NBA rookies are fun -- they just are.
But what is fun in the NBA isn't necessarily good. Last year's famed rookie class with Andrew Wiggins and Jabari Parker had plenty of great moments, but Wiggins came up against the proverbial rookie wall and Parker suffered a season-ending injury after performing well early on. In fact, the remainder of the lottery hardly impressed, either. Joel Embiid and Julius Randle never got on the floor after severe injuries, while hot draft-night names like Dante Exum, Aaron Gordon and Doug McDermott all disappointed.
We think the 2015 class is more talented and far deeper than its predecessor. Here are the five players -- all 19 years old, by the way -- whom you can't afford to miss this season. (And you can see more NBA previews here, here and here.)
Karl Anthony-Towns, Minnesota
No surprises here. Towns -- whom HuffPost caught up with in June -- was the No. 1 pick in the draft because of his unlimited ceiling. His splendid blend of size, athleticism and legitimate shut-down defensive ability already stands out.
Minnesota is young -- like, really young -- and Towns will be featured in the post as the T-Wolves attempt to establish an identity. His pick-and-roll game with Ricky Rubio will be extra notable as a result. Finally, under the tutelage of teammate Kevin Garnett, the 7-foot Towns will learn how to become a pro, the importance of which cannot be understated in today's NBA. His best move early on will likely be the baby jump hook off the left shoulder that he used so well in college, but we know he will also need much more. (Remember, he shot below 40 percent in summer league.)
Towns' footwork -- like any young big -- will need help, but he has terrific hands, and his dramatic improvement during a single season in Lexington suggests he'll get there sooner than later.
D'Angelo Russell, LA Lakers
It may have come as a surprise to some observers that the Lakers opted for Russell as the second overall pick, choosing him over Duke's Jahlil Okafor. But it shouldn't have, as I explained in my draft winners and losers column. Russell, at 6-foot-5 with a freakish 6-foot-10 wingspan, is a playmaking dynamo and prodigious passer who thrives on the open floor.
That said, his turnover woes (5 per game) and shooting struggles (38 percent) in summer league will continue, so long as he is being featured in Byron Scott's offense. And perhaps the bigger question is how a 37-year-old Kobe Bryant responds to a young, swashbuckling, ball-dominant lead guard. Russell will be special, but he'll need to be given the leeway to make mistakes early, and to learn from them as well.
Justise Winslow, Miami
Winslow will make everyone pay for passing on him. Miami, which snagged him with the 10th pick, will instantly employ Winslow as a lockdown perimeter defender and capable third scoring option. It wasn't a reach when his college coach, Mike Krzyzewski, referred to Winslow as a Dwyane Wade clone. And Wade, to be sure, will benefit from Winslow's ability to play multiple wing spots. The beauty of Winslow is his versatility and winning pedigree, which Miami executive Pat Riley clearly coveted. While helping lead Duke to the national championship, the 6-foot-6 forward often had to defend the post one game and the perimeter the next. Winslow was equally comfortable making plays with the ball as he was playing off of Tyus Jones and Okafor.
His role with the Heat won't be much different. He wi