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2016 NBA Rookie Ladder: Who Can Challenge Towns For ROTY?

By Nathan Grubel

Feb 13, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns competes in the skills challenge during the NBA All Star Saturday Night at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 13, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns competes in the skills challenge during the NBA All Star Saturday Night at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 23, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) shoots the ball against Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond (0) during the first half at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 23, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) shoots the ball against Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond (0) during the first half at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports /

8. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets

Jokic doesn’t wow you with his numbers in the box scores, but he is consistent and a dual threat as a big man.

Capable of scoring in the post and stepping out to stretch the floor, Jokic has the offensive game to fit into most modern NBA offenses. Even though his defensive game still needs a lot of work, there’s reason to suggest he has the chance at being an All-Star down the road.

His most surprising skill is his passing ability, as I’m not sure many scouts thought he could immediately contribute in that area so early on. But he’s carved his space in the Nuggets’ rotation and won’t disappear off the floor anytime soon.

Is he a challenger to Towns? No because he doesn’t get enough minutes as it is with Jusuf Nurkic healthy in the locker room. But that’s not to say Jokic doesn’t have all the potential as a starting center on a playoff team in years to come.

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