Rookie of the Year
- Andrew Wiggins, Minnesota Timberwolves – The gap between Wiggins and the rest of the competition is easily the largest of any awards race to this point. The now 20-year-old number one overall pick has been tremendous in recent days, averaging 21.0 points on 46.5% shooting after the All-Star break, and he comfortably leads all rookies in scoring (15.8 points per game) and minutes (34.9 per game). It is basically a consensus at this point that Andrew Wiggins will be a legitimate NBA superstar, and the only question is when that leap comes to fruition.
- Nerlens Noel, Philadelphia 76ers – Noel’s candidacy is directly tied to opportunity, but his defensive impact allows for his presence in the number two spot. Philadelphia’s defense, which has been shockingly competent all season, is nearly five points better per 100 possessions when Noel is on the floor, and the lengthy former Kentucky standout is averaging 1.9 blocks and 7.3 rebounds per game. Noel is shooting only 45.1% from the field, which is a problem, but that number jumps to better than 49% after the break, and that is a positive indication that he is turning the corner on that end of the floor.
- Elfrid Payton, Orlando Magic – I continue to be a sucker for Elfrid Payton, but there is reasoning behind it. Orlando is simply much better when their rookie point guard plays, to the tune of a 4.5-point jump in efficiency, and Payton has shown signs of becoming an impact player on both ends. His passing (5.7 assists per game in 28.1 minutes) and defense are already there, and the next step for Payton will be adding some semblance of a jump shot to his arsenal. If he can do that, the sky is the limit.
Next: Most Valuable Player