Who Are the Favorites to Win the NBA Rookie of the Year Award?

The NBA Rookie of the Year Award is given to the best first-year player in the league. Several players are in the running for the award this year, but who are the favorites?

Zion Williamson

Zion Williamson of the New Orleans Pelicans is the favorite to win the NBA Rookie of the Year Award according to oddsmakers. Other favorites include Ja Morant of the Memphis Grizzlies R.J. Barrett of the New York Knicks and Coby White of the Chicago Bulls

Ja Morant

Ja Morant is one of the favorites to win the NBA Rookie of the Year Award Morant was the second overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft by the Memphis Grizzlies He is averaging 17.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 7.0 assists per game so far this season.

RJ Barrett

RJ Barrett is one of the favorites to win the NBA rookie of the year award The New York Knicks forward is averaging 14.3 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game

Coby White

Coby White of the Chicago Bulls is one of the favorites to win the NBA Rookie of the Year award White was the seventh overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft He is a 6’4″ shooting guard from Goldsboro, North Carolina

Tyler Herro

Many experts are saying that Tyler Herro has the best chance to win the NBA Rookie of the Year award Tyler Herro is a shooting guard for the Miami Heat and he was drafted thirteenth overall in the 2019 NBA Draft In his first season with the Miami Heat Tyler Herro averaged 13.5 points per game 4.1 rebounds per game and 2.2 assists per game

Kendrick Nunn

Nunn, who was signed by the Miami Heat as an undrafted free agent prior to the start of the season, has been one of the biggest surprises in the NBA this year. He’s currently averaging 15.6 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game while shooting 46.8 percent from the field and 38.3 percent from three-point range

Eric Paschall

Eric Paschall is one of the favorites to win the NBA Rookie of the Year Award The Power Forward was drafted by the Golden State Warriors in the second round of the 2019 NBA draft He played college basketball for the Villanova Wildcats

PJ Washington

Washington was a star at Kentucky, and he looks the part of an NBA player At 6-foot-7, he has a 7-foot-3 wingspan and huge hands. He’s a good athlete who can play above the rim and is an excellent rebounder. He also has a nice outside shot, which should help him space the floor for the Hornets.

Luka Samanic

Suzan Milan /Getty Images
Croatian native Luka Samanic has been playing Professional Basketball since he was 16 years old. The 6-foot-10, 220-pound forward/center is currently in his third season with Barcelona of the Spanish League and is considered one of the best young talents in National Basketball Samanic has improved his stats each year he’s played professionally, and many believe he has what it takes to be an NBA Star

Matisse Thybulle

With a strong rookie class, there are a Number of players who could take home the Rookie of the Year award However, there are a few players who stand out as the favorites to win. One of those favorites is Matisse Thybulle of the Philadelphia 76ers.

Thybulle was drafted 20th overall in the 2019 NBA draft by the Sixers. He played his college basketball at the University of Washington where he was a two-time Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year. His defensive prowess is what has made him one of the top rookies in the league thus far.

In his first season in the NBA, Thybulle is averaging 7.1 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game. He is also averaging an impressive 2.4 steals and 1.5 blocks per game. His ability to stuff the Stat Sheet has helped the Sixers stay atop the Eastern Conference standings.

Although he may not be putting up big numbers offensively, Thybulle’s impact on the defensive end of the floor has been huge for Philadelphia. His length and athleticism allow him to guard multiple positions, and he has quickly become one of the best perimeter defenders in the league.

If Thybulle can continue to play at a high level on both ends of the floor, he will have a great chance at taking home Rookie of the Year honors at season’s end.