Josh Davis
Player A
PPG: 21.1
RPG: 7.6
APG: 5.9
Player B
PPG: 18.9
RPG: 3.6
APG: 7.9
The two stat lines are season averages of two rookies. Given these two set of stats who would you ultimately pick for the Rookie of the Year award, not knowing who these players are? Both of these players numbers are good, initially you would probably side with Player? Player A does have the more complete game having 21.1 points per game along with 7.6 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game. Player B only beats A in assists.
Player A is Luka Doncic and Player B is Trae Young and the stats above are their averages for their rookie campaign. Doncic has had a terrific rookie campaign notching seven triple doubles on the year, tying Magic for 3rd only behind Ben Simmons (12) and Oscar Robertson (26). Trae Young had a slow start to the year but after the All-Star break, he has taken the league by storm.
Young is averaging 25.3 PPG with 8.8 APG and 4.6 RPG. Young has had a pair of 30-point games and a few game winners against the Spurs and 76’ers. The only difference between these two players is we have come to expect this level of play from Luka.
He has been doing it all year, so why would we not expect it? Doncic has been the Mavericks playmaker for quite some time and Dallas unloaded their young talent Dennis Smith Jr and got rid of some key pieces to make Doncic the guy in Dallas. These reasons are why he has my vote for Rookie of The Year and why he should win it. Doncic’s game has just been too consistent and is a great all-around player to not win it.
Doncic is having such a better all-around game than Young helps him tremendously. Luka’s game is the kind of game a player of MVP/Championship caliber has. I mean when we think of players that lead their teams to championships you think of what: Lebron, Kawhi, and Giannis? All three of these players have, for the most part, complete games. They can pass, play defense, and lead their team in scoring. This is the kind of player Luka has proven to be in the toughest division in the world. I predict Trae Young will have a successful career, he just will not be another Steph Curry. Trae will need a superstar caliber player like a Lebron or a Kawhi leading his team. Luka has proven he can be the main piece of a championship caliber team.