Continuing with our NBA Futures previews is the all-important Rookie of the Year award. Luckily, we won’t have a repeat of last season’s Ben Simmons and Donovan Mitchell controversy as all players were selected in the recent 2018 draft. Fans of college sports will feel right at home as I analyse some of the top players from the NCAA last season, whilst star Real Madrid man Luka Doncic adds an international flavour. This article will analyse the 5 players who I believe have the best chance to win Rookie of the Year and feature my 3 best bets on the board.
Luka Doncic ($3.50)
The 19-year-old Doncic enters the 2018/19 season as the favourite for the prestigious Rookie of the Year award. Selected by the Atlanta Hawks with the 3rd overall pick, Doncic was part of a blockbuster draft day trade to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Trae Young. Whilst only 19 years old, Doncic has played the past three seasons in Europe’s highest level with Real Madrid. In fact, he heads to the NBA fresh off of a league MVP, finals MVP and Euro Basket championship. This experience against talented and veteran competition should give the young Shooting Guard a strong advantage over his fellow rookies.
Deandre Ayton ($5.50)
The #1 pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, Ayton projects to be the new starting Center for the Phoenix Suns, a close drive from his College of Arizona. Ayton heads to the NBA fresh off of a dominant freshman campaign that saw him average 20.1 points and 11.6 rebounds per game. Renowned for his ability to play in the modern game, Ayton has shown a versatile offensive game. He averaged over 60% from the field in his lone college season, whilst managing a respectable 34% from three and 73% from the free throw line, both of which compare favourably to NBA Centers. If Ayton can be a force inside for the Suns this season and put up some solid counting stats, he has every chance of bringing home this trophy.
Trae Young ($10)
Trae Young is a high-ceiling low-floor player that has drawn comparisons to Stephen Curry for his elite ability to create his own offense. Young heads to the NBA off of an incredible solo season at Oklahoma that saw him average 27 points, 8.7 assists and 4 rebounds per contest. He carried a struggling Oklahoma offense and made some incredible shots in the process. Creating your own offense off the dribble has proven to be the most valuable skill in the modern NBA and this is Young’s strong point. Projected as the starting Point Guard for the Hawks this season, Young will have ample opportunity to prove his talent and represents immense value at this price.
Collin Sexton ($9)
Confident combo guard Collin Sexton will have big shoes to fill this season, as he looks to help rebuild a Cavaliers team reeling from the loss of LeBron James. Sexton enjoyed a solid but unspectacular freshman season at Alabama in 2017/18, averaging 19 points to go along with 3.8 rebounds and 3.6 assists. His greatest strength is his ability to put up points in a hurry, a skill which is usually favoured in Rookie of the Year voting. That said, unless Sexton can average at least 30 minutes per game I don’t see him at the top of this year’s rookie class.
Kevin Knox ($8)
Athletic Forward Kevin Knox will be part of a young Knicks core that fans hope can make the team a consistent contender again. Knox flashed nicely in his solo season at Kentucky, averaging 15.6 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. That said, he’ll need to improve his effective field goal percentage of 51% to succeed in the modern NBA. With one of the weakest rosters in the NBA, I expect the Knicks and new Head Coach Kevin Knox plenty of opportunities in his rookie season. Whilst I think Knox has a bright future, at $8 there are simply better options on the board.
Best Bet: Luka Doncic at $3.50
Doncic is undoubtedly the most polished of the top players in this rookie class. His three years playing at the highest level in Europe, coupled with his experience on the Slovenian national team, give him a leg up on his peers. Almost like Ben Simmons last year, Doncic knows how to physically and mentally prepare for the grind that is the upcoming season. He’ll also have better teammates in Dallas than most of the other guys on this list, meaning that he won’t have to do too much. I could very easily see a stat line of 13 points, 5 boards and 5 assists for Doncic this season, which will be enough to take home the rookie crown.
Best Value: Trae Young at $10
Perhaps I’m higher on Trae Young than most, but I believe $10 for him to win Rookie of the Year represents excellent value. In what will undoubtedly be a development season for the Hawks, Young will have every opportunity to show off his talents. His ability to create his own offense should translate very well to the NBA and act as a solid foundation for a successful rookie season. If the Hawks are remotely competitive this season and Young can average 15 points per game, he has as good a shot as anyone of bringing home the award.
Worth a Punt: DeAndre Ayton at $5.50
At an enticing price of $5.50, it’s hard to overlook the #1 overall pick DeAndre Ayton. Fresh off of a dominant season at Arizona, I believe that Ayton has the skillset to thrive in the modern NBA. He provides a strong interior presence, evidenced by his 20 point and 11 rebound averages last season. Similarly, he has the defensive ability needed to stay on the court against some of the NBA’s top offensive players. It’s definitely within the realm of possibilities for Ayton to average around 12 points and 6 rebounds per game this season. If he’s a key piece on an improving Suns team, this could be enough to hand him the award in voter’s eyes.