NBA Rookie of the Year rankings: Can anyone catch Mobley?

As we approach the regular season's stretch run, the Rookie of the Year race largely remains the same.

This quintet of first-year players continues to occupy the top-five spots on our list, although one individual has separated himself from the rest as the clear favorite for the award.

Below is our third edition of this season's Rookie of the Year rankings.

5. Franz Wagner

Previous rank: 3

Franz Wagner continues producing at a high level for the tanking Orlando Magic. Since our last rankings on Jan. 18, the first-year wing is averaging 16.4 points with an impressive 51/41/89 shooting line, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.2 assists across 18 appearances.

The Michigan product has endeared himself to teammates thanks to his poise and strong two-way game.

"The way he attacks the basket, (he) has great footwork, he can shoot it, he can handle the rock, he can get around guys his size or smaller, (and) he has really good vision," Magic guard Terrence Ross said of Wagner. "He seems like he's been playing for years and years the way he plays."

Wagner, 20, has also been incredibly durable. He's the only player in the league this season to play in and start 63 games.

4. Josh Giddey

Previous rank: 5

Josh Giddey has made it clear he'll be playing at a high level for a long time. Through 54 games, he's cemented his status as the top rookie playmaker by leading all first-year players in assists (6.4), potential assists (11.6), and passes made per game (59.9).

The Australian floor general's numbers are impressive, but they're even more eye-popping when you consider the Oklahoma City Thunder are the least efficient team in the league on both field goals (42.2%) and 3-point attempts (31.5%).

Giddey, who recently joined Oscar Robertson as the only other rookie to post three straight triple-doubles, has set the bar high for himself and the Thunder going forward. Speaking after a recent loss, Giddey said in a few years he and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander "could be one of the best backcourts in the league."

3. Cade Cunningham

Previous rank: 4

Cade Cunningham has battled through various ailments this season, most recently a hip pointer that sidelined him for five games in February. Those hurdles have prevented the 2021 No. 1 overall pick from stringing together a consistent run of dominant play, although his flashes of brilliance should have Detroit Pistons fans excited for what lies ahead.

Cunningham, 20, is posting 17.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.8 assists, one steal, and nearly one block over his last 15 games. The future star's inefficient shooting continues to drag him down - he's connected on only 39.9% of his 15.4 field-goal attempts per contest this season - but his shot selection should improve as he gets more comfortable at the pro level.

An encouraging development to watch is Cunningham's ability to finish inside the paint. The former Oklahoma State standout leads all rookies with an average of 13.1 drives per game and converts 48.1% of the resulting 5.7 field-goal attempts.

2. Scottie Barnes

Previous rank: 2

The All-Star break appears to have served Scottie Barnes well. Just three days after setting a new career high with 28 points in a loss to the Charlotte Hornets, he erupted for his best game with the Toronto Raptors in a win over the Brooklyn Nets.

The talented forward finished with 28 points once again, shooting 12-of-14 from the field, added 16 rebounds - nine offensive - secured five steals, and dished out four assists. By doing so, Barnes became the first rookie to finish with 25-plus points, 15-plus rebounds, and at least five steals in a game since Shaquille O'Neal in 1993, according to Warchant.com's Corey Clark.

Barnes has the makings of a future All-Star, and it's exciting to fathom how much more effective he could be once he improves his offensive consistency. Stringing together a series of strong games down the stretch could go a long way in closing the gap in this race.

1. Evan Mobley

Previous rank: 1

Evan Mobley remains the favorite to take home Rookie of the Year hardware as the Cleveland Cavaliers begin the final quarter of their regular-season schedule.

The USC product is coming off a particularly strong month of February. Mobley became the first rookie since Kevin Garnett in 1996 to average at least 14 points, eight rebounds, two assists, one steal, and 1.5 blocks per game in a month.

But as we've highlighted before, Mobley's defensive impact is what truly makes him stand out in this race. He's been the Cavaliers' defensive co-anchor along with Jarrett Allen and has helped transform a perennial lottery team into an Eastern Conference playoff contender. Few rookies make that large of an impact in Year 1, let alone thrive on both ends the way Mobley has.

At this point, it'll be challenging for any of the other players on this list to dethrone Mobley from the top spot with 20 games remaining. If anyone has a shot, it's Barnes.

Honorable mention: Ayo Dosunmu (Chicago Bulls)