The 2025 Rookie Class

[AFM]

You have to remember that PIF is a contrarian at heart and loves to chime in with things like "...ummm actually Tracy McGrady was not good as a rookie! His TS% was 2% below league average and his turnovers were quite high!" but then if anyone has anything slightly critical to say of a young player he'll write "umm, the kid is 19. Lay off, okay?"

[doclinkin]

As a poet and a man of advanced experience he has a nuanced perspective on the world. Many things are true. Many things that are not yet true may some day be. You never know.

You have to figure a fella with multiple ex wives is at heart an optimist. Even in the face of hard won wisdom. Hold out hope and some day even the Wizards may win and be as happy as him.

[payitforward]

Youngest PG in NBA history to reach 200 pts, he is excelling in scoring and attacking, but he will have to add playmaking as Tontz mentioned.

Read on Twitter

??
He's not excelling in scoring; he's excelling in taking a lot of shots & nothing else.

To score 21 points, he has to take 18 shots & 4 FTAs. Nothing "good" about that. Now add the fact that he has almost as many turnovers as assists.

In fact, he's not excelling at anything -- he's been pretty bad. Not writing him off or anything -- he's only 19 -- but he hasn't been good.

Here are the Top-5 NBA Rookie scoring leaders, Fears is 4th in scoring while playing fewer minutes than the guys above him, statistically, he has been very good at scoring.

1.Kon Knueppel
2.Cooper Flag
3.VJ Edgecombe
4. Jeremiah Fears
5.Cederic Howard
https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/nba-rookie-leaders-in-points

Rotowire writers wrote:

ANALYSIS
Fears had to shoulder the offensive workload Monday with Zion Williamson (hamstring), Jordan Poole (quadriceps) and Saddiq Bey (ankle) all sidelined. He did not disappoint, setting a new career high in scoring. The rookie has been phenomenal since joining the starting lineup, averaging 15.3 points, 3.1 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.8 steals, 0.1 blocks and 1.4 threes made in his last 12 games.

https://www.rotowire.com/basketball/player/jeremiah-fears-6546

So yeah, pretty much the exact opposite of your opinion.

Citing how many points any player scores -- independent of the number of possessions it takes him to record his points -- provides no information whatever -- literally none! -- about whether he's good, bad, or indifferent, or how good or bad he is.

Where did I express an "opinion" about Jeremiah Fears? I don't have one.

Let me put that differently: suppose I cite his 82.5% FT shooting so far -- is that an opinion? No, but it sure is good!
How about if I point out that for every 1.1 assists he records he turns the ball over 1 time? Is that an opinion? No, but it's really awful -- for anybody but especially for a PG.

As to the so-called "analysis" you cite in re: his effort Monday vs. Golden State, for sure Fears had a really good night shooting the ball. OTOH, he managed 1 assist & 3 TOs.

Jeremiah Fears is a 19-year old kid with a lot of promise. As soon as he plays well, wch I expect he'll do, I will point it out. So far, as I note above, he hasn't been good.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Read on Twitter

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

nate33? tonto? Dat2U? Your thoughts on DQ now?

Remember when I was right about Paul Millsap?
Derik Queen is just as good. No, he's even better than i predicted he would be.

Who called him fat?
Who else thought he was trash because of his NBA Pre Draft Combine results?
Who said he'll be out of the league soon?
How many of you said he's an old rookie? (A ripe old 21 on 12/27)

I know those of you still don't like him. BUT DEAL WITH THOSE NUMBERS.
DeMarcus Cousins got better, IMO.

[prime1time]

Read on Twitter

People over thought him. He was dominant on Maryland and I don't use that word lightly.

[The Consiglieri]

Fears had 8 steals tonight....

I'm sorry but I wanted to get younging more than Tre....
I like Tre, but Fears is so damn quick and gets penetration easily even at this level.....
I think not drafting Fears is going to be the biggest mistake of this draft...
He's going to be top 3-5 easily when its all said and done...

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/EN--ZKrZkYA

We targeted Ace, liked Fears a lot, but took Tre with Ace off the board, I wonder if it was because they really thought Bub was gonna be the guy at the Point.

I can't see that at all. Was Fears ahead of Tre on anyone's board? Seemed like Tre, and Kon were quite consistently the guys after the big 4. Fears was in the group afterwords, following a tier break.

Personally, like some here, I preferred Fears and Maluach, to Tre (the former via trade down, the latter at slot), but Bailey trade up with his stock collapsing was my preference.

I'm not surprised that Fears is flashing, nor that Kon is hitting. In both cases, there's no question that on the one hand, Fears would flash, he is flash, or that Kon would hit because the floor is so insanely high. The bet on Tre is a longer term bet, but the shooting should have been there. I think he'll be fine, but in the end, it's the lottery more than anything that absolutely murdered us. Hopefully Tre makes it moot given enough time.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Read on Twitter

?t=Hp8vuyLWKj0Nr4AABsC79g&s=19

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Queen had 30 points on 12/18 FG
Jocic had 28 points on 10/18 FG

Jokic fouled out, 6 fouls.
Jokic committed 9 turnovers

Queen had 4 fouls
Queen had 4 turnovers

At 1:58 of the tweet, Queen hit a three-point shot.

ESPN showed ZERO QUEEN HIGHLIGHTS. The game was not close. Jokic got a triple double.
However, Queen made a huge statement.

[closg00]

Queen had 30 points on 12/18 FG
Jocic had 28 points on 10/18 FG

Jokic fouled out, 6 fouls.
Jokic committed 9 turnovers

Queen had 4 fouls
Queen had 4 turnovers

At 1:58 of the tweet, Queen hit a three-point shot.

ESPN showed ZERO QUEEN HIGHLIGHTS. The game was not close. Jokic got a triple double.
However, Queen made a huge statement.

You forgot the most important part, He had two blocks last night, that was for Tontoz

Well, I thought Derik would have to pay his dues before he got to this point, but his BBIQ is so phenomenal that he is capable of dominating performances now. Watch out Kon, the ROY race is heating up.

[tontoz]

Queen had 30 points on 12/18 FG
Jocic had 28 points on 10/18 FG

Jokic fouled out, 6 fouls.
Jokic committed 9 turnovers

Queen had 4 fouls
Queen had 4 turnovers

At 1:58 of the tweet, Queen hit a three-point shot.

ESPN showed ZERO QUEEN HIGHLIGHTS. The game was not close. Jokic got a triple double.
However, Queen made a huge statement.

It's been so long since you made a post hyping him i thought he might be injured. Glad to see he's ok.

It would be nice if the Pels could win a game once in awhile with these big performances from their rookies.

[AFM]

I'm going to scream

Watch on YouTube

[Kanyewest]

Queen had 30 points on 12/18 FG
Jocic had 28 points on 10/18 FG

Jokic fouled out, 6 fouls.
Jokic committed 9 turnovers

Queen had 4 fouls
Queen had 4 turnovers

At 1:58 of the tweet, Queen hit a three-point shot.

ESPN showed ZERO QUEEN HIGHLIGHTS. The game was not close. Jokic got a triple double.
However, Queen made a huge statement.

Jokic was going for the quadruple double…

[closg00]

I'm going to scream

Watch on YouTube

I think I am going to cry instead, as a woeful Wizards fan, I am imagining an alternate universe where we have Alex, Deni, Derik, and a high pick in 26, we would perhaps be in the play-in next year. Dumars will not be Nico’d.

Just a fantasy, onward aboard the tank we go.

[WizarDynasty]

nate33? tonto? Dat2U? Your thoughts on DQ now?

Remember when I was right about Paul Millsap?
Derik Queen is just as good. No, he's even better than i predicted he would be.

Who called him fat?
Who else thought he was trash because of his NBA Pre Draft Combine results?
Who said he'll be out of the league soon?
How many of you said he's an old rookie? (A ripe old 21 on 12/27)

I know those of you still don't like him. BUT DEAL WITH THOSE NUMBERS.
DeMarcus Cousins got better, IMO.

All 3
.nate, dat2u..ect...would have been fired if they were real gms in real life. We gave free info on this board for wiz to use but instead idiots decide to follow consensus nick draft to save their jobs. Vesesly all over again. Should Nate still be forum moderator for bad decision making. Lol. Joking I know he doesnt get paid but if he did.. serious demotion. here. I queen makes allstar in 2 years .. I said this before, dawkins should be fired
.he seems cool personality wise.. but this mistake in inexcusable . No excuse that other gms fvvvckddd up to. Dawkins should have read realgm board because he would still have a job.
NOw I would never wish anyone to be without employment, but being a GM of a billion dollar organization means you have to keep the die hard fans happy with great decision making. i consider myself a loyal fan for over 20 years so I expect us to make exceptional decisions. If evidence shows this is not happening, then I am extremely disappointed and most loyal fans feel the same way i do i believe. Again, I don't wish negativity on anyone, but I do expect queen to be picked over young.

[tontoz]

Can anyone see what is missing in those Queen highlights?












Aaron Gordon

[AFM]

nate33? tonto? Dat2U? Your thoughts on DQ now?

Remember when I was right about Paul Millsap?
Derik Queen is just as good. No, he's even better than i predicted he would be.

Who called him fat?
Who else thought he was trash because of his NBA Pre Draft Combine results?
Who said he'll be out of the league soon?
How many of you said he's an old rookie? (A ripe old 21 on 12/27)

I know those of you still don't like him. BUT DEAL WITH THOSE NUMBERS.
DeMarcus Cousins got better, IMO.

All 3
.nate, dat2u..ect...would have been fired if they were real gms in real life. We gave free info on this board for wiz to use but instead idiots decide to follow consensus nick draft to save their jobs. Vesesly all over again. Should Nate still be forum moderator for bad decision making. Lol. Joking I know he doesnt get paid but if he did.. serious demotion. here. I queen makes allstar in 2 years .. I said this before, dawkins should be fired
.he seems cool personality wise.. but this mistake in inexcusable . No excuse that other gms fvvvckddd up to. Dawkins should have read realgm board because he would still have a job.

Queen is going for engine status !!!

[Kanyewest]

https://streamable.com/d6xqkr

Jokic on Queen

[Kanyewest]

Via reddit

There is a bit of Jokic in Derik Queen and there is a bit of Dairy Queen.


In the summer of 2015, the Nuggets brought their promising young prospect to the famed training center in Santa Barbara, California, to begin working on that doughy frame. After their first dinner, Nikola took out a gallon of ice cream and asked if anyone wanted some. When they declined, he sat down with the tub and spoon and ate it himself.
"I'm like, Are you kidding me?" recalls Karnisovas, the GM, chuckling at the memory. "I was like, You're gonna have to make a lot of adjustments when you come."

[closg00]

??
He's not excelling in scoring; he's excelling in taking a lot of shots & nothing else.

To score 21 points, he has to take 18 shots & 4 FTAs. Nothing "good" about that. Now add the fact that he has almost as many turnovers as assists.

In fact, he's not excelling at anything -- he's been pretty bad. Not writing him off or anything -- he's only 19 -- but he hasn't been good.

Here are the Top-5 NBA Rookie scoring leaders, Fears is 4th in scoring while playing fewer minutes than the guys above him, statistically, he has been very good at scoring.

1.Kon Knueppel
2.Cooper Flag
3.VJ Edgecombe
4. Jeremiah Fears
5.Cederic Howard
https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/nba-rookie-leaders-in-points

Rotowire writers wrote:

ANALYSIS
Fears had to shoulder the offensive workload Monday with Zion Williamson (hamstring), Jordan Poole (quadriceps) and Saddiq Bey (ankle) all sidelined. He did not disappoint, setting a new career high in scoring. The rookie has been phenomenal since joining the starting lineup, averaging 15.3 points, 3.1 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.8 steals, 0.1 blocks and 1.4 threes made in his last 12 games.

https://www.rotowire.com/basketball/player/jeremiah-fears-6546

So yeah, pretty much the exact opposite of your opinion.

Citing how many points any player scores -- independent of the number of possessions it takes him to record his points -- provides no information whatever -- literally none! -- about whether he's good, bad, or indifferent, or how good or bad he is.

Where did I express an "opinion" about Jeremiah Fears? I don't have one.

Let me put that differently: suppose I cite his 82.5% FT shooting so far -- is that an opinion? No, but it sure is good!
How about if I point out that for every 1.1 assists he records he turns the ball over 1 time? Is that an opinion? No, but it's really awful -- for anybody but especially for a PG.

As to the so-called "analysis" you cite in re: his effort Monday vs. Golden State, for sure Fears had a really good night shooting the ball. OTOH, he managed 1 assist & 3 TOs.

Jeremiah Fears is a 19-year old kid with a lot of promise. As soon as he plays well, wch I expect he'll do, I will point it out. So far, as I note above, he hasn't been good.

What your wrote is a series of non-sequiturs. I pointed out that Fears was excelling in scoring, as he is 4th in scoring currently among rookies, the number of TO’s that he had, or anything else you wrote doesn’t negate the fact that he is 4th in scoring amongst this rookie class, your opinion: “he’s been pretty bad” has no relevance to this one point, what you did is effectively a “yes but ….