Is Jabari Parker the favorite to win Rookie of the Year?
Former Duke Blue Devils’ forward Jabari Parker was considered by most to be the most NBA ready prospect of any player in the 2014 NBA Draft. In fact, the oddsmakers in Las Vegas have made Parker the favorite to win the 2014-2015 NBA Rookie of the Year Award.
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Joel Brigham of Basketball Insiders also believes Parker is the favorite to win the Rookie of the Year Award as well.
"Noel was a Summer League monster and is going to get a ton of minutes in Philadelphia, but I think Jabari Parker is probably the early favorite. He’s going to be asked to shoulder such an incredible amount of the scoring load there, and I think his poise and charisma will make him a favorite among voters. Noel has the flat-top going for him, but I think this is Parker’s to lose.Looking at it, though, you’ve got Parker, Noel, Wiggins, Randle, Mirotic, McDermott, Smart, Vonleh, Exum. So much possibility. And I just checked the Vegas odds… Noel is actually at 15/1 odds, behind Parker, Randle, Wiggins, Smart and Exum. If I were a betting man, Noel looks like the best prop."
Parker was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks with the second-overall pick in the draft. He went for 19.1 points, 8.7 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.2 blocks and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 47.3% from the field, 35.8% from beyond the arc and 74.8% from the free throw line for the Blue Devils last season. The last time Parker was officially measured, he came in at 6’8.5 and 240 lbs. with a wingspan of 6’11.5 at the Kevin Durant Camp in 2013.