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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Mar 27, 2017; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks center Willy Hernangomez (14) drives to the basket against the Detroit Pistons during the second half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Willy Hernangomez

Who? is what you’re probably asking. Unless you’ve been paying extra careful attention to the train wreck that has been this New York Knicks season, you might not be familiar with Willy Hernangomez. The Knicks’ current predicament may be Phil Jackson‘s fault, but at least he’s fared well in the drafted during his tenure.

This 6’11” center may have been a second round pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, but he’s come out of nowhere to submit one of the league’s stronger Rookie of the Year cases (in an admittedly weak race, but whatever).

https://twitter.com/NykInsider/status/851453377540222977

Averaging 8.2 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.3 assists doesn’t seem like much on paper, but he’s also shooting 52.9 percent from the field, has managed to crack Jeff Hornacek‘s rotation despite a crowded frontcourt and is averaging 11.7 points, 9.2 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game since the All-Star break.

Even though he’s already 22 years old, Hernangomez has been a pleasant surprise in an otherwise gloomy season for the Knicks. Hield and Murray will probably get more votes, but Hernangomez deserves to be somewhere in the top five of voting.