NBA’s ‘Rookie Ladder’ loves some Kentucky

Throughout the NBA’s summer leagues this month, NBA.com has posted a feature it calls the “Rookie Ladder.”

Scott Howard-Cooper, a writer for the website, posted his most recent update Wednesday, and his top 10 featured four players with ties to Kentucky.

Howard-Cooper will continue his Rookie Ladder on through the NBA regular season but his summer league posts give an early look at the recently drafted rookies creating the most buzz.

Wednesday’s ladder rated Kentucky’s Bam Adebayo No. 2, Louisville’s Donovan Mitchell No. 6, UK’s De’Aaron Fox No. 9 and ex-Cat Dakari Johnson, who still has not played in an NBA regular-season game despite being drafted two years ago, No. 10.

In rating Adebayo No. 2, Howard-Cooper said the one-and-done player from UK who was drafted No. 14 last month, is “keeping the pressure on” the player he rated No. 1 in the Rookie Ladder.

Click here to see who’s No. 1 along with the rest of NBA.com’s list.

This story was originally published July 12, 2017 at 7:13 PM with the headline "NBA’s ‘Rookie Ladder’ loves some Kentucky."