In the wake of excellent Summer League performances, Dennis Smith Jr. and Lonzo Ball were among the first-year players receiving buzz as potential Rookie of the Year winners at the start of the fall. Two months into the 2017/18 season though, another rookie – one technically in his second NBA season – has emerged as the odds-on favorite to take home that hardware.
Ben Simmons, 2016’s first overall pick, came out of the gate strong this season for the Sixers, and has continued to be crucial to the team’s success. Philadelphia’s starting point guard has averaged an impressive 17.3 PPG, 8.9 RPG, and 7.8 APG in 27 games so far this season, and while he doesn’t have an outside shot to speak of, he’s shooting over 50% from the floor.
Barring an injury to Simmons, it’s hard to imagine another player overtaking him in this season’s Rookie of the Year race, but Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell is making every effort to force a debate. With 18.1 PPG on the season, Mitchell is the only rookie who has outscored Simmons so far, and the 13th overall pick has been even better since entering Utah’s starting lineup in November. In his last 18 games (all starts), Mitchell has posted 21.5 PPG, 4.3 APG, and 3.5 RPG, with a .469/.398/.847 shooting line.
Meanwhile, few rookies have been more important to their teams’ success than Jayson Tatum, who has started all 32 games for the Celtics and has assumed a more important role with Gordon Hayward sidelined. Tatum’s 13.8 PPG and 5.7 RPG aren’t eye-popping, but he’s shooting a league-best 51.0% on three-pointers, and is playing solid two-way ball. Given his play – and his role on a winning team – he arguably has a stronger case for the Rookie of the Year award than Malcolm Brogdon did a year ago, but his competition is also much stronger.
What do you think? Is Simmons a lock to win the Rookie of the Year award, or can Mitchell or Tatum make it a competitive race? Is there another rookie – perhaps Kyle Kuzma or Lauri Markkanen – who will insert himself into this discussion as the season progresses?
Vote in our poll below and then jump into the comment section to share your thoughts!
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I still think Simmons should not qualify as a rookie. We was paid all of last year and was on the roster
I think Tatum at this point is the right choice. Overall value to his team in all aspects of game , offense defense .
Tatum is the better player… and deserves ROY…. his numbers would be “eye popping” too if he played for the Sixers …. tatum plays solid at both end the floor, shoots lights out from 3 point range, and plays team ball.
Tatum or Mitchell. I also agree that Ben Simmons shouldn’t b considered in the ROY
Still on the Mitchell bandwagon.
The hate for Simmons is unreal, y’all know damn well he ROY smh stop talking crazy