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

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7. Bogdan Bogdanovic

Consider this our official dark horse pick for the 2017-18 Rookie of the Year Award. De’Aaron Fox is the most heralded of three incoming first round draft picks for the Sacramento Kings, but don’t overlook the team’s fourth rookie, 2014 first round pick Bogdan Bogdanovic.

Originally drafted by the Phoenix Suns and traded to the Kings for Marquese Chriss in last year’s draft, the Serbian native is finally heading to the NBA — all while coming off his most impressive EuroLeague season yet.

This year for Fenerbahce, Double Bogdan put up 14.6 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game on absurdly efficient .500/.430/.855 shooting splits, helping lead his team to the Turkish Super League championship and earning Finals MVP honors in the process.

Buddy Hield is a focal point of the Kings’ rebuild, which could hold Bogdanovic back. But there’s a very good chance he’s already better than Hield, and if his minutes go unchecked, he could very easily produce big enough numbers on a rebuilding team to throw his name into the conversation.