Top 10 Rookie Debuts

There were a lot of big rookie debuts in the NBA for the past 2 days, and the only one of note who hasn't played yet is the Bobcats' D.J. Augustin. The best debuts, however, were from the most unexpected rookies.

Mario Chalmers had the best debut performance of any rookie. The numbers say that he can flourish in a fast paced game like he did running against Mike D'Antoni's fast paced game. 17 pts, 7 reb, 8 ast.

Arthur had the best defensive performance. One of 3 rookies to get a double double, all who are on this list. With his athleticism, rebounding can be a strentgh for him in the future. 11 pts, 15 reb, stl, blk, 2 blk.

Jason Thompson, wasted lottery pick for the Kings? Apparently not. He was the only rookie to even come close to a 20-10 game. He could be the real deal and is already better than starting power forward Mikki Moore. 18 pts, 10 reb, blk.

Derrick Rose had the first big rookie performance of the season giving coach Vinny Del Negro and the Bulls their first win. He shined in pre-season and the #1 pick will definitely be dangerous in the future. 11 pts, 4 reb, 9 ast, 3 stl.

Kevin Love was a huge on the offensive boards with 4 of them along with 2 blocks. He might not be the definition of athleticism but he gets the job done. 12 pts, 9 reb, 2 ast, stl, 2 blk.

Rebounding, it's in the family. Unlike his brother Pau Gasol, Marc is said to be more physical and that is a huge advantage. He'll be one of the best rookie big men in the NBA. 12 pts, 12 reb, ast, 2 blk.

Russell Westbrook will eventually take the reins from Earl Watson at point guard. He's fearless going to the basket, which should help his playmaking ability when he drives into the lane. 13 pts, 4 reb, 4 ast, blk.

Rudy Fernandez is an all-around guard who can play both guard positions as well as small forward. Already a fan favorite in Portland, he's a fast rising star in the NBA. 16 pts, 2 reb, 4 ast, 2 stl.

It's safe to say that he had a better outing than twin brother Robin Lopez. Brook should see a lot of playing time with the rebuilding Nets and was 2 points and 2 rebounds away from a double-double. 8pts, 8 reb, ast, stl, 2 blk.

There are high expectations for him, and some people think who should be ROY. Shooting 5-20 won't cut it in the NBA, but as talented as he is, it'll all be a distant memory by next week. 10 pts, 5 reb, 2 ast, 2 stl.

The Memphis Grizzlies had 3 players on the list with Arthur, Gasol and Mayo. Throw in Rudy Gay and Mike Conley and they have a talented line-up for the future ahead of them.

Some rookies, like Greg Oden or Michael Beasley, didn't make the list because they just didnt play well in their debut. Not that they're not talented, they're expected to compete for ROY.

Looking at the draft class of 2008 right now, hopefully there will be performances like these all season long and better ones for many years to come.