Who Deserves To Win Rookie Of The Year

I am going to break this post into three sections.

Who Deserves to Win The 2017-2018 NBA Rookie Of The Year. Who Will Be The Best NBA Player 5 Years From Now. Who Underperformed This Year, But Can Still Be A Future All Star

Who Deserves to Win the 2017-2018 NBA Rookie Of The Year

Its a 3 Player Race between Ben Simmons, Jayson Tatum, Donovan Mitchell.

*Jayson Tatum was expected to ease into his Rookie Season & play 15-20 minutes/game…. that went out the window quick, Gordon Haywards scary injury thrust him into the spotlight the very first game. Brad Stevens is going to have a tough time figuring out that starting lineup next year.

PG: Kyrie SG: Hayward SF: Marcus Morris/ Jaylen Brown PF: Al Horford C: Aaron Baynes.
6th Man: Tatum?

Is it fair to make Tatum take a step back and bring him off the bench? Do you delegate Jalen Brown to the bench? What if you land a top FA, is it even worth going after one?

*Ben Simmons has the most impressive handles and vision for a big man since Lebron James. Coming into this season everyone was raving about how Lonzo Ball was a once in a generation passer, they seemed to forget another guy with that vision was in this class. He is a Point Forward who has gotten rave reviews by the best of the best all season. Just last week Dr. J commented that he’s a once in a lifetime talent. And with all that being said, he’s not my Rookie Of The Year!

*Donovan Mitchell is the Rookie Of The Year. The Jazz were left for dead after Haywards departure, and Mitchell’s rookie season is one of the most impressive of all time. He’s won the dunk contest, provided highlight after highlight, and most importantly lifted the Jazz from mediocrity to the 4th seed in the West! 31-5 in there last 36 games, that is incredible.

Ben Simmons is a redshirt rookie and Donovan Mitchell is not. The tie should go to the real rookie, however, if this turns into a 1994-1995 Grant Hill Jason Kidd situation I wouldn't mind seeing them both get it.

B) Who Will Be The Best Player 5 Years From Now

I genuinely believe 10 Future All Stars are in this class. 1984, 1996, 2003, and now 2017 will go down as the greatest rookie classes of all time. Here is how I rank the the 10 Future All Stars, based on who will be the best in 5 years.

#10 Jarrett Allen, Brooklyn Nets, 1-2 Time All Star

#9 Josh Jackson, Phoenix Suns, 1-2 Time All Star

#8 Kyle Kuzma, Los Angeles Lakers, 2-3 Time All Star

#7 Lauri Markkanen, Chicago Bulls, 4-5 Time All Star

#6 Dennis Smith Jr., Dallas Mavericks, 5-7 Time All Star

#5 DeAaron Fox, Sacramento Kings, 6-8 Time All Star

#4 Donovan Mitchell, Utah Jazz, 7-9 Time All Star

#3 Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics, 10+ Time All Star, Hall Of Fame

#2 Lonzo Ball, Los Angeles Laker, 10+ Time All Star, Hall Of Fame, Future MVP

#1 Ben Simmons, Philadelphia 76ers, 10+ Time All Star, Hall Of Fame, Future MVP

Lonzo Ball, Future MVP? The way Lonzo passes the ball stretches defenses the same way Steph Curry stretches defenses with his 3 point shot. I haven’t seen anything quite like it. He does this left handed flip pass I haven’t seen before (wish there was a gif to demonstrate what I’m talking about) and his full court passes mirror that of Kevin Love’s chest pass.

At some point the Lakers are going to get back to being the Lakers. The team is going to finish as the top seed in the West at least once in Lonzo’s career, and he will win MVP the year that happens.

C) Who Underperformed This Year, But Can Still Be A Future All Star

The obvious one here is Markelle Fultz, and I don’t know if underperform is the term to use for whatever that bizarre situation was. I can’t put him in the above list because his sample size is 10 games.

I think Malik Monk has a good chance to be an All Star. Coming out of college he was one of my favorite players. He is a shooter, with insane athleticism. He probably has underperformed the most this year.

Harry Giles has been on IR, but I think the Kings have a chance to be a powerhouse in 3 years if Fox turns into the future perennial All Star I think he will be. If Fox carries the team into a multi-year playoff run, Harry Giles will be there for the ride.

Disagree with my rankings? Let me know in the comments section!