AJ Dybantsa finally made his highly anticipated NBA debut on Wednesday night, and honestly, he gave Washington Wizards fans everything they’ve been dreaming about all summer. After missing the first four games resting a sprained left ankle, the No. 1 overall pick stepped onto the floor and dropped 19 points on an efficient 8-of-12 shooting, adding two rebounds and two assists in just 26 minutes against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

There’s just one catching point with putting him on our inaugural Rookie Power Rankings: he’s played precisely one basketball game. As electric as that debut was, we can’t in good conscience vault him over guys who have been grinding out high-level production across four or five games already. His time will come.

Besides, this rookie class has already given us a ton to digest. We’ve had two different rookies drop 30-point bombs, a few forwards casually averaging double-doubles, and some unexpected late-lottery names forcing their way into major rotation minutes right out of the gate.

The early Rookie of the Year race is shaping up to be a wild, unpredictable ride. Cameron Boozer is anchoring an undefeated team, Caleb Wilson is stuffing every statistical column known to man, and Yaxel Lendeborg has somehow transformed into one of Golden State’s most lethal scoring options.

So, after one week of action in the 2026-27 season, here is our definitive top five, ranked strictly on what these guys have put on film, not where they were drafted.

5. Keaton Wagler, LA Clippers

Here’s a bizarre box score line for you: 21 points on 4-of-15 shooting from the field. That was Keaton Wagler’s stat sheet after Wednesday’s loss to the Los Angeles Lakers (103-87), and it pretty much sums up his entire opening week.

The shot wasn’t dropping, he struggled inside the arc, but he kept pressing the action, drawing contact, and getting himself to the stripe 12 times (making 10). He finished as one of the LA Clippers‘ high scorers despite having a night where he couldn’t buy a jumper.

That knack for drawing fouls has been an unexpected super-skill in his transition to the pros. The No. 5 overall pick is averaging 15.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.3 steals through four games, earning 7.8 free throw attempts per contest and converting them at an 87.1% clip.

Coach Ty Lue is trusting him with 26.5 minutes per game, and the rookie has responded by scoring in double figures in every single appearance. His three-point stroke looks totally legit, too, as he’s hitting 39.1% on 5.8 attempts per night.

Now, look at his overall efficiency, and the rosy picture gets a bit messy. Wagler is making just 31.6% of his field goal attempts, which highlights how much he’s struggling to finish over length when defenders force him inside the arc. He’s also coughing the ball up 3.0 times a night, occasionally settling for contested mid-rangers early in the clock.

But the foundation is undeniably intriguing: he has great size for either guard spot, confidence from deep, and the grit to generate points even on off nights. On a 1-3 Clippers team desperately searching for offensive punch, Wagler is going to get all the runway he needs.

4. Darius Acuff Jr., Sacramento Kings

The Sacramento Kings might be painful to watch right now, but Darius Acuff Jr. is giving fans a genuine reason to tune in every night.

Sacramento sits at 0-4, their defense is a huge weak link, and yet their rookie point guard is out here hoisting 23.3 shots per game. No, that’s not a typo. Acuff has launched 93 total field goal attempts in just four games. That is a jaw-dropping usage rate for a guy who was running point in college just a few months ago. And to his credit, the stage doesn’t look too big for him at all.

Back on October 23 against Portland, Acuff exploded for 33 points, shooting 10-of-26 from the floor and 11-of-12 from the line. In doing so, he became the first rookie to break the 30-point barrier this season while setting a Kings franchise record for most points scored in a game by a teenager.

He backed that up with 22 points and seven assists against Memphis, and then dropped 19 points and five assists during Tuesday’s 130-103 loss to San Antonio.

Through four games, he’s posting 21.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 4.8 assists in 35.3 minutes. Even with established veterans like Zach LaVine and Domantas Sabonis on the floor, Acuff is effectively running the show. If we look at efficiency, though, it gets pretty terrifying.

Acuff is shooting a cold 34.4% from the field and 20.6% from distance while taking 8.5 threes a night. His 42.4% true shooting percentage ranks near the bottom of the league for high-volume scorers, and his tape is filled with “Kobe!” shots, where he forces absurdly tough ones against multiple defenders.

Surprisingly, Sacramento seems totally fine letting him make those mistakes and learn by doing. And given their rebuilding trajectory coming off a 22-60 season, why not? Giving your potential franchise point guard 35 minutes a night to make mistakes makes a lot of sense.

What’s really promising is his playmaking. Nearly five assists while keeping his turnovers to a manageable 2.8 per game shows legitimate court vision, especially off pick-and-rolls. The raw scoring talent is obvious; now he just needs to refine his shot selection. If he can lift that field goal percentage into the low-40s, his Rookie of the Year campaign will take on a whole new level.

3. Caleb Wilson, Chicago Bulls

Caleb Wilson’s first week in the NBA has been an absolute roller coaster, and that’s precisely what makes him one of the most fun players in the class.

In his debut against Toronto, he coughed up a painful nine turnovers, a horrendous way to introduce yourself to the home crowd. Then, just three days later against Washington, he flipped a switch and put up a monstrous 30 points and 14 rebounds with zero turnovers. Talk about a response.

The No. 4 overall pick has logged starter-level minutes from day one, averaging 20.8 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.8 steals, and 1.4 blocks in 34.7 minutes across five games.

That 30-point explosion was his headliner, but Wilson’s impact goes well beyond bucket-getting. Against Boston on Monday, he racked up 17 points, five boards, three assists, and two blocks, followed by a 20-point, six-rebound, four-assist, two-steal performance in Wednesday’s loss to the Knicks.

Honestly, his defensive activity might be even more impressive than his scoring. Averaging 3.2 stocks per game, he uses his massive wingspan to disrupt passing lanes and alter shots at the rim. That multi-positional defensive versatility gives him a high floor even when his jumper isn’t clicking.

Wilson is shooting just 41.3% from the field and a rough 22.2% from three while attempting nearly eight triples per game (7.2). For a forward who dominates inside, taking almost eight threes a night while missing nearly 80% of them is something the Bulls’ coaching staff needs to dial back.

On a 1-4 Bulls squad, Wilson is the bright spot. There aren’t many rookies in modern NBA history who can roll out of bed and give you 20 and 7 alongside nearly two steals and a block and a half. He ranks ahead of Acuff for now because he brings real two-way value when his shot isn’t falling.

2. Cameron Boozer, Memphis Grizzlies

Cameron Boozer has the most fascinating Rookie of the Year case you’ll ever see. His shooting splits are pretty atrocious right now, yet he’s averaging a double-double for a team that hasn’t lost a game.

The Memphis Grizzlies are 4-0, and Boozer has been a massive reason why. He’s starting, crashing the glass, throwing pinpoint passes, and finding every possible way to impact winning while his jumper takes its time to show up.

Through four games, the No. 3 overall pick is putting up 14.8 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists in 33.0 minutes. Those playmaking numbers are absurd for a teenage forward still adjusting to NBA defense.

His best performance came against Golden State on October 23, when he posted 25 points, 13 rebounds, six assists, and two steals in a thrilling 111-108 win. He hit four threes, went a perfect 9-of-9 from the line, and completely owned the clutch minutes.

That game inked his name in the history books: Boozer became the third-youngest player in NBA history to record 25+ points, 10+ rebounds, and 5+ assists in a game, joining LeBron James and Cooper Flagg. However, that Warriors game was an outlier shooting night.

In his debut against Utah, Boozer went an ugly 2-of-15 from the floor for seven points. Against Sacramento, he struggled to a 5-of-17 line. His overall splits sit at a tough 27.9% from the field and 25.9% from deep, leading to a 42.5% true shooting percentage.

So why is he all the way up at No. 2? Because he impacts every single facet of the game. Boozer grabbed 11 rebounds in each of his first three games and has dished out at least four assists in every single contest. Even during his 2-of-15 shooting disaster in the opener, he still got 11 boards and five assists to help secure a win.

Memphis doesn’t need Boozer to score 25 points every night; I mean, they have Ty Jerome dropping 30 PPG to handle the scoring load. What Boozer provides is something intangible: high-IQ passing, elite glass-cleaning, and great floor-reading.

He shoots 94.7% from the free-throw line, which tells you his touch is completely fine and those field-goal numbers will eventually correct themselves. NBA.com actually put him at No. 1 on their initial Rookie Ladder, which is a totally defensible stance. But there’s one rookie who has simply been too good to leave behind.

1. Yaxel Lendeborg, Golden State Warriors

When the Golden State Warriors grabbed Yaxel Lendeborg with the No. 11 pick, they were likely expecting a solid, mature rotation forward who could rebound, play defense, and hit open shots.

Five games in, he’s averaging 22.6 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 4.0 assists while looking like a cornerstone. And over his last three games, he’s played like an All-Star.

It started with a 26-point, nine-rebound, five-assist outing against Phoenix on October 24 (featuring six triples). He followed that up by strolling into Ball Arena and hanging 31 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists on the Nuggets in a 134-114 statement win. That performance made Lendeborg the first Warriors rookie since Stephen Curry in February 2010 to drop a 30-10-5 line.

He wasn’t done. Last night, even with Curry dropping a ridiculous 44 points against Minnesota, Lendeborg added 26 points and nine rebounds on 11-of-20 shooting in a 119-114 victory. That is 83 points and 30 rebounds in a three-game stretch. For the 11th pick in the draft, those numbers are mind-blowing.

What separates Lendeborg from the rest of this class isn’t just the raw point total, it’s the efficiency. He is shooting 47.5% from the field, 35.5% from deep, and boasts a 59.2% true shooting percentage while knocking down 2.2 threes a night. He fits seamlessly into Golden State’s movement offense alongside Curry and Draymond Green.

After an 0-3 start, the Warriors have won two straight over Denver and Minnesota, with Lendeborg contributing 57 points across those two victories. He’s not just a spot-up shooter either; he can handle off the bounce, pass out of short rolls, and attack closeouts with anger.

Sure, he turns the ball over a bit too much (3.6 per game, including seven against Minnesota), and at 24 years old, his college seasoning gives him an age advantage over 19-year-old rookies. But Rookie of the Year isn’t an award for potential, it’s an award for production right now.

Compare him to Boozer: Lendeborg is scoring 7.8 more points per game while shooting nearly 20% better from the field, all while grabbing over nine rebounds a night. Compare him to Acuff and Wilson: while they are hovering around 34% and 41% shooting, Lendeborg is dropping 22.6 a night on 47.5% efficiency.

He has been, without question, the best rookie through week one. Keeping this top spot won’t be easy as Dybantsa gets healthier and Boozer finds his jump shot, but right now, Lendeborg gets the top spot.