Is 2017 rookie class the best since 2003

[Stig]

There are so many rookies look impressive early on this year:

Ben Simmons
Jayson Tatum
Lonzo Ball
De’Aaron Fox
Dennis Smith
Lauri Markkanen
Kyle Kuzma
Donovan Mitchell
John Collins
Mike James
Josh Jackson
Malik Monk
Bogdan Bogdanovic
Jonathan Isaac

Not even considering the injured Markelle Fultz and Milos Teodosic. So do you think this is the best rookie class since 2003?

[Surferdad]

Can't say without comparing, right?   

https://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/

Click on the year in the far left-hand column to see the draftees from each year.

[Celtics4ever]

Ben Simmons

Was drafted the year before so he should not be on this list.  Nor should he be counted as part of this draft class or eligible for rookie of year.   Too bad he got hurt, he was drafted in the prior year and that is life.

[mr. dee]

Depth of the draft will be determined by these factors:

- Number of superstars produced
- HOFers
- MVPs


We can't really judge this draft this early as there might be some late bloomers.

[chilidawg]

It looks deep, but I'm not seeing superstar or MVP level players yet.  Time will tell.

[knuckleballer]

It looks deep, but I'm not seeing superstar or MVP level players yet.  Time will tell.

If Simmons develops even an average jump shot, watch out.

[Moranis]

It looks deep, but I'm not seeing superstar or MVP level players yet.  Time will tell.

If Simmons develops even an average jump shot, watch out.

Simmons is not in the 2017 rookie class (even though he will likely with ROY).

[Darío SpanishFan]

Technically, Simmons is in 2017 rookie class, but not in 2017 draft class (as there aren't others such as Teodosic or Bogdanovic).

But, like it or not, they are listed as rookies.

[Big333223]

It looks deep, but I'm not seeing superstar or MVP level players yet.  Time will tell.

If Simmons develops even an average jump shot, watch out.

Simmons is not in the 2017 rookie class (even though he will likely with ROY).

He's not in the 2017 draft class but he is in this rookie class.

[manl_lui]

It looks deep, but I'm not seeing superstar or MVP level players yet.  Time will tell.

If Simmons develops even an average jump shot, watch out.

Simmons is not in the 2017 rookie class (even though he will likely with ROY).

He's not in the 2017 draft class but he is in this rookie class.

just thinking out loud, should we reconsider co-rookie of the years if the past season's rookie was out the entire season? Feels like every year's rookie class deserves their own ROY

[Celtics4ever]

He's not in the 2017 draft class but he is in this rookie class.

Which is profoundly stupid of the league.   You get hurt and it is your bad luck!

[slamtheking]

He's not in the 2017 draft class but he is in this rookie class.

Which is profoundly stupid of the league.   You get hurt and it is your bad luck!

agreed.  ROY should be limited to either first year after a player is drafted and on an NBA team's roster OR the first year a player comes to the NBA from a foreign league

[PickNRoll]

Not to hijack the thread, but if you could do the draft over today, how do you think it changes?  Here's my hottest of takes:

1. Tatum
2. Ball
3. Markkanen
4. Mitchell
5. Kuzma
6. Jackson
7. Monk
8. Fox
9. Smith
10. Fultz

[PickNRoll]

He's not in the 2017 draft class but he is in this rookie class.

Which is profoundly stupid of the league.   You get hurt and it is your bad luck!

agreed.  ROY should be limited to either first year after a player is drafted and on an NBA team's roster OR the first year a player comes to the NBA from a foreign league

To be fair, Simmons was deprived of a ROY that he surely would've won if healthy.  But Barkley made the same point.  A year of NBA experience is valuable whether you see the court or not.

[PickNRoll]

It looks deep, but I'm not seeing superstar or MVP level players yet.  Time will tell.

If Simmons develops even an average jump shot, watch out.

Simmons is not in the 2017 rookie class (even though he will likely with ROY).

He's not in the 2017 draft class but he is in this rookie class.

just thinking out loud, should we reconsider co-rookie of the years if the past season's rookie was out the entire season? Feels like every year's rookie class deserves their own ROY

I'm fine with the current eligibility system.  If a 25 year old from Spain with years of pro experience is eligible, why not a 19 year old redshirt?  It's not experience or age-based.  Seems fine.