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2023 NBA Awards: 1 dark horse candidate to win each honor

By Jacob Ellerbee

Timberwolves C Karl-Anthony Towns and 76ers C Joel Embiid (Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports)
Timberwolves C Karl-Anthony Towns and 76ers C Joel Embiid (Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports) /
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Bennedict Mathurin, Indiana Pacers (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

NBA Awards: Bennedict Mathurin emerges as 2023’s Rookie of the Year

Paolo Banchero, Keegan Murray, and Jaden Ivey seem to be the consensus candidates for rookie of the year, but watch out for the No. 6 overall pick out of Arizona, Bennedict Mathurin to enter the mix and make some noise in this category. The dynamic wing player really impressed in his three Summer League games, averaging 19.3 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1.3 apg, and 1.3 spg.

If the Pacers rookie can sustain that kind of play throughout the regular season, he’ll end up being a clear favorite for the award. As long as he stays healthy, Mathurin should get plenty of playing time alongside Tyrese Halliburton and the rebuilding Indiana Pacers.  The knockdown shooter will get easier looks because of Halliburton and his ability to draw the attention of defenders and give Mathurin enough room to hit jump shots all day long.

The Pacers are excited about this young player, whom The Ringer compared to players like Jamal Crawford, Caris LeVert, and prime Victor Oladipo during their draft evaluations. But, even if Mathurin plays really well, voters tend to go with players picked within the top three or four picks from the draft. So, it’ll be an uphill battle for the former Arizona Wildcat either way.