2016-17 NBA Awards Season: Top 10 Rookie Of The Year Candidates

Mar 6, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Malcolm Brogdon (13) passes off past Philadelphia 76ers forward Richaun Holmes (22) and forward Dario Saric (9) during the second half at Wells Fargo Center. The Milwaukee Bucks won 112-98. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

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Nov 20, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) reacts during the second half against the Utah Jazz at Pepsi Center. The Nuggets won 105-91. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports /

6. Jamal Murray

Maybe this is a little high for a rookie who’s only shooting 40 percent from the field and 32.7 percent from deep, but Jamal Murray‘s strong finish to the season — which includes taking Emmanuel Mudiay‘s place in the lineup behind starter Jameer Nelson — places him just outside our top five.

Though he hasn’t been the most efficient shooter, this 20-year-old rookie has proven his potential as a dynamite scorer for the Denver Nuggets. Gary Harris is still the long-term solution at the 2, but Murray’s ability to take on more ball-handling as a point guard has helped him stay in Michael Malone’s rotation.

Murray is averaging just 9.7 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game on the season, but he’s one of only six rookies this season to play at least 60 games while posting a positive point differential (+1.0), joining Davis Bertans, Malcolm Brogdon, Malcolm Delaney, Domantas Sabonis and Rodney McGruder.

Murray made the most of his opportunity when Harris was sidelined by injury, but he’s continued to create minutes for himself by outplaying Mudiay at the 1. If he can learn how to play that position, he and Harris could form a very interesting backcourt tandem in the future. Even if he doesn’t though, he still projects as a very dangerous sixth man, and either way he deserves some ROY votes.