Breaking down the 5 best contenders for NBA Rookie of the Year
By Max Holm
4. Markelle Fultz – Philadelphia 76ers
Markelle Fultz may have gone first in the 2017 NBA Draft, but he’s got some ground to make up to win Rookie of the Year. Now, Fultz will have plenty of playing time in Philadelphia where he’ll likely start at point guard.
Even though Fultz will start, he may not have the ball in his hands as much as others. His teammate, Ben Simmons, is the de facto point guard, which means Fultz finds himself off-ball more than usual. That being said, Fultz absolutely can thrive in an off-ball role, especially if his 3-point shot is falling.
However, he certainly is more productive and lethal on the ball. Just because Simmons is seen as the point guard, don’t mistake that for Fultz never having the ball. Brown may even adopt a dual point guard lineup between his two rookies.
Even still, it wouldn’t be surprising if Fultz was the lead ball handler with Simmons off the floor. For him to come away as the best rookie, he’ll have to overcome having the ball less than his rivals for the award.