Positive Signs From NBA's New Rooks

Now for most people, the NBA Preseason is an opportunity for their first 'real' glimpse at the potential for the new rookies of the NBA. And to be honest, unless you are a die hard, you probably are not going to watch every game of the NBA Summer League, let alone every game of the preseason, which is why I thought i'd break down the rookies that have been showing the most promise in their limited appearances so far.

Number 1 on my list is Detroit Pistons small forward Stanley Johnson. Coming into the NBA he was considered one of the most mature players in terms of his body composition, which may stand to reason why his transition to the big league has not been as difficult. In his first outing he led all scorers with 26 points to go along with 3 rebounds and 4 assists, and then he followed it up with a 12 point, 7 rebound performance.

In addition to these nice looking stat-lines, Johnson has looked smooth on his jump shooting hitting a cool 5/8 from three point territory. His intensity and drive to play hard are very positive aspects of his game, which is why he is going to be a successful player at the NBA level.

SJ in action for the Pistons

The next player on my radar is also a small forward from the Miami Heat, Justice Winslow. Drafted 10th overall he looked like a very well rounded player who was defensively excellent and he has put up a couple of decent performances which can show off his potential despite not being excellent. His first outing he had 9 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals, which highlights his versatility. He did struggle shooting the ball, but that will improve with time. His second performance was not as strong with 5 points, 4 rebounds and a steal. Despite what seem like mediocre performances, it is only the preseason and he can definitely grow into the game.

Finally, the last player to keep an eye on based on these very early performances is Karl-Anthony Towns. The no. 1 overall draft pick this year had a fantastic performance against a very strong Oklahoma City side, and he displayed his versatility as a big man. He went off for 18 points shooting at a very efficient 8/12, with 5 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocked shots. He really did demonstrate why he was drafted first, and it showed that he has been working hard with Kevin Garnett as his mentor to really adjust his game to the NBA.

You can see Towns and Johnson in action today in the preseason, tune in if you want a further look at them.

- Charlie