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NBA award season predictions: Will Nikola Jokic seal the deal for MVP?

By Lachlan Everett

(Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for Turner Sports)
(Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for Turner Sports) /
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NBA Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images
NBA Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images /

NBA Award Season Rookie of the Year: LaMelo Ball

The Rookie of the Year has had a clear favorite all season, and many players tried to sneak in while there was a chance, but it seems like a lock.

The six candidates are LaMelo Ball, Tyreese Haliburton, Anthony Edwards, Immanuel Quickley, Saddiq Bey and Jae’Sean Tate.

Many people might have not watched Bey or Tate, as both have been on bad teams, but both have been excellent. Bey has been a joy to watch and is a hustling machine, while the undrafted Jae’Sean Tate can nearly defend 1-5 and is one of the better playmakers in this Rockets team, currently averaging 2.5 assists per game.

The Quickley hype train died down after the Derrick Rose trade and the Edwards hype train started with THAT dunk over Yuta Watanabe. That momentum has slightly faded since Ball’s return – but Edwards has solidified himself as an All-Rookie First-Team player with this stretch averaging 23.6 points per game since the All-Star break (and received two first-place votes in our poll).

All season it has seemingly been a two-man race between Haliburton and Ball, Haliburton’s ability to be an efficient role player and be an extremely impactful piece for the Kings this season. But it seemed like a lock that LaMelo Ball was going to be the Rookie of the Year before the preseason even ended.

Ball has been sensational from what many, including myself, projected from him after his contentious season in the NBL. Ball in his NBA rookie season increased his efficiency ten-fold and actually tried defensively. Ball had all the tools coming out of the NBL to be a star but right now in his rookie season, it looks like he’s already put that all together – and it’s been an absolute joy to watch.

Ball is averaging 15.8 points per game, 6.2 assists per game and six rebounds per game shooting 35 percent from three. Ball received 80 percent of HoopsHabit’s voters’ first placed votes and that should be a given, Ball has been the best, most fun to watch, and most productive rookie this season.