Why Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is positioned to win Rookie of the Year

Los Angeles Clippers rookie point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is in a perfect situation to win Rookie of the Year.

It seems like every season there is a rookie from outside the top 10 that finds a way to make an immediate impact. Last season it was Donovan Mitchell, who helped the Utah Jazz survive and thrive after Gordon Hayward.

This season, one of prime candidates to turn some heads is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The Los Angeles Clippers traded up on draft night to take the Canadian point guard with the 11th overall pick.

It’s rare for rookie players to truly make an impact in the win-loss column. There is a dramatic difference between playing in college and against fully grown men, not to mention the gap in experience and the refinement of skills. They may put up good individual numbers as a result of high usage, but the growing pains will come through if they’re asked to do too much.

It takes a special set of circumstances to help a rookie guard’s best qualities shine through. Ideally, you want to surround them with players that allow them to play to their strengths while mitigating weaknesses.

Expectations are justifiably low for the Clippers heading into next season. While they have talent and depth, they lack the star power to be viewed as a real threat in the Western Conference playoff race.

With that being said, there are still some quality pieces on the team. If they can just stay healthy, they could prove to be one of the more entertaining non-playoff teams in the league. The “Lob City” era is over, but they have a chance to establish a new identity as a young, fast and versatile team.

So let’s take a look at the Clippers heading into the 2018-19 season. More specifically, why this team is set up to help Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shine in his rookie year. The situation is set up very well to help Gilgeous-Alexander build a strong case for Rookie of the Year for three reasons, as long as he capitalizes on the opportunity.