Breaking down the 5 best contenders for NBA Rookie of the Year
By Max Holm
As the 2017 NBA rookie class gets ready for their first seasons, a few players stand out with the greatest chance to win Rookie of the Year.
The 2017 NBA rookie class continues to get all the hype and rightfully so. Soon, they’ll finally start their careers and we’ll get to see what they’re made of. Exciting times are just around the corner with the new season just two months away.
What’s exciting about this class is many of them should have big roles this year. Lonzo Ball will have the keys in Los Angeles, Dennis Smith Jr. may get the same chance in Dallas, and Markelle Fultz and Josh Jackson figure to start for their respective teams.
Players like John Collins, Donovan Mitchell, Frank Ntilikina and De’Aaron Fox should all get big minutes in Atlanta, Utah, New York and Sacramento as well. When you remember that Ben Simmons is still technically a rookie, high-end youth is at a premium in 2017.
Now, when looking at this group of players in terms of the Rookie of the Year race, a few things come to the forefront. First and foremost, and mentioned above, is playing time. No Malcolm Brogdon is winning the award this year.
Speaking of Brogdon, don’t be surprised if winning plays a big role in the race. If Smith Jr. or Simmons and Fultz lead their teams to better records or the playoffs, they could become the favorites. With that being said, here are the five main contenders for Rookie of the Year.