The regular season is in its last couple of weeks, which means it’s award season. It’s a tight race for many of the awards this year, but one of the handouts might be close for the wrong reason. The Rookie of the Year, who will win it? It took me awhile to figure out who will be crowned Rookie of the Year, not because I was teetering between two deserving players, but because I could not come to a conclusion on any rookies that have had an impressive year as a whole.
Sure, Andrew Wiggins is having a solid year thus far averaging just over 16 points and 4 rebounds, but does that really stand out? Some people may have forgotten that Wiggins was in the NBA, because who really pays attention to Minnesota Timberwolves basketball?
Even though Wiggins is putting up pretty nice point totals, that’s all he’s doing. Wiggins’ player efficiency rating (PER) is 13.40 (the league average is 15). If we compare Andrew Wiggins’ rookie numbers to 2013-2014 Rookie of the Year, Michael Carter-Williams, who averaged 16.7 points, 6.3 assists, and 6.2 rebounds, then it definitely pales. Carter-Williams also had a higher PER of 15.59.
Most of the rookies have season averages that are just “eh.” No numbers really jump out at you. Nerlens Noel is averaging 10 points and over 11 rebounds per game, but the 76ers can’t even win 20 games in a season. Same deal with Elfrid Payton. On the season he averages 9 points, 6 assists and 4 rebounds per game. Nikola Mirotic for the Bulls averages 10 points and 5 rebounds on the season. None of those stat lines jump off the page and scream “extraordinary.” At best maybe a “not bad.” Do you really want to award someone for being “not bad?”
The last seven Rookie of the Year winners, just to name a few, Michael Carter-Williams, Damian Lillard, Kyrie Irving, Blake Griffin, Tyreke Evans, Derrick Rose, Kevin Durant were extraordinary in their rookie seasons. (Just a reminder Tyreke Evans averaged 20 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1.5 steals per game his rookie year.) The best rookie the NBA has this year puts up 16 points and 4 rebounds. For those people who consider Nerlens Noel’s stat line “extraordinary,” Blake Griffin averaged 22.5 points and 12 rebounds his rookie year. Even Emeka Okafor averaged 15 points, 11 rebounds and 2 blocks per game his rookie year!
When compared to previous Rookie of the Year winners, this year’s pool of rookies falls short. Maybe the NBA should consider holding on to that trophy this year and doubling up next year. And maybe the fans should double up their expectations too with all of the talent coming into the rookie pool in this year’s NBA Draft.
