Should Herb Jones make the All-Rookie team this season?

Herb Jones of the New Orleans Pelicans is not a player that most casual fans know much about.

He plays in one of the smallest markets in the league, and the Pelicans aren’t in the playoff picture, so he has not gotten nearly as much exposure as some of the other top names.

But Herb is possibly the best rookie defender in his class, and has been putting up surprising shooting numbers of late, hitting over 40 percent from 3-point range for the season, albeit on a modest number of attempts.

If we are just going by traditional stats, Herb falls short of some other guys, but anyone who has had to go up against his defense will tell you that stats don’t tell the whole tale.

He has been a huge part in the Pelicans’ improved defense this season and is one of the reasons they are hanging around even though Zion Williamson has yet to step on the floor and Brandon Ingram has had to miss a lot of games with injury.

But does he have a chance at the All-Rookie squad? Let’s take a look at the competition.

Herb Jones chances at the All-Rookie team

Ten players total are selected for the first and second All-Rookie teams and right now there are only five players who are absolute locks to make it.

Cade Cunningham, Evan Mobley, Scottie Barnes, Franz Wagner and Josh Giddey are probably your first-team All-Rookies, though Herb Jones has had good games against all of them.

The next five gets a lot more debatable, as no one has really separated themselves from the pack. Jalen Green has been great at times, but his team has actually been better without him, unlike Herb.

Chris Duarte has made his case, though his numbers have dipped after a red-hot start.  Jalen Suggs and Davion Mitchell have similar resumes for their teams.

Here is where Herb Jones stands among other rookies in some key categories:

• 9th in points per game
• 14th in rebounds per game
• 13th in assists per game
• 1st in steals
• 2nd in blocks
• 7th in minutes per game
• 2nd in 3-point percentage among players who have taken at least 60 attempts

Add in his elite defense and he has a strong case for taking one of those five open spots. It may just come down to which team has a stronger record, as most of the frontrunners are on bad teams that are outside of the playoff picture.

“Not on Herb” is already a fan-favorite in New Orleans and will hopefully get some national attention for the amazing rookie season he is having.