The 2026 NBA rookie class is producing historic statistical output through the first month of the season, with Darius Acuff Jr. leading all rookies in scoring (25.9 points per game) and assists (7.4 per game).
Yaxel Lendeborg, the No. 11 pick, ranks second among rookies in both scoring (21.4 PPG) and assists (7.2 APG) while helping the Golden State Warriors contend early in the Western Conference.
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Cameron Boozer, the No. 3 pick, leads rookies in rebounds (9.7 RPG) and averages 16.2 points, 9.7 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game.
Caleb Wilson (No. 4 pick) leads rookies in steals (1.9 SPG) and ranks top-three in scoring (19.3 PPG) and rebounds (6.3 RPG). Aday Mara (No. 12 pick) leads rookies in blocks (1.9 BPG) and ranks fifth in rebounds (5.9 RPG).
AJ Dybantsa (No. 1 pick) averages approximately 17 points and 6 rebounds per game. Darryn Peterson (No. 2 pick) averages approximately 15 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal and 1 block per game.
Kingston Flemings, a lottery pick, recently replaced CJ McCollum as the Atlanta Hawks’ starting point guard. Meleek Thomas, a second-round selection traded on draft night, ranks seventh among rookies in scoring (13.0 PPG).
In the MVP race, Luka Dončić and Victor Wembanyama are co-favorites at DraftKings (+145 and +165 respectively). Dončić leads the NBA in scoring at nearly 40 points per game. Wembanyama ranks third in scoring (30.1 PPG) and leads the league in blocks (4.5 BPG), more than doubling the second-place total (2.5 BPG, Myles Turner). The Los Angeles Lakers lead the Western Conference; the San Antonio Spurs sit second, a half-game behind.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokić — winners of three straight and five of the last six MVPs — remain in the hunt at +800 and 16-1 respectively.
Stephen Curry, at age 38, ranks second in NBA scoring (30.2 PPG), has led the Warriors on an eight-game winning streak, and remains a longshot MVP candidate (90-1) if he stays healthy and Golden State remains a Western Conference contender.
Victor Wembanyama is the overwhelming favorite for Defensive Player of the Year (-450). The award requires a minimum of 65 games played; if Wembanyama falls short, Scottie Barnes, Ausar Thompson or Rudy Gobert could enter contention.
Payton Pritchard leads Sixth Man of the Year odds (+180). Jrue Holiday (+425) and CJ McCollum (12-1) are also in the hunt.
Ty Jerome leads Most Improved Player odds (+220). In his eighth NBA season, he averages 26.7 points and 30.6 minutes per game — up from career averages of 8.9 points and 17.0 minutes. He played 70 games in 2024–25, his only season exceeding 48 appearances.
The material notes durability thresholds, team success, and statistical sustainability as key variables for all award races.
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