The NBA Rookie of the Year race always gets a ton of buzz and this year appears to be no exception. After a phenomenal season at Duke saw him go #1 overall, it’s no surprise to see Zion as the overwhelming $1.60 favourite. Second overall pick Ja Morant also looks a good shot at $5, while the new Knicks hope RJ Barrett is just behind at $6. I’ll go through each of these 3 men in detail, as well as a $21 roughie that has a good outside chance.
Zion Williamson $1.60
Zion is one of the bigger Rookie of the Year favourites we’ve seen in recent years and for good reason. He possesses truly elite athleticism, averaging 22.6 points on an outstanding 68% shooting at Duke last year. He joins a relatively good situation in New Orleans, with a slew of competent Guards that get him the ball. The downside of this is that he won’t have the ball in his hands as much as some of his fellow rookies. At 285 pounds, his frame may not be able to handle the rigours of the NBA regular season. While he is the most likely to win the award, I’m not sure the $1.60 currently on offer is the best value.
Ja Morant $5
Widely considered the best Guard in this class, Grizzlies fans were no doubt ecstatic to win the #2 pick and land Ja. He put up elite numbers last season, averaging 24.5 points and 10 assists at Murray State. The Mike Conley trade also opens up a ton of opportunities for him as he should have the ball in his hands most of the time. On the flipside, Division 2 College ball doesn’t really do a great job of preparing you for the NBA. Point Guard is arguably the most competitive position in the Association, and he could be in for a steep learning curve. That said, if he puts up even decent numbers this year, I think the $5 on offer is great value.
RJ Barrett $6
Having been highly touted throughout his high school career, RJ Barrett was expected to tear up college basketball last season. He put up strong numbers of 22.6 points, 7.6 boards, and 4.3 assists although he was relatively inefficient in doing so. The Knicks are perpetually looking for a saviour, so his path to the award is relatively clear. If he can put up some solid numbers and the Knicks look much better, it could be his to lose. Unfortunately, the roster construction doesn’t help him all that much, with a real log jam at the Forward position. The Knicks could definitely be a circus this season, making it tough to evaluate him. Based on early observations, I have to like Zion and Ja more at their respective prices.
Darius Garland $21
Despite the three men above taking the lion’s share of the action, I do kind of like Garland as a $21 roughie. He is a speedy combo guard with strong offensive creation skills and a great outside shot. The Rookie of the Year award tends to favour playmaking Guards, of which Garland is second in the picking order behind Ja. Boeheim could also prove to be an upgrade at Coach and someone who can get the most out of his young players. Admittedly, Cleveland aren’t expected to be great this season and he’ll likely have to share a backcourt role with Sexton. I expect him to hit the ground running this season, meaning that the $21 should come in a bit, even if he doesn’t win the award.