Updated: November 4, 2026 (stats and records through games of November 2 and 3)
The NBA rookie ladder ranks the best rookies of the 2026-27 season every week. Cameron Boozer of the Memphis Grizzlies is No. 1 this week, narrowly ahead of Golden State Warriors forward Yaxel Lendeborg. The ranking uses TalkBasket’s own formula, the Comprehensive Rookie Ladder Score (CRLS), which weighs production, role and team success. It is updated weekly.
NBA Rookie Ladder: Top 10 Rookies
| Rank | Player | Team | CRLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cameron Boozer | Grizzlies | 0.696 |
| 2 | Yaxel Lendeborg | Warriors | 0.688 |
| 3 | Darius Acuff Jr. | Kings | 0.511 |
| 4 | Caleb Wilson | Bulls | 0.500 |
| 5 | AJ Dybantsa | Wizards | 0.393 |
| 6 | Trevon Brazile | Spurs | 0.157 |
| 7 | Aday Mara | Thunder | 0.110 |
| 8 | Meleek Thomas | Cavaliers | 0.071 |
| 9 | Darryn Peterson | Jazz | 0.018 |
| 10 | Kingston Flemings | Hawks | 0.013 |
CRLS is TalkBasket’s Comprehensive Rookie Ladder Score. A score of 0 is average for the qualifying rookie class, so scores below 0 are possible. Stats and team records for each player are in the write-ups below.
Rookie Ladder Rankings and Analysis
1. Cameron Boozer, Memphis Grizzlies
Cameron Boozer averages 17.7 points, 10.3 rebounds and 5.6 assists in 32.0 minutes per game. He is the only rookie in the top 10 averaging double-digit rebounds, and the Grizzlies are 6-1, the best record of any team with a rookie on this list. His lead over Lendeborg is small. Related: Tuomas Iisalo explains the Grizzlies’ 6-0 start and team culture.
2. Yaxel Lendeborg, Golden State Warriors
Yaxel Lendeborg averages 21.5 points per game, third among rookies, along with 7.0 rebounds and 3.9 assists, shooting 50% from the field. The Warriors are 5-3. Related: Yaxel Lendeborg credits Steph Curry for newfound confidence.
3. Darius Acuff Jr., Sacramento Kings
Darius Acuff Jr. is the top scorer among all rookies and leads the group in assists, with 26.1 points, 3.9 rebounds and 6.3 assists in 36.6 minutes per game. The Kings are 1-6, and that team record limits his ranking.
4. Caleb Wilson, Chicago Bulls
Caleb Wilson averages 21.6 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 34.1 minutes per game. Like Acuff, he is producing on a struggling team: the Bulls are 1-6.
5. AJ Dybantsa, Washington Wizards
AJ Dybantsa averages 19.0 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 30.0 minutes per game for a Wizards team that is 4-3. He has played only three games, and that small sample keeps him outside the top four for now.
6. Trevon Brazile, San Antonio Spurs
Trevon Brazile averages 8.3 points, 6.3 rebounds and 0.3 assists in 22.0 minutes per game, shooting 55.9% from the field. The Spurs are 5-2, which helps his ranking.
7. Aday Mara, Oklahoma City Thunder
Aday Mara averages 6.4 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 18.1 minutes per game, and his 1.7 blocks per game lead the group. The Thunder are 5-2.
8. Meleek Thomas, Cleveland Cavaliers
Meleek Thomas averages 14.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.0 assist in 22.3 minutes per game over four games. The Cavaliers are 4-3.
9. Darryn Peterson, Utah Jazz
Darryn Peterson averages 13.4 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 30.3 minutes per game, but the Jazz are 1-6, and his team record holds his score down.
10. Kingston Flemings, Atlanta Hawks
Kingston Flemings averages 7.1 points, 2.9 rebounds and 4.6 assists in 20.3 minutes per game for a Hawks team that is 4-4. He sits just ahead of Morez Johnson Jr. of the Dallas Mavericks, the first rookie outside the top 10.
How the NBA Rookie Ladder Is Calculated
The ladder uses TalkBasket’s own formula, the Comprehensive Rookie Ladder Score (CRLS). It combines three things:
- Production: scoring, playmaking, rebounding and defensive stats, adjusted for shooting efficiency. This counts most.
- Role: how much a rookie plays and how much of the offense runs through him.
- Team success: how well the rookie’s team is doing.
Each rookie is compared with the rest of the qualifying rookie class, and a rookie must have played enough games or minutes to qualify. That is why a player with only a few games can appear on the ladder. Early in the season, a small gap between two players is not meaningful, because a few games can change the order. The formula leaves out narrative factors such as hype, market size and draft position.
CRLS is TalkBasket’s own score and is not an official NBA statistic. Data sources: Basketball-Reference, with team records as of November 3 and 4, 2026.
NBA Rookie Ladder FAQ
Who is No. 1 on the NBA rookie ladder?
As of November 4, 2026, Cameron Boozer of the Memphis Grizzlies is No. 1, followed by Yaxel Lendeborg of the Golden State Warriors and Darius Acuff Jr. of the Sacramento Kings.
How often is the NBA rookie ladder updated?
Every week during the 2026-27 season. This week’s ladder includes games through November 2 and 3.
How is the NBA rookie ladder calculated?
It uses TalkBasket’s own CRLS formula, which combines a rookie’s production, his role and how well his team is doing. The explanation is in the section above.
Is the rookie ladder the same as the Rookie of the Year vote?
No. The ladder is TalkBasket’s weekly ranking. The NBA Rookie of the Year award is decided by a media vote at the end of the season.
For more rookie and team news, see our NBA coverage.