The Top NBA Rookies of 2013

At the top of the 2013 NBA draft there was little surprise that the Cleveland Cavaliers selected UNLV Power Forward Anthony Bennett with the first overall pick.

Kyrie Irving

Kyrie Irving point guard for the Cleveland Cavaliers is one of the top NBA rookies of 2013. He was the number one overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft Kyrie Irving is known for his scoring ability, and he averaged over 20 points per game during his rookie season. he also won the NBA Rookie of the Year Award

Damian Lillard

In 2012, Damian Lillard was the NBA Rookie of the Year. He is a point guard for the Portland Trail Blazers and he was drafted 6th overall in the 2012 NBA Draft He is from Oakland, California, and he played college basketball for Weber State University Lillard is known for his strong work ethic and for his great shooting ability.

Anthony Davis

Anthony Davis is a power forward/center for the New Orleans Pelicans The Pelicans selected him with the first overall pick in the 2012 NBA draft He played one season of college basketball for the University of Kentucky where he was an All-American and the consensus National Player of the Year. He also won a gold medal as a member of Team USA at the 2012 Summer Olympics

Bradley Beal

Bradley Beal was the third overall pick in the 2012 NBA draft by the Washington Wizards The former Florida Gator quickly became a fan favorite with his smooth shooting stroke and ability to knock down Big Shots Beal averaged 13.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game as a rookie, but his impact went beyond the box score Beal displayed rare maturity for a 19-year-old, handling the ups and downs of an NBA season with grace and poise. He also displayed an uncanny ability to hit clutch shots, nailing a game-winning three-pointer against the Cleveland Cavaliers in December. Beal’s strong play helped lead the Wizards to their first playoff berth since 2008, and he figures to be a big part of their future plans.

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, small forward from the Charlotte Bobcats was the second overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft He was born on September 26, 1993 in Somerdale, New Jersey and is 6’7” tall. Kidd-Gilchrist was a McDonald’s All-American in High School and attended the University of Kentucky for one year before declaring for the NBA Draft He won a gold medal as part of Team USA at the 2012 Summer Olympics In his rookie season with the Bobcats, Kidd-Gilchrist averaged 9.0 points and 5.8 rebounds per game

Harrison Barnes

Harrison Barnes was the seventh overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft selected by the Golden State Warriors He played College Basketball for the University of North Carolina where he was a key member of the Tar Heels’ NCAA championship team in 2012. Barnes is a versatile player who can score both inside and outside the paint, and he is an excellent rebounder. He has all the tools to be a successful NBA player and he has already shown flashes of brilliance during his rookie season.

Andre Drummond

Andre Drummond was the ninth overall pick in the 2012 NBA draft by the Detroit Pistons In his rookie season, Drummond averaged 7.9 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team.

Terrence Ross

Toronto Raptors swingman Terrence Ross was one of the top NBA rookies of 2013. The athletic jump-shooter was electric in his debut season, winning the Slam Dunk Contest and showing glimpses of the scorer he could become. Ross averaged over 11 points per game and should see his role increase in his sophomore season.

Austin Rivers

The son of Boston Celtics Head Coach Doc Rivers, Austin Rivers was drafted 10th overall by the New Orleans Hornets in the 2012 NBA draft He is a 6’4″ shooting guard who played one year of College Basketball for Duke University As a rookie, Rivers averaged 6.2 points and 2.1 assists in 71 games.

Jonas Valanciunas

Jonas Valanciunas was drafted fifth overall by the Toronto Raptors in the 2011 NBA Draft and he did not disappoint in his rookie season. He averaged 8.6 points and 6.0 rebounds in 21.4 minutes per game, while shooting 54.1% from the field and 70.4% from the Free Throw Line Valanciunas also proved to be a valuable asset on the defensive end of the court, averaging 1.3 blocks per game.