The biggest shocker in the NBA right now? The Memphis Grizzlies are still undefeated, the only team in the entire association without a loss on their record. Seriously, go check the standings. And a huge part of that is rookie Cameron Boozer, who’s been a winner at every stop he’s made, from high school to Team USA, Duke, and now the pros. He remains the solid favorite to snag NBA Rookie of the Year honors, even over names like Kings guard Darius Acuff Jr. and Bulls forward Caleb Wilson, who are also making noise.
This 2026 Rookie Class Is Already Legendary Material
Forget any early season jitters, folks. If there’s one thing we’ve learned from the first two weeks of the 2026-27 NBA season, it’s that this rookie class has the legit potential to be the best in league history. Yeah, I said it. Maybe it feels like recency bias, but the stats and what we’re seeing on film? They don’t lie. This group of players was heralded as one of the best freshmen classes ever in college basketball, and they didn’t just meet those sky-high expectations, they blew past them. We might not see this kind of talent pool hit college again for a long, long time. Names like Darius Acuff Jr., Yaxel Lendeborg, Cameron Boozer, and Caleb Wilson are just a few who are looking absolutely incredible so far.
Dybantsa’s Electric Debut And Peterson’s Rough Start
While Boozer is out here making history, No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa of the Wizards finally hit the court last week against the Cavaliers. He missed the first four games dealing with an ankle injury, but when he got out there, he dropped 19 points in his debut, all while on a minutes restriction! It took him just 16 seconds to flash one of his elite skills, drawing contact at the rim. This dude attempted a staggering 296 free throws in 35 games last season at BYU, ranking No. 1 among all college players. He’s already got nine free throw attempts in his first two NBA games. Once that minutes restriction gets lifted, we’re going to see even more than the 57 minutes he’s logged combined. The Wizards could actually be a sleeper play-in team in a stacked Eastern Conference if Dybantsa keeps this up. He’s graded an A- for his early work.
On the other side of the coin, Utah Jazz guard Darryn Peterson is still figuring out his role. He’s pulling in 13.3 points per game, but Jazz coach Will Hardy benched him for the final stretch against the Spurs last week. Get this: the game went to overtime, and the team was already missing Jaren Jackson Jr. and Lauri Markkanen, yet Peterson still sat. There were a handful of plays in the fourth quarter for Pete, but it wasn’t enough to keep him on the floor. Peterson’s early performance gets a B.
The first two weeks are in the books, and these lottery picks are already making their mark. Will Boozer keep the Grizzlies undefeated? Can Dybantsa lead the Wizards to a surprising finish? This rookie class is just getting started, and you won’t want to miss what happens next.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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