NBA Rookie of the Year race is wide open
No. 1 overall pick Anthony Davis of the Hornets has been hampered by injuries. But other first-year players have stepped up to become contenders for the award.
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RATING THE ROOKIES
TIER 1
G Damian Lillard, Portland: 19 games-19 starts; 37.9 minutes; 19.3 points; 3.3 rebounds; 6.3 assists; 1.3 steals
F Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Charlotte: 18-18; 27.4 mpg; 10.8 ppg; 6.3 rpg; 1.7 apg, 1.3 blocks; 1.0 spg
G Dion Waiters, Cleveland: 17-17; 32.0 mpg; 15.2 ppg; 2.3 rpg; 3.4 apg; 1.2 spg
C Anthony Davis, New Orleans: 6-6; 28.3 mpg; 16.0 ppg; 8.3 rpg; 2.2 bpg; 1.0 spg
F Harrison Barnes, Golden State: 19-19; 27.6 mpg; 9.6 ppg; 4.7 rpg; 1.5 apg
TIER 2
G Alexey Shved, Minnesota: 18-0; 24.8 mpg; 10.6 ppg; 2.7 rpg; 3.6 apg
C Jonas Valanciunas, Toronto: 20-20; 23.4 mpg; 8.6 ppg; 5.5 rpg; 1.2 apg; 1.2 bpg
G Bradley Beal, Washington: 16-14; 27.1 mpg; 11.4 ppg; 3.2 rpg; 1.9 apg
F Andre Drummond, Detroit: 21-0; 17.9 mpg; 6.4 ppg; 6.4 rpg; 1.2 apg
F John Henson, Milwaukee: 13-5; 12.5 mpg; 5.2 ppg; 3.3 rpg; 0.5 bpg
TIER 3
F Kyle Singler, Detroit: 21-13; 27.3 mpg; 9.5 ppg; 3.5 rpg; 0.9 apg
C Tyler Zeller, Cleveland: 16-0; 21.9 mpg; 6.8 ppg; 5.1 rpg; 0.9 apg
G Austin Rivers, New Orleans: 17-9; 27.1 mpg; 6.6 ppg; 2.4 rpg; 2.9 apg
G Brian Roberts, New Orleans: 18-0; 15.9 mpg; 7.9 ppg; 1.0 rpg; 2.5 apg
F Jeff Taylor, Charlotte: 17-16; 25.9 mpg; 7.9 ppg; 2.4 rpg; 1.0 apg; 1.1 spg
Source: NBA stats
Many of the aforementioned are on lousy teams, which obviously is why they were drafted so high in the first place.
Having good numbers on a bad team is a minimum requirement for Rookie of the Year consideration. Having average numbers on a bad team doesn't reflect much of an impact. Impressive numbers on a horrid team frequently gets you the award, however, as 2008 winner Kevin Durant can attest.
Barnes is the only notable rookie this season with a winning record (12-7 entering Saturday night).
Two other notables are on .500 teams: Minnesota Timberwolves shooting guard Alexey Shved, an undrafted Russian free agent who signed last July; and Milwaukee forward John Henson, the No. 14 overall pick out of North Carolina.
Other than that, all losers, but in the end, someone will win.
Right now, it's Lillard comfortably in front.
TWEETABLE
Lillard (@Dame_Lillard): “Don't tweet me with ANY advice if you haven't played a second of NBA basketball. Thanks”
QUOTABLE
Lillard, explaining why his three favorite NBA point guards are Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook and Derrick Rose: “I like Russell Westbrook just because of how competitive he is and how he's turned out to be something people didn't expect him to be.”
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