With the Olympics and FIBA basketball over and the NBA schedule yet to be released, we basketball fans find ourselves in the offseason purgatory phase where there is nothing new to consume. That makes it the perfect time to make some way-too-early predictions for the upcoming NBA season; in this case, way-too-early predictions for the 2025 All-Rookie First Team.
Sheppard is perhaps the rookie who stood out the most during Summer League, showing more advanced pick-and-roll techniques and the ability to score crafted baskets. In Houston, he will be introduced to the perfect environment playing with playmakers like Alperen Sengun and athletes like Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore. There, he can focus most of his time on clearing the court and attacking off the catch, with a few crafted possessions in each game. With an ideal situation and a track record of outstanding performance, Sheppard is a clear choice for the rookie first team.
Kyle Filipowski, one of the big four on this list, has a good chance to make an impact in his rookie year for three reasons: physicality, skill, fitness. First, at 6’1″ and 250 pounds, Filipowski is built for NBA physicality. Second, he has dribbling, passing, and shooting potential if he throws the ball consistently, giving him even more opportunities to strengthen his ball-handling and passing skills. Third, the Jazz’s 5-out offense gives him totally open threes and the chance to attack off the catch.
Kel’el Ware probably wouldn’t have made the roster before NBA Draft night, but he’s another player who’s been put in the perfect situation to contribute early. The combination of the Miami Heat’s personnel and playing alongside Bam Adebayo in the frontcourt makes his role simple: protect the basket, grab rebounds, finish at the basket with his 7-foot-4, 240-pound frame and nearly 7-foot-5 wingspan, and test out his three-point shooting (42.5% three-point shooting on 40 attempts at Indiana).
This roster is full of excellent rookies and team fits, which is crucial to being successful early, but no player fits a team better than Zach Edey of the Memphis Grizzlies. For a Grizzlies team lacking blocking, rebounding and interior finishing, Edey, at 6-foot-4 and 290 pounds, brings all three of those qualities in spades. He will also benefit from Ja Morant’s playmaking abilities and Jaren Jackson Jr.’s help-side defense, which allow him to play in more aggressive pick-and-roll coverages and make mistakes despite already being a dominant drop defender. Edey should be the preseason favorite for Rookie of the Year.
The fourth and final big on the list is Donovan Clingan. Clingan has by far the most dominant skill in the entire 2024 draft: his basket protection. He stands 7’10” tall with a nearly 7’20 wingspan, coupled with good mobility and the best pick-and-roll defensive technique and basket protection. His ability to block the basket will earn him playing time and the opportunity to contribute as a rookie. DeAndre Ayton could start ahead of him early in the season, but with Clingan already proving to be one of the NBA’s best defenders as a rookie, it shouldn’t be long before he takes Ayton’s place and earns a spot on the All-Rookie team.
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