The competition for the NBA’s Rookie of the Year Award is starting to form a close fight between the league’s young, talented, big men.

A handful of NBA youngsters have already shown some signs of potential and game-changing skills with just three weeks into the 2015-2016 NBA regular season. Karl-Anthony Towns is still proving to be the best rookie, so far, but Jahlil Okafor and Kristaps Porzingis are also putting up solid performances.

Here is the updated Rookie Rankings from CBS Sports and USA Today.

1. Karl-Anthony Towns (Minnesota Timberwolves)

Towns, the No.1 overall pick in this year’s NBA draft, has been showing what fans and the Timberwolves organisation are expecting of him. In his first 12 games, he averaged 15.8 points per game and leads all other NBA rookies in rebounds (10.7) and blocks (2.4).

Towns posted a double-double 21 points and 12 rebounds on his best shooting performance (66.7 percent) in the Timberwolves’ 104-101 loss to the Orlando Magic. He showed he can be a force at the rim after sending the match to overtime with his game-saving block.

Playing with veteran Kevin Garnett has helped Towns adjust in the league, but his overall skill set, maturity, and NBA readiness are his advantage among other rookies.

2. Jahlil Okafor (Philadelphia 76ers)

Okafor’s dominating performances is being overshadowed by the 76ers poor campaign in the regular season. The No. 3 overall pick has not tasted a win yet in his rookie season, but his drive to success has helped him put up solid numbers for the 76ers.

He leads all rookies in points with 18.8 per game, but for a big man, he only averages 7.5 rebounds so far, while posting 1.7 blocks a game. While Okafor is never known for his defensive skills, he may need to develop them to claim the rookie of the year title, and hopefully a win for the 76ers.

In the 76ers’ loss to the Indiana Pacers, Okafor contributed with 14 points, but only had six rebounds.

3. Kristaps Porzingis (New York Knicks)

Porzingis was taken as the 4th overall pick in the rookie draft, but the Latvian youngster has been storming highlight reels lately with his vicious put back slams. It is not just the dunks that puts him into the third spot of the rookie rankings, his length and size are creating matchup nightmares on both ends, and he has been adjusting well in the NBA.

The “Zinger” is only averaging 12.8 points and 8.6 rebounds, but he has only played 25.3 minutes so far. Prozingis scored a career-high 29 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in the Knicks’ win over the Charlotte Hornets.

If Porzingis get more minutes under coach Derek Fisher, numbers should go high for him.

4. Emannuel Mudiay (Denver Nuggets)

Mudiay has led the Nuggets to an unexpected 6-5 start, considering the injuries and lack of key players surrounding him. Many, including LA Lakers head coach Byron Scott, doubted Mudiay’s ability as a point guard, but so far, he has been the better PG in this year’s draft class, averaging 11.4 points and 6.4 assists per game.

However, Mudiay needs to work on preventing his turnovers as he has already posted 4.3 TOs per contest, although it seems the 19-year-old PG has been minimising errors lately, posting only two turnovers in his last two outings against the New Orleans Pelicans and the San Antonio Spurs.

5. Justise Winslow (Miami Heat)

Winslow has been surprisingly taking over other NBA rookies in the rankings and is proving to be worth more than just a 10th overall pick. He is the only top Rookie of the Year candidate to play off the bench, but his numbers show he could do more for the Heat.

Gerald Green’s absence has helped develop Winslow’s game under Erik Spoelstra, and it seems the former Duke wingman is fitting right in Miami. Winslow is only averaging 7.3 points and 4.9 rebounds per game, but if given more minutes, he could show his full potential.

Winslow only scored six points against the Sacramento Kings, but it was partly because of a rejuvenated Dwyane Wade, who seems to have flipped his switch into scoring-mode.

Honourable mentions:

6. D’Angelo Russell (Los Angeles Lakers)

7. Nemanja Bjelica (Minnesota Timberwolves)

8. TJ McConnell (Philadelphia 76ers)

9. Stanley Johnson (Detroit Pistons)

10. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (Brooklyn Nets)

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