Overview
This year’s NBA rookie class is full of future superstars and solid rotational players. The question? How do we decide which one deserves the coveted Rookie of the Year award? We will be diving into personal stats and accolades, as well as the level of team success that the rookie contributes to.
1. Evan Mobley (Cleveland Cavaliers)
Evan Mobley has had an awe-inspiring rookie year so far. He’s been a leading factor in the Cavs’ impressive 27-19 record, which is good for the 5th seed in the East (as of writing this article). He’s averaging 15 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.7 blocks a game, which is the most blocks per game for any rookie this season (stats via BasketballReference). He provides a lot for this young, scrappy Cleveland team with his long 7′ tall frame and his 7’4″ wingspan, which he knows how to utilize to get tons of blocks and rebounds. Mobley ranks 3rd in the ENTIRE NBA in contested shots, amongst the likes of Rudy Gobert and Jakob Poeltl. The Cavs hope he can continue this fantastic season and lead them to their first playoff birth without LeBron since 1998.
2. Cade Cunningham (Detroit Pistons)
A sort of late bloomer during this NBA season, the #1 overall pick Cade Cunningham is slowly turning into the player that Pistons fans had hoped he would be. Throughout the season, Cade has shown that he is an all-around type point guard who can pass, rebound, and shoot the three-ball. He’s leading all rookies in scoring this year at 15.6 points and an impressive 5.1 assists. He is also contributing a reasonable amount of boards, clocking in at just about five and a half rebounds per game (stats via BasketballReference). At the time of writing this, the Pistons sit at 11-34 but hope to acquire another high draft pick to add another great piece to a gritty and talented young roster.
3. Scottie Barnes (Toronto Raptors)
An unexpected surprise. That’s how Raptors fans would describe the amount of production Scottie Barnes brings to the team. At the time of the draft, analysts and Raptors fans were unsure about the safety of the pick, but Scottie has turned out to be a great player, even if it is just his rookie year. He’s averaging 14.8 points and leading all rookies this year with 7.9 boards. He’s shown flashes of being a decent facilitator for his position, with his average of 3.4 assists a game. As of writing this article, the Raptors are sitting at 22-21, as they hope to clinch a play-in spot at the end of the season.
