NBA: Top 10 Candidates For Rookie Of The Year In 2015-16

1 of 11

Jul 14, 2015; Las Vegas, NV, USA; New York Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis (46) wins the opening tip off of an NBA Summer League game over Philadelphia 76ers center Jahlil Okafor (8) at Thomas & Mack Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports /

Every year, the NBA welcomes a new batch of young, inexperienced rookies into the association. As the league moves further into the one-and-done era, where most draft prospects are underdeveloped and need a few years to progress into star-caliber players, it’s been awhile since we’ve seen a truly elite rookie season.

Heading into the 2015-16 NBA season, that trend seems unlikely to change. Even with promising youngsters like Karl-Anthony Towns, Jahlil Okafor and Justise Winslow entering the league, all these new players are going to need time to fine-tune their games, or even crack their respective team’s starting lineup for that matter.

ALSO ON HOOPSHABIT: The NBA’s 50 Greatest Players of All-Time

But that won’t stop every fan base in the NBA from watching their own team’s rookies with rabid interest. Only one team in the league can win a championship every year, but for the other 29 teams in the league, assessing the younger players and looking forward to the future provides solace and entertainment.

Bearing that in mind, you can be guaranteed this year’s draft class will be stirring up plenty of buzz, analysis and hype as the year goes along. But as we approach the start of a new season, which rookies will emerge as the frontrunners for the Rookie of the Year Award? Here’s a look at the top 10 candidates for ROY in 2015-16.

Honorable Mentions: Mario Hezonja, Frank Kaminsky, Devin Booker, Jerian Grant, Terry Rozier

Next: No. 10