The most difficult NBA award to decide for voters this spring will be the Rookie of the Year trophy. Ben Simmons led the race nearly from the season’s start, but Donovan Mitchell came on strong and fast. Simmons has been a revolutionary two-way playmaker who has helped lead his team from a multi-year tank job to a top-four seed. Mitchell helped Salt Lake City forget all about Gordon Hayward while leading the charge to save the Jazz’s season.
A modest proposal to solve the intractable NBA Rookie of the Year debate
We have that and more in Wednesday’s NBA newsletter.
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So who gets the award?
In the interest of appeasing both fandoms and at the risk of angering a third, here is a modest proposal. We strip Malcolm Brogdon of the 2017 Rookie of the Year award few were enthusiastic to give, mark in the record books that no 2017 trophy was given, and award two 2018 R.O.Y. titles instead.
Let’s face it: had Simmons played 60 games last year — which would have been his natural rookie season — he would have run away with R.O.Y. Brogdon was in a position to nab it because he was solid for a decent team, because Simmons red-shirted, and because Joel Embiid only played 31 games. In any other season, Brogdon’s performance wouldn’t have landed a trophy. In fact, where would 2017 Brogdon land in this year’s R.O.Y. race? Like ... outside the top 5? Outside the top 10?
Sorry, Milwaukee. It will be absurd if neither Embiid or Simmons end up winning Rookie of the Year — but hey, Michael Carter-Williams did! — and it will be absurd when Donovan Mitchell loses out on the award as a 20-point scorer for a playoff team a year after Malcolm Brogdon’s 10 points per game does. We can be the change we want to see in the world.
Playoff Picture Update
The Sixers and Cavaliers are now in a dead heat for the No. 3 seed in the East. That’s bad news for the Raptors if they want to avoid LeBron until the conference finals.
Scores Galore ...
SAS 106, WAS 116
DEN 110, TOR 114
CLE 79, MIA 98
CHI 86, HOU 118
POR 107, NOP 103
DAL 103, SAC 97
IND 92, GSW 81
MIL 98, LAC 105
... And So Much More
Three rather consequential injuries on Tuesday: Kevin Love is in the concussion protocol, LaMarcus Aldridge hurt his knee, and Milos Teodosic might miss some games. Get well, guys.
Protests outside their arena again caused the Kings to lock the doors before most ticketed fans had gotten in.
Damian Lillard is having a baby! Well, sort of. He flew back to PDX after the Blazers’ win as his partner is in labor.
The Cavaliers did a nice thing by trading Dwyane Wade back to Miami. And Wade repaid them by ... swatting LeBron’s shot into the stands. Sheesh.
Good news for nostalgists: Dirk Nowitzki plans to come back to the Mavericks next season.
LiAngelo Ball declared for the 2018 NBA Draft, where he is unlikely to be picked. And then his father staged a game against undersized teenagers in Lithuania in which Gelo scored 72 points. Can’t knock the hustle.
The WNBA Draft is in three weeks. Check out Howard Megdal’s thorough Big Board. A’ja Wilson out of South Carolina is expected to be the No. 1 pick.
What makes Ben Simmons so interesting.
Be excellent to each other.
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