The NBA postseason awards will be the talk of the NBA for the next few weeks, as media and fans make their case for certain players winning certain awards. One of the awards that will be debated is the NBA Rookie of the Year Award. This award goes to the most outstanding rookie in the NBA throughout the season. The rookie class has been kind of quiet this year as there wasn't really a standout rookie compared to past seasons. Nevertheless, let's break down the candidates for Rookie of the Year.
Malcom Brogdon
Malcom Brogdon has exceeded expectations for the Milwaukee Bucks and has even received some time as a starter throughout the season.
Brogdon is averaging 10.2 points per game and dishes out 4.2 assist per game. He is great on the defensive end of the court as well, averaging over 1 steal per game. He is shooting 40 percent from three-point range and shoots 45 percent from the field. He has constantly faced superstar players with no fear, like Kawhi Leonard and LeBron James. His numbers won't jump off the page, but if you watch him play, you see a maturity in his game that is beyond his years, and this might seal the deal for the Rookie of the Year.
Joel Embiid
Joel Embiid is a very curious, but credible case for NBA Rookie of the Year. Many might throw away Embiid's name due to the lack of games played this season. Embiid has only played in 31 games this season, and hasn't played since Jan. 27 since having a torn meniscus.
But in those games he played, he has been electrifying. He averaged 20.2 points per game, 7.8 rebounds per game, and 2.5 blocks per game. He is shooting 46 percent from the field. He brought life to the city of Philadelphia, a city that has been tortured the past few seasons when it comes to the Sixers. If Embiid played more games this season, it wouldn't even be a discussion for this award.
But will Embiid playing 31 games be the thing that makes him lose the Rookie of the Year Award.
Dario Saric
With the absences of Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons this season, this allowed Dario Saric to become one of the most impressive rookies in the NBA. Saric has played in 81 games, unlike Embiid, and has averaged 12.8 points and 6.3 rebounds per game this season.
He has been hitting his stride late in the season, putting up a career high 32 points against Chicago in March. This is a case of making your situation work for your benefit, and with the injuries to Simmons and Embiid, Saric has made a name for himself as a potential star in the NBA. The Sixers might have a great team brewing in the next few season,
Who wins?
I'm going to go out on a limb and give Embiid the award this year. Yes, he has only played in 31 games, but his impact in those games is undeniable. He brought a certain fire and energy to the Sixers that hasn't been captured since he went out due to injury. Embiid has shown that he can be a star in the league, and with his 20 points per game average and defensive presence, that will lock up his rookie of the year award in my opinion.
