It's The Rookies For Me

 

The NFL awards, the NBA awards, the All-Star selection ... how much of it is really ... accurate?
Devin Booker initially getting snubbed as an All-Star starter is proof enough for me to realize that the voting system is well, misleading. T.J. Watt missing the mark on NFL Defensive Player of the Year is well, just wrong. 

And no, that is not me saying that I do not think Aaron Donald was not deserving of it. However, T.J. should have taken the crown on that. It's not bias, it's just numbers. 
So do not come for me. 

However, I would be lying if said that we all didn't love to find out who wins these things. It's the sports lover in us. And even though these awards appear to be a wash, they do still become a part of these players' legacies and accolades. This year's most intriguing NBA award is not the Most Valuable Player but the Rookie of the Year. It has been one of those races where the lead runner changes frequently. 

It is LaMelo Ball, Tyrese Haliburton, and Anthony Edwards for me. 

The No. 1 draft pick Anthony Edwards is having a decent rookie year. He is averaging 14.3 ppg and 3.6 rpg. He posterized Toronto Raptors' guard-forward Yuta Watanabe and broke the entire internet. The rest of that game was not pretty for Edwards though. His team's lack of success will continue to hinder him from remaining a contender for this award. 

The Minnesota Timberwolves are the worst team in the NBA and have fired their head coach Ryan Saunders. If your team does not have a whole lot of success then you must pull a little bit harder to make a case for yourself. Fortunately for Anthony Edwards he is an incredible player and will continue to be, but unfortunately he comes in at No. 3 on my ROY radar. 

This No. 1 and No. 2 spot are quite the tossup. Tyrese Haliburton's consistency has truly been his key. He is averaging 12.8 ppg and 5.3 apg. He averages 44% from three-point range. Not only is he leading rookies in this category, but he is also ranked 19th in the league ... just ahead of Kevin Durant. KD. To be ranked ahead of one of the greatest players to ever play the game (yes, go ahead and read it again) as a rookie speaks heavily.  

Haliburton runs into the same issue as Edwards. The Kings may not be the worst team in the league, but they are not too far off. The difference? Haliburton is doing what he needs to do on a consistent basis to make a statement. The 12th pick in the NBA draft is averaging 49% from the field ... as a rookie. 

Now who would have predicted that the Charlotte Hornets would be talked about once Kemba left? And who would have predicted that a rookie would be the main one giving them headlines. We all knew (at least I hope you knew) that LaMelo would be an impressive rookie, but he has been anything but impressive. He's been more than that. 

He entered the starting lineup at the beginning of February and they have never looked back. He is averaging 14.6 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 6.1 apg, and he leads the rookie class in rebounds with 183 boards so far this season. The Hornets are currently the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference. 

When asked to name his all-time starting five, Ball mentioned Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Shaq, and ... himself. I cannot get too upset with him not having Kobe in there because I respect that self confidence more than anything. In fact, it is something Kobe would have said his rookie year. Mamba Mentality. LaMelo sees his value and what he brings to the Charlotte Hornets squad. He sees himself as one of the top five players of all-time, and he has plenty of time to show us. 

The media hype may help along LaMelo throughout this ROY candidacy, but his numbers speak for themselves. He is transforming his game step by step. You can see his basketball IQ improving just by noticing his shot selection adjustments. You can also see positive change in his defense on the perimeter. 

Maybe it is clear who takes home the hardware, but these awards and selections do tend to surprise us here and there. Maybe Tyrese Haliburton and Anthony Edward make a sudden push, but right now this one is for the taking ... and LaMelo has a firm grasp on the lead.

This week Russell Westbrook partnered up with LA Promise Fund and opened up the Russell Westbrook Why Not? Academy. Westbrook is aiming to provide students in his hometown a better opportunity for a greater education. This school will include a middle and a high school. During his work through the Why Not? Foundation he realized how often schools in underserved communities lack the resources and funding needed to support their students. Westbrook wants to give kids in these areas not only a better chance at an education, but also a better chance at success in life. Brodie things, because Why Not? 

No one is free until all are FREE. We must continue to fight for justice and EQUALITY. We must be a voice for the voiceless and fight together. Use your voice and whatever platform you may have. Let's continue to fight for change. 
Black Lives Matter.