New kids on the NBA block

Many NBA experts were calling the 2007 draft the best pool of all-star caliber prospects in years, if not decades. Two players — Greg Oden and Kevin Durant — were universally considered can't-miss superstars-in-the-making.

"I know we're going to be connected for a long time, Kevin Durant and Greg Oden," said Oden as his draft night news conference after being selected No. 1 overall by the Portland Trail Blazers. "He's a really, really good player. I'm a decent player. So I hope things work out."

Well, things seem to be working out for Durant, picked second by the Seattle SuperSonics.

Oden? Not so much right now. The former Ohio State star center is out for the season with a knee injury. Things will likely work out just fine for the Blazers and Oden in the future. He is, after all, still only 19 — even if the 7-footer looks twice that age.

But for now, Durant, as long as he stays healthy, appears headed for a landslide Rookie of the Year award.

While Utah Jazz rookies Morris Almond and Kyrylo Fesenko aren't ready to make an impact ust yet, Durant certainly is not the only rookie making a difference in the NBA so far this year.

In fact, here's a look at the NBA's top 10 impact rookies this season:

1. Kevin Durant, 6-9, F, Seattle

There is a reason Durant was the consensus college player of the year as a freshman at Texas in 2006-07. He is an all-around talent who is already the best player on his NBA team at 19. Unfortunately, that mean's his NBA team is not very good. Still, Durant is averaging 20 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists. He's too thin, is shooting less than 40 percent from the field and needs to get stronger to be able to endure the punishment of an 82-game NBA season. But his incredible potential has been evident, and it's only a matter of time before he helps Seattle — or Oklahoma City — regain respectability.

2. Yi Jianlian, 7-0, F, Milwaukee

Perhaps the most intriguing rookie is the Bucks' 20-year-old (or thereabouts) 7-footer from China. While there is some speculation that he is really older than his listed birthday of Oct. 27, 1987, there is no question that Yi can play. While some have compared him to countryman Yao Ming, a better comparison would be Dirk Nowitzki. Yi has a good outside shooting touch and can handle the ball well for a big man. Both he and ex-Ute Andrew Bogut have been starting, giving Milwaukee two 7-footers in their lineup. Yi is averaging 11 points and 6.9 boards per game, both second best among rookies.