Oklahoma City Thunder: Best candidates for 2018-19 NBA awards

Rookie of the Year: Hamidou Diallo

Hamidou Diallo is actually the only rookie the Thunder have signed to a contract this coming season. It would be a long shot for him to win Rookie of the Year, but stranger things have happened and he certainly has a ton of potential.

One of Diallo’s main attributes is his athleticism. He displays this on both ends of the floor, and has the potential to develop into a really good defender due to his length. He is explosive and fun to watch in transition, but his game is also raw and downright sloppy at times, so he will need to clean that up if he wants to compete for an award.

In his one year at Kentucky, Diallo averaged 10.0 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.2 assists across 24.8 minutes per game. His field goal (42.8 percent) and free throw percentages (61.6 percent) leave something to be desired, but he makes up for it with his athleticism and quickness.

There are some very talented players in this year’s crop of rookies, and Diallo will face quite a bit of competition at the guard spot on a talented Thunder roster. Don’t sleep on him, but don’t expect a Rookie of the Year award from him either. He’s the Thunder’s best and only option, though.