NBA Awards Watch: Draymond Green Makes Push For DPOY

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Nov 23, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat forward Justise Winslow (20) dribbles the ball against the New York Knicks during the second half at American Airlines Arena. The Heat won 95-78. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

Rookie of the Year

1. Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves (Last Week: 2, Up 1)

Heeeeeeee’s back! After a one-week absence, Karl-Anthony Towns has regained his top spot in the Rookie of the Year competition. Although Towns hasn’t quite set the world on fire like he did over the first few weeks, it seems like he’s hungrier than ever to take Kevin Garnett‘s advice to heart and destroy the league emphatically. On Tuesday, however, Towns look just seven shots in a 12-point loss to the surging Denver Nuggets, which is, in any terms, unacceptable.

Perhaps, if we can give any advice to a 20-year-old superstar, Towns could benefit from being a little more selfish and demanding. Get your shots, rook, and we promise that the Minnesota Timberwolves will benefit not only now, but in the future as well.

Towns’ Line of the Week: 12/9 vs. LAL — 26 points, 14 rebounds, 3 blocks, 2 TOs, 11-19 FG
Week Grade: B+

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2. Kristaps Porzingis, New York Knicks (Last Week: 1, Down 1)

A rough week by all accounts saw fan-favorite Kristaps Porzingis pour in less than 20 points in three games. OK, that’s totally fine, I slated Towns’ for hitting the so-called rookie wall a few weeks ago — it happens. For these rookies, the slog of the NBA season is just far more demanding than Towns’ regiment at the University of Kentucky and Porzingis’ last year overseas.

The point is: these two look like incredibly special athletes at this juncture, destined for plenty of All-Star-filled seasons throughout their career, so these down weeks are nothing to worry about. And sure, Porzingis might’ve put up his first professional goose egg (0 points, 0-for-6 FG) against the Portland Trail Blazers, but at least he has the Knicks’ punching above their skill level and not at drunk people off the court.

Porzingis’ Line of the Week: 12/9 vs. SAC — 13 points, 7 rebounds, 2 steals, 3 blocks, 2 TOs, 4-11 FG
Week Grade: C+

3. Justise Winslow, Miami Heat (Last Week: –, Up 1)

Speaking of which, the hot-headed Jahlil Okafor has been knocked off the ladder once more — as it’s finally time for the remarkable Miami Heat rookie to have his time in the spotlight. Justise Winslow might not pass the initial eye-test, but simply looking at the boxscores might deceive you.

If you haven’t watched the rugged brick-wall defense that Winslow deploys, which has helped improve a Heat team that missed the playoffs last year so immensely that they currently reside near the top of the conference, you’re truly missing out. Yes, it’s a small sample size so far, but they may finally have their answer for LeBron James or Paul George instead of throwing Dwyane Wade at them and hoping it sticks. That alone is well-worth Winslow’s inclusion on this week’s list.

Winslow’s Line of the Week: 12/9 vs. CHA — 7 points, 8 rebounds, 3-7 FG
Week Grade: B

Honorable Mentions: Emmanuel Mudiay, Denver Nuggets; Stanley Johnson, Detroit Pistons; Montrezl Harrell, Houston Rockets; D’Angelo Russell, Los Angeles Lakers; 76ers; T.J. McConnell, Philadelphia 76ers; Jahlil Okafor, Philadelphia 76ers; Willie Cauley-Stein, Sacramento Kings

Week 1: Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves
Week 2: Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves
Week 3: Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves
Week 4: Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves
Week 5: Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves
Week 6: Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves
Week 7: Kristaps Porzingis, New York Knicks
Week 8: Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves

Next: Destroyer of Worlds

NBA Awards Watch: Draymond Green Makes Push For Defensive Player Of The Year

By Ben Nadeau | Dec 16, 2015

Rookie of the Year