NBA: Top 10 candidates for Rookie of the Year Award in 2017-18

In a loaded 2017 NBA Draft class, here’s a look at the top 10 candidates for the 2017-18 Rookie of the Year Award.

For most NBA fans, the most exciting part of the upcoming season is thinking about which contenders will go head-to-head once the playoffs finally arrive six months later. This is a star-driven league, and the NBA’s brightest and most entertaining stars are often the ones leading their teams deep into the postseason to compete for championships.

However, not every franchise’s outlook can be that optimistic heading into a new season, and now that the Golden State Warriors seemingly have a vice grip on the rest of the basketball world, many are turning their attention to where it usually goes when a team is expected to be uncompetitive: the youngsters.

Because of the cyclical nature of the NBA’s power structure and the way the draft lottery is set up, bad teams are usually presented with a light at the end of the tunnel in the form of a top draft pick. These players represent the chance for a franchise to draft the next big thing, the future superstar who will one day lead a currently crummy team back to the promised land.

Because that future is usually a few years down the road, expectations for first-year players are often confined to the annual Rookie of the Year race. They won’t reach their fullest potential in year one, but watching the rooks find their footing is always an intriguing part of any NBA season.

Heading into the 2017-18 NBA campaign, a crowded Rookie of the Year race takes center stage for plenty of fanbases that have already accepted the Warriors as their overlords. With such a deep and talented rookie crop, this year’s possible ROY candidates may even extend beyond the following group. Here are the top 10 candidates for the 2017-18 Rookie of the Year Award.

Honorable Mentions:  Lauri Markkanen, Milos Teodosic, Malik Monk, Jonathan Isaac, Frank Ntilikina, Bam Adebayo, Jarrett Allen, Kyle Kuzma