3 players who should’ve been NBA Rookie of the Year finalists: Herbert Jones
Herbert Jones was not selected in the lottery. He wasn’t even selected in the first round. If the 2021 NBA Draft was held again tomorrow, he might be the player who sees his stock rise the most.
Looking across the line, Jones doesn’t look elite from his counting numbers. He averaged 9.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game. Those are all decent for a rookie but were each bested by at least some of his peers individually.
Collectively, however, Jones appeared to be a decent player on the offensive end. On the defensive end, he was something much more.
Jones was a menace in the passing lanes, averaging 1.7 steals per game. He also swatted 0.8 blocks per game and should develop into the type of player who can block a shot a game as soon as next year.
In addition to ranking eighth in the league in steals per game, Jones also ranked fourth in steal percentage. His defensive impact has been on display in the playoffs, where the New Orleans Pelicans are giving the Phoenix Suns a run for their money.
The Alabama alum is older than many of his fellow rookies, already halfway to his 24th birthday. Perhaps that’s part of why he slid to the second round in the draft.
But his contributions to the Pelicans have been both loud and quiet, helping to propel a team without Zion Williamson to a playoff berth and perhaps, more. For that alone, Herbert Jones deserved to be a Rookie of the Year finalist.