How Do the Three NBA Rookie of the Year Candidates Match up Against Each Other?

Posted on by Jim Smarts

The Rookie of the Year Award is an annual award presented by the National Basketball Association (NBA) to the best rookie(s) during the regular season. The Eddie Gottlieb Trophy, named after the former Philadelphia Warriors head coach, was established following the 1952–53 NBA season. A jury of American and Canadian sportswriters and broadcasters chooses the winner by casting first, second, and third-place ballots (worth five points, three points, and one point, respectively). The award is given to the player/players with the highest point score, regardless of the number of first-place votes. Ja Morant is the most recent Rookie of the Year winner.

There were many candidates for the Rookie of the Year Award, such as Saddiq Bey, LaMelo Ball, Anthony Edwards, Jae’Sean Tate, Tyrese Haliburton, Cole Anthony, among others. But the NBA announced the three Rookie of the Year finalists on Thursday, based on voting results from an international jury of sportswriters and broadcasters. After good individual performances this season, Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball, Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards, and Sacramento Kings guard Tyrese Haliburton were named as the three finalists for the honour. Let’s take a look at the candidates for the prestigious award.

Anthony Edwards – (Minnesota Timberwolves)

During the second half of the season, 19-year-old Anthony Edwards significantly improved his game. In his final 36 games, the No. 1 pick from Georgia averaged 23.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.4 assists. During that time, he also shot a shocking 45 per cent from distance. The Minnesota Timberwolves drafted Edwards as the No. 1 overall selection in the 2020 NBA draft. Edwards made his NBA debut on December 23, 2020, scoring 15 points, four rebounds, and four assists in 25 minutes against the Detroit Pistons in a 111–101 victory. Edwards has averaged 19.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.9 assists this season, leading all rookies in scoring. He is considered by many as the winner of the Rookie of the Year Award for this season.

LaMelo Ball – (Charlotte Hornets)

LaMelo Ball was one of the best rookies the league has seen in a long time. The no. 3 picks have been one of the best all-around players in the NBA since taking over the starting spot on Feb. 1. He led the Hornets to the play-in tournament by averaging 15.7 points, 6.1 assists, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.6 steals in 51 games. He was second in scoring average and first in assists and steals among rookies. LaMelo Ball was once considered the favorite to win the trophy, but a wrist injury forced him to miss 21 games, opening the door for Edwards to be the favorite. The Charlotte Hornets selected Ball with the third overall pick in the 2020 NBA draft, which took place on November 18, 2020. After a topsy-turvy preseason, he started the regular season on the bench. Ball made his NBA debut on December 23, 2020, in a 121–114 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, going scoreless with one rebound, three assists, and two steals in 16 minutes. 

Tyrese Haliburton – (Sacramento Kings)

Haliburton’s rookie season has also been hugely affected by injuries. After missing four games, Haliburton returned on March 11. In 28 games, he averaged 12.7 points and 5.3 assists while shooting 38 per cent from beyond the arc. Due to a knee injury, he was forced to miss the final eight regular-season games. He finished averaging 13 points, 5.3 assists, three rebounds, and 1.3 steals in 58 games. He connected on 47.2% of his shot attempts, including 40.9% from the 3-point range. The Sacramento Kings drafted Haliburton with the 12th selection in the first round of the 2020 NBA draught. The Sacramento Kings formally announced their signing with Haliburton on November 27, 2020. Haliburton made his NBA debut on December 23, 2020, scoring 12 points, four assists, two rebounds, and a block in a 124–122 overtime victory over the Denver Nuggets.