The NBA Awards Watch is a weekly feature that highlights the top contenders for various awards in the league. This week, the focus is on the Rookie of the Year award. The current rookie class is not expected to produce a future star, but there are still some promising role players in the mix. Looking back at past Rookie of the Year winners, there have been a few underwhelming recipients, such as Chuck Person, Mike Miller, Tyreke Evans, Michael Carter-Williams, and Malcolm Brogdon.
One of the most interesting Rookie of the Year races in recent history was in the 2016-17 season when Joel Embiid, despite playing only 31 games, put up remarkable numbers that made him a strong contender for the award. Ultimately, Embiid finished third in the voting behind Dario Šarić and Malcolm Brogdon, who won the award. Brogdon’s victory was seen as somewhat surprising, as his numbers were not as impressive as Embiid’s, but he played more games and was more consistent throughout the season.
In the current 2024-25 rookie class, Jared McCain has emerged as a standout player, but his season was cut short due to a knee injury. Despite his limited playing time, McCain’s performance stood out among his peers. Other notable rookies in the race include Zach Edey, Stephon Castle, and Jaylen Wells, who have all made significant contributions to their respective teams.
Moving on to other awards, the MVP race is heating up with contenders like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Donovan Mitchell, LeBron James, Nikola Jokić, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander vying for the top spot. Defensive Player of the Year is a tight race between Lu Dort, Dyson Daniels, and Evan Mobley, while Sixth Man of the Year is being contested by De’Andre Hunter, Malik Beasley, and Payton Pritchard.
In the Coach of the Year category, Kenny Atkinson, J.B. Bickerstaff, and Mark Daigneault are leading the pack with their impressive coaching performances. Most Improved Player features players like Ty Jerome, Cade Cunningham, and Evan Mobley, who have shown significant growth and improvement throughout the season.
Overall, the NBA Awards Watch provides a comprehensive overview of the top candidates for each award, highlighting the standout performances and contributions of players, coaches, and teams throughout the season. Stay tuned for more updates as the regular season progresses.
