Who Was Rookie Of The Year Nba 2020?

Find out who was named the NBA’s 2020 Rookie of the Year, and learn more about this year’s top first-year players.

Zion Williamson

Zion Williamson of the New Orleans Pelicans was unanimously named the NBA’s Rookie of the Year on Monday after a season in which the No. 1 overall pick averaged 22.5 points and 6.3 rebounds per game.

Williamson’s stats

In his first season, Zion Williamson averaged 22.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game, shooting 52.4% from the field and 34.4% from three-point range. He was named to the All-Rookie First Team and was a finalist for the 2020 NBA Rookie of the Year Award.

Williamson’s impact on the Pelicans

Zion Williamson was the 2019 No. 1 overall pick by the New Orleans Pelicans in the NBA draft. A 6-foot-6, 285-pound power forward from Duke, Williamson was one of the most highly touted prospects in recent memory. He did not disappoint as a rookie, averaging 22.5 points and 6.3 rebounds per game while shooting 58.9 percent from the field and 34.4 percent from 3-point range. Williamson’s emergence as a superstar helped lead the Pelicans to the playoffs for the first time since 2015.

Ja Morant

Ja Morant was the runaway favorite for Rookie of the Year. He was the second overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, and he averaged 17.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 6.9 assists per game for the Memphis Grizzlies. Morant was named the Western Conference Rookie of the Month for November and December, and he also won the Rookie of the Year award at the 2020 NBA Awards.

Morant’s stats

In his lone season at Murray State, Morant led the nation in assists (10.0) and was second in points (24.5) per game, becoming the first NCAA Division I player ever to average 20 points and 10 assists in a season. He was also named an Associated Press First-Team All-American, becoming the first Murray State player to ever receive that honor.

Morant’s impact on the Grizzlies

While Morant didn’t come into the league with the same fanfare as Zion Williamson, he quickly made a name for himself as one of the most electric rookies in recent memory. The Murray State product averaged 17.6 points and 6.9 assists per game while shooting 49% from the field and 36% from three-point range. He also became just the fifth rookie in NBA history to record multiple triple-doubles, joining the likes of Oscar Robertson, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, and Ben Simmons.

On a team that was expected to be one of the worst in the league, Morant helped lead the Grizzlies to a playoff berth. He did so by excelling in both transition and half-court settings, using his elite explosiveness and creativity to finishes at the rim or find open teammates when defenses collapsed on him. While his numbers dipped slightly in the playoffs (15.8 PPG, 5.2 APG on 43/29/80 shooting splits), he still had some impressive moments; including a 28-point, 11-assist performance in a Game 2 win over the eventual champion Lakers.

Kendrick Nunn

Kendrick Nunn was a shooting guard for the Miami Heat who was named the NBA’s 2020 Rookie of the Year. He averaged 15.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game. He shot 44.8% from the field and 34.2% from three-point range.

Nunn’s stats

In his rookie season, Kendrick Nunn averaged 15.6 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game while shooting 46.2 percent from the field and 36 percent from three-point range. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team and was one of only four players to average at least 15 points and shoot 35 percent or better from three-point range.

Nunn’s impact on the Heat

Nunn has been a godsend for the Miami Heat this season. After going undrafted in 2018, Nunn was signed by the Golden State Warriors to a two-way contract, but was waived before the start of the season. The Chicago native then joined the Santa Cruz Warriors of the G League and played well enough to earn a call-up to the parent club in January 2019. He appeared in 24 games for Golden State, averaging 7.0 points in 14.8 minutes per contest.

Nunn’s career took off when he joined the Miami Heat prior to the 2019-20 season. He earned a spot in the starting lineup and never looked back, averaging 15.6 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 31.3 minutes per game while shooting 44.8 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from three-point range. Nunn’s stellar play helped the Heat earn a playoff berth, and he was rewarded for his efforts by being named NBA Rookie of the Year on Monday night.