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NBA Award Watch: Draymond Green dominating defensively

By John Buhler

Dec 11, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) and Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) wait for a rebound during a free throw in the second half at Target Center. The Warriors won 116-108. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 11, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) and Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) wait for a rebound during a free throw in the second half at Target Center. The Warriors won 116-108. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 20, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) dribbles against New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) during the second half at Wells Fargo Center. The Pelicans won 108-93. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 20, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) dribbles against New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) during the second half at Wells Fargo Center. The Pelicans won 108-93. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

Rookie of the Year: Joel Embiid

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid is going to win 2016-17 NBA Rookie of the Year. That’s about all there is to it. He’s only played in 19 games for the 76ers, but in his time on the court, Embiid has been the best first-year player in the NBA by a wide margin.

Embiid is averaging 17.9 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game in only 24.3 minutes per contest. His PER of 22.4 is through the roof for a rookie frontcourt player, and he’s a menace on both ends of the floor.

On offense, Embiid is shooting 46.4 percent from the field, 41.8 percent from beyond the arc and 74.1 at the charity stripe. This leads to an effective field goal percentage of 51.0 percent. His passing continues to improve. Embiid’s prototype as an NBA player is a stretch Hakeem Olajuwon.

He’s holding his own defensively, too. Embiid has 0.8 Defensive Win Shares and a Defensive Box Plus/Minus of 2.9. Denver Nuggets sharpshooter Jamal Murray has made a strong case for himself as well, but Embiid has gotten off to such a fast start it will be next to impossible even for Murray to catch him.

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