Rhyne Howard's rookie season is better than you realize

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On3 image — Photo by M. Anthony Nesmith | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Not to anybody’s surprise, Rhyne Howard is having a historic rookie season.

The 6-foot-2 combo-guard is the heavy favorite to win WNBA Rookie of the Year. Moreover, many fans expect Howard to appear in the WNBA All-Star Game. Earlier this month, the WNBA revealed that Howard received the 11th-most votes of any player in the league.

How Rhyne Howard compares to her rookie class

Howard’s hype isn’t unwarranted. The Kentucky legend is averaging 16.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game. Howard’s competition isn’t exactly close, either. NaLyssa Smith averages the second-most points per game among rookies with 12.9 points per contest.

Ironically, Howard’s separation from her colleagues is primarily due to her long-range abilities. Howard is shooting an efficient 39% from beyond the arc while making 2.7 3-pointers per outing, the fourth-most of any player in the league. To pile on, no other rookie makes more than 1.7 3-pointers per game.

Making history one game at a time

Howard is outshining her fellow rookies, but how does she stack up against past standouts? In short, she comfortably belongs in the top echelon of all-time rookies. No first-year player since former South Carolina star A’ja Wilson has averaged more than Howard’s 16.3 points per game.

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Howard is equally impressive on defense. The No. 1 pick averages 1.6 steals a night, seventh-most in the league. Tamika Catchings, the WNBA’s all-time steals leader, is the only rookie ever to average more steals. Additionally, Howard swats 0.9 shots per game, making her a top-25 paint protector.

The bigger picture

Howard isn’t just one of the best rookies this year; she’s one of the best players. The Cleveland, TN, native has led the Dream to a 7-8 record following an impressive start to the season. For reference, Atlanta has not had a winning season since 2018.

Few other rookie seasons compare to Howard’s. If she can keep her momentum, it won’t be long before only a few players can be compared to her.