Hoops Habit
Fansided

NBA: Top 10 Candidates For Rookie Of The Year Award In 2016-17

By Gerald Bourguet

Jun 23, 2016; New York, NY, USA; NBA commissioner Adam Silver holds a basketball while posing for a photo with draft prospects from left Buddy Hield (Oklahoma) , Ben Simmons (LSU), Brandon Ingram (Duke) and Kris Dunn (Providence) before the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 23, 2016; New York, NY, USA; NBA commissioner Adam Silver holds a basketball while posing for a photo with draft prospects from left Buddy Hield (Oklahoma) , Ben Simmons (LSU), Brandon Ingram (Duke) and Kris Dunn (Providence) before the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
10 of 12
Next
NBA
Sep 23, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; (editors note: caption correction) New Orleans Pelicans guard Buddy Hield (24) poses for a portrait during media day at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Buddy Hield

Finally, we get to the candidates who will enter the 2016-17 NBA season with a prominent role. Though the New Orleans Pelicans brought in E’Twuan Moore and already have an injured Tyreke Evans and Quincy Pondexter at the 2-spot, Hield has the most potential for the long haul.

Coming off a stellar collegiate season with the Oklahoma Sooners, Hield put up 25.0 points and 5.7 rebounds per game on .501/.457/.880 shooting splits as a senior. As one of the best college scorers in the nation, Hield should be playing second fiddle to Anthony Davis in no time.

In his first preseason game, Hield didn’t start, but he did tie a team-high 19 points on 8-of-12 shooting, also chipping in six rebounds and three assists. Unfortunately, his 19 points tied E’Twaun Moore, who is his chief competition for the starting job.

If it weren’t for his age (22), he would’ve been considered for a top-three pick. Moore is best suited for a bench role as soon as Hield’s ready, which he probably already is. With Jrue Holiday and Tyreke Evans both injured to start the season, he doesn’t have many obstacles in his way either.

Hield will be playing a significant role on a team that wants to make the playoffs but didn’t significantly improve over the summer, and if he’s able to put up big numbers, spread the floor and not look too terrible on the defensive end, he will garner serious Rookie of the Year consideration.