NBA Rookie of the Year Predictions: Who Will Win?
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It’s that time of year again! The NBA season is just around the corner, and with it comes the annual Rookie of the Year Award Who will take home the hardware this year?
We’ve made our predictions, and now it’s time for you to have your say. Cast your vote in our poll and let us know who you think will be the NBA Rookie of the Year!
Zion Williamson
The Brow. The Baby Davis. Jumbo Shrimp. Zion Williamson has been called a lot of things by a lot of people, but there’s one thing that everyone can agree on: the New Orleans Pelicans rookie is an absolute stud, and he’s going to be the NBA Rookie of the Year.
There’s no doubt that Zion is an incredible athlete with immense talent, but what sets him apart from other rookies is his drive and determination to be the best. In just a few short months, Zion has become a fan-favorite not just in New Orleans, but around the league. His unique combination of size, speed, and power has left defenders scrambling, and his dunks are quickly becoming the stuff of legend.
Off the court, Zion is friendly and down-to-earth, making him easy to root for. He’s also shown a knack for marketing himself and his unending enthusiasm for the game of basketball – something that will no doubt endear him to sponsors and fans alike. In short, Zion is the total package, and there’s no doubt that he’s going to be taking home the Rookie of the Year Award this season.
Ja Morant
Ja Morant is the leading candidate to win NBA rookie of the Year. The Memphis Grizzlies point guard has been electric this season, averaging 17.6 points, 3.5 rebounds and 6.9 assists per game Morant has also shot nearly 37 percent from three-point range
RJ Barrett
RJ Barrett is one of the leading contenders for the 2019-20 NBA Rookie of the Year Award The New York Knicks shooting guard is averaging 14.3 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game while shooting 45.4 percent from the field and 30.8 percent from three-point range.
Tyler Herro
Herro’s game has markings of a player who can contribute right away to an NBA team He’s a polished scorer with a smooth shooting stroke and the ability to put the ball on the deck and create his own shot. His versatility will be a big plus for Miami, as he projects as a player who can play both guard positions.
Kendrick Nunn
Nunn is averaging 19.8 points, 3.8 assists and 3.3 rebounds while shooting 46.8% from the field and 34.6% from three-point range. The 24-year-old undrafted rookie out of Oakland University has been a revelation for the Miami Heat this season, starting all 54 games he’s played in and helping lead them to a 32-22 record that currently has them sitting in fourth place in the Eastern Conference standings.
Coby White
Coby White of the Chicago Bulls is one of the top contenders for the NBA’s Rookie of the Year Award White was drafted 7th overall in the 2019 NBA draft out of North Carolina He has impressed early on in his career, averaging 13.2 points and 2.7 assists per game He has also shown the ability to knock down three-pointers, shooting 36.4% from beyond the arc. White has emerged as one of the Bulls’ best players and looks to be a building block for the franchise moving forward.
Eric Paschall
Paschall was the most consistent player on a Warriors team decimated by injury, appearing in 71 games and starting 65 of them. The Villanova product averaged 14.0 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists while shooting 45.7% from the field, 37.5% from three-point range and 71.9% from the Foul Line adding 1.2 steals and 0.6 blocks in 27.7 minutes per game.
PJ Washington
There is no clear-cut favorite for the NBA’s Rookie of the year award this season, but one player who has emerged as a leading contender is Kentucky forward PJ Washington.
Washington was not expected to be a lottery pick in this year’s NBA Draft but he has been one of the most pleasant surprises of the 18-19 season The 6-foot-8 forward is averaging 13.2 points and 5.4 rebounds per game for the Charlotte Hornets and he has shown an ability to score from inside and out.
What separates Washington from other rookies is his well-rounded game. He is not just a scorer; he also leads all rookies in blocked shots (1.9 per game) and ranks second in steals (1.3 per game). He has also been lights-out from three-point range, shooting 42.3 percent from beyond the arc.
There are other rookies who have put up better numbers than Washington, but few have been as consistent or as impactful on both ends of the court. If Washington can maintain his level of play throughout the remainder of the season, he should be in contention for Rookie of the Year honors come April.
Rui Hachimura
Rui Hachimura was drafted with the ninth overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft by the Washington Wizards He is a 6’8″, 230-pound forward from Japan. Hachimura played three years of college basketball at Gonzaga University, where he was named the West Coast Conference Player of the Year as a junior. He is the first Japanese-born player to be drafted in the first round of the NBA draft
Hachimura is expected to make an immediate impact for the Wizards as a rookie. He has good size and strength for his position and is a skilled offensive player Hachimura is a strong finisher around the basket and has the ability to score in a variety of ways. He also has decent Court Vision and passing ability for a forward. Defensively, Hachimura needs to improve his lateral quickness and overall awareness, but he has the potential to be a solid defender at the NBA level.
Given his all-around skill set and potential, Hachimura is one of the favorites to win NBA Rookie of the Year. He will have competition from other talented rookies like Zion Williamson of the New Orleans Pelicans and Ja Morant of the Memphis Grizzlies but Hachimura has a good chance to come out on top.
Daniel Gafford
Daniel Gafford is one of the frontrunners for the 2019-20 NBA Rookie of the Year award The 6’11” center out of Arkansas has impressed with his athleticism and energy on both ends of the floor. Here’s a look at why Gafford is a favorite to win the award.
Gafford was a highly-touted prospect coming into the NBA, and he’s lived up to the hype so far. He’s averaging 10.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game while shooting an impressive 66.7 percent from the field. He’s been a key part of the Bulls’ rotation and has shown that he can hang with the best players in the league.
Gafford has also shown an willingness to learn and improve his game. He’s worked hard to become a better shooter from outside, and he’s already made significant strides in that area. His work ethic and desire to get better are two more reasons why he’s a favorite to win Rookie of the Year.
The competition for Rookie of the Year is stiff, but Gafford has as good a chance as anyone to take home the award. If he can continue to play at a high level, there’s no doubt that he’ll be in contention for the title.
