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NBA Awards Watch: Rookie Of The Year

By DJoumbarey A. Moreau

Nov 3, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Nerlens Noel (4) controls the ball against the Houston Rockets during the third quarter at the Wells Fargo Center. The Rockets defeated the 76ers 104-93. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 3, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Nerlens Noel (4) controls the ball against the Houston Rockets during the third quarter at the Wells Fargo Center. The Rockets defeated the 76ers 104-93. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 4, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; Houston Rockets forward Kostas Papanikolaou (16) is pressured by Miami Heat forward Shawne Williams (43) during the first half at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

The Drake I Got My Eyes On You Section (Honorable Mention)

There is some new blood in our honorable mention section. These rookies are turning heads in each game that they play. Not only are they progressively getting better, they are becoming important pieces to their respective team’s future success.

Simply put, these rookies are going to become major players for their teams and will have important roles on their team’s before the season is over. I love watching these rookies get better each week, so here are some players that we have our eyes on.

Kostas Papanikolaou – Houston Rockets/SF
By far Kostas has one of the most colorful names in the league. Papanikolaou has played excellent for the Houston Rockets and has quietly put together a few good games in his rookie season. Playing small forward for the Rockets, Papanikolaou has made the transition from the Parsons era to the Papanikolaou a lot smoother in Houston.

For the season, Papanikolaou is averaging six points, 3.6 assists, 4 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game. In addition, the Rockets love shooters, and Papanikolaou is one of them. Though his shooting percentage won’t do him justice (34.8 percent from the 3-point line), leave him open and he can torch your team.

Against the Miami Heat, Papanikolaou had eight points, five assists and seven rebounds.

Dante Exum – Utah Jazz/SG
Is it too soon to say, “Look who’s arrived to the party?” I thought this season Exum was going to have some trouble and have to wait his turn and develop but so far, he’s had a few eye-popping games. Against the Phoenix Suns, Exum scored 10 points, had three assists, two rebounds, two steals and one block.

Also, the weakest part of Exum’s game is his shooting but against the Suns he nailed three out his four 3-point attempts and finished the game shooting 75 percent from the field. I haven’t even mentioned how Exum moved without the basketball against the Clippers, scoring seven points.

More performances like this, and Trey Burke might find himself on the pine.

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