 STL · 0 BLK · 0 3PM · 1 TO · 5-13 FG · 2-2 FT in 26 min

    FG%47.8%FT%83.3%3PM1.0PTS10.0REB4.7AST1.3STL1.0BLK0.3TO0.3

  3. Allen Graves

    TOR · 3 games · 15.0 MPG · Helped BLK, TO · Hurt PTS, 3PM

    Not in 9cat’s projections

    Best game, @ MIN on Sun 25 Oct: 11 PTS · 6 REB · 4 AST · 1 STL · 1 BLK · 1 3PM · 0 TO · 5-7 FG · 0-1 FT in 20 min

    FG%61.5%FT%33.3%3PM0.3PTS6.0REB4.3AST1.3STL0.7BLK1.7TO0.0

  4. Mikel Brown Jr.Smaller role

    BKN · PG · 2 games · 20.0 MPG (projected 30.2) · Hurt FG%, PTS

    9cat rankTotal 228Per game 246

    Best game, @ CLE on Sat 24 Oct: 8 PTS · 2 REB · 5 AST · 2 STL · 0 BLK · 2 3PM · 2 TO · 3-10 FG · 0-0 FT in 20 min

    FG%27.8%FT%100.0%3PM1.5PTS7.0REB2.5AST4.0STL1.0BLK0.0TO1.5

  5. Emanuel Sharp

    SAC · 3 games · 15.0 MPG · Helped TO · Hurt REB, AST

    Not in 9cat’s projections

    Best game, @ LAC on Wed 21 Oct: 8 PTS · 1 REB · 0 AST · 1 STL · 0 BLK · 2 3PM · 1 TO · 3-6 FG · 0-0 FT in 17 min

    FG%42.9%FT%—3PM1.3PTS5.3REB0.7AST0.3STL0.3BLK0.3TO0.7

  6. Alpha Diallo

    DEN · 1 game · 22.0 MPG · Hurt PTS, 3PM

    Not in 9cat’s projections

    Best game, @ OKC on Thu 22 Oct: 4 PTS · 2 REB · 3 AST · 1 STL · 0 BLK · 0 3PM · 2 TO · 2-4 FG · 0-0 FT in 22 min

    FG%50.0%FT%—3PM0.0PTS4.0REB2.0AST3.0STL1.0BLK0.0TO2.0

  7. Kingston FlemingsSmaller role

    ATL · SG/PG · 3 games · 18.3 MPG (projected 24.8) · Helped AST · Hurt PTS, 3PM

    9cat rankTotal 217Per game 231

    Best game, @ CHA on Fri 23 Oct: 5 PTS · 6 REB · 8 AST · 1 STL · 0 BLK · 1 3PM · 3 TO · 2-5 FG · 0-0 FT in 25 min

    FG%21.4%FT%—3PM0.3PTS2.3REB3.7AST4.3STL0.3BLK0.3TO2.3

Spot minutesUnder 15 minutes a game · 27 rookies

Short stints and garbage time. Not fantasy options yet.

  1. 14 minMorez Johnson Jr. DAL · 3 games · 6.7 PTS, 3.3 REB, 1.0 AST
  2. 14 minTobe Awaka CHI · 1 game · 2.0 PTS, 7.0 REB, 2.0 AST
  3. 14 minBrayden Burries MIL · 3 games · 8.3 PTS, 3.7 REB, 1.7 AST
  4. 14 minSergio de Larrea DAL · 3 games · 7.0 PTS, 2.3 REB, 1.7 AST
  5. 13 minAday Mara OKC · 3 games · 3.7 PTS, 2.7 REB, 0.7 AST
  6. 12 minHannes Steinbach CHA · 1 game · 6.0 PTS, 5.0 REB, 0.0 AST
  7. 11 minNate Ament MIL · 1 game · 1.0 PTS, 3.0 REB, 0.0 AST
  8. 11 minChristian Anderson CHA · 3 games · 0.7 PTS, 1.0 REB, 1.3 AST
  9. 11 minBryce Hopkins DEN · 2 games · 1.0 PTS, 1.5 REB, 0.5 AST
  10. 9 minLabaron Philon Jr. PHI · 2 games · 2.5 PTS, 1.0 REB, 0.5 AST
  11. 8 minZuby Ejiofor ATL · 1 game · 3.0 PTS, 2.0 REB, 0.0 AST
  12. 7 minKoa Peat PHX · 1 game · 4.0 PTS, 1.0 REB, 0.0 AST
  13. 6 minBaba Miller LAC · 2 games · 2.0 PTS, 2.0 REB, 0.5 AST
  14. 5 minAlex Karaban SAC · 1 game · 1.0 PTS, 1.0 REB, 0.0 AST
  15. 5 minBennett Stirtz OKC · 3 games · 0.7 PTS, 0.3 REB, 0.0 AST
  16. 4 minJoshua Jefferson BKN · 1 game · 0.0 PTS, 0.0 REB, 0.0 AST
  17. 4 minTarris Reed Jr. SAS · 2 games · 1.0 PTS, 1.5 REB, 0.0 AST
  18. 4 minJaden Bradley TOR · 3 games · 2.0 PTS, 0.3 REB, 0.3 AST
  19. 4 minBruce Thornton HOU · 2 games · 0.0 PTS, 0.0 REB, 0.0 AST
  20. 3 minRyan Conwell MIA · 3 games · 1.7 PTS, 0.3 REB, 0.7 AST
  21. 3 minIsaiah Evans MIN · 3 games · 0.0 PTS, 0.3 REB, 0.7 AST
  22. 3 minTobi Lawal DAL · 2 games · 2.5 PTS, 0.5 REB, 0.5 AST
  23. 2 minNick Martinelli LAC · 1 game · 0.0 PTS, 1.0 REB, 1.0 AST
  24. 2 minJa'Kobi Gillespie SAS · 2 games · 2.5 PTS, 0.0 REB, 0.0 AST
  25. 2 minEbuka Okorie DET · 1 game · 2.0 PTS, 0.0 REB, 0.0 AST
  26. 1 minMaliq Brown SAS · 1 game · 0.0 PTS, 0.0 REB, 1.0 AST
  27. 1 minFelix Okpara WAS · 1 game · 1.0 PTS, 0.0 REB, 0.0 AST

Minutes, points, rebounds and assists per game.

For 9cat’s projections on the whole class, see the 2026-27 rookie fantasy outlooks.